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Yang Wei is fast becoming an icon in China. After waiting eight long years, he finally won the gold medal in the all-around gymnastics competition. Now that he has achieved that goal, he wishes to accomplish another by helping disaster vicitms of the Sichuan Province earthquake where nearly 70,000 people lost their lives.

Chinese Olympic Medalist Wang Wei who is a national icon and crowd favorite ignited the torch at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and had the support of 1.3 billion countrymen behind him at the opening ceremonies. Wang Wei also took time to remember the disaster victims of the earthquakes that devasted much of China’s Sichuan Province.

“The crowd was very enthusiastic,” said Yang. “It’s tremendous and that’s the feeling I have now.”

But Yang remembered the victims of the many disasters that China has suffered this year.

He said: “I think the Chinese team is responsible for a lot of the Chinese people’s dreams. We have not had a great year in China. We have seen a lot of disasters.”

A growing number of researchers and volunteers have been trying to apply the lessons learned from past disasters and offer help to the disaster victims of the Iwate-Miyagi Inland Earthquake and the recent 7.9 earthquake which leveled much of the Sichuan Province in China.

In early July, about two weeks after the Iwate-Miyagi Inland Earthquake, a nine-member team led by Prof. Yoshiteru Murosaki of Kwansei Gakuin University, who heads the Japan Society for Disaster Recovery and Revitalization, visited a shelter in the Koei district of Kurihara, Miyagi Prefecture.

On Monday, the devastated town of Mianyang saw the arrival of the Olympic torch, which was believed to raise the spirits and give hope to the many disaster victims of the 7.9 earthquake which leveled much of Sichuan Province, killing almost 70,000 people.

“It’s a way to encourage the victims to rebuild. The torch is a symbol of strength and will encourage them to carry on the tenacious struggle,” said Hu Lu, 27, a businesswoman and one of the 88 torchbearers.

The flame was carried around Jiu Zhou Stadium for an hour where thousands of earthquake refugees sought shelter. The stadium has been cleaned up since and its entrance was adorned with plants and flowers and banners to welcome the torch bearers and the flame.

Many spectators were heard cheering “No difficulty can beat the spirit of Chinese people”, “Go China!” and “Go Sichuan!”

The value of disaster loans approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration from flooding and tornadoes this spring in Iowa has passed the $100 million mark.

The agency as of Thursday had approved more than $101.1 million in disaster loans, according to Joe Folsom, the agency’s district director for Iowa.

Tyson Foods, Inc. donated $50,000 to the Red Cross Society of China today to help the disaster victims of the earthquake that took place in China back in May. The money was donated through the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Tyson Foods Group VP and International President, Rick Greubel and Director of International Sales Jianlin Si, made the check presentation. The corporate contribution is in addition to the money donated individually by Tyson Team Members.

Verizon Wireless is using text messaging to help victims of the natural disasters in China and Myanmar. Residents in central and northeastern Pennsylvania who have Verizon post-pay cell phone service can text the word “cyclone” or “quake” to 4SAVE.
They will get a text message back asking them to confirm a $5 donation to Save the Children. By replying “Y,” the donation will be accepted and appear on the next month’s phone bill.

Customers can text up to five times for a total donation of $25.

Donations will be accepted through July 31.

60 students from Castro Valley High School in Castro Valley, California came together to paint clay tiles and raise funds for disaster victims of China’s earthquake and Myanmar’s cyclone.

Sarah Beeston, a CVHS freshman and member of the campus Amnesty International Club said, “The idea to do this started about a week ago. We had no idea we would have such a good turnout. She also added, “Aran is super cool and gave us a deal to come here and do this. There will be more stuff coming, and we will make a difference.”

The clay tiles were painted with slogans of hope, understanding and peace and will eventually be placed into a mural at the high school. All the funds will be donated to Red Cross and Save the Children foundations.

As part of the Angelus prayers Sunday, Pope Bendict XVI called upon the Virgin Mary to aid the disaster vicitms of the natural disasters that ravaged China and Myanmar in May.

‘I want to invoke once again the intercession of the Virgin for those populations of China and Myanmar hit by natural disasters and for all those who are going through situations of pain, illness, and material and spiritual poverty that obstructs the path of humanity,’ he said.