Chengdu Delegation Officially Cancels Trip to Georgia
Song, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ James, Thank you for the notice of the cancellation. If
there is anything I can personally contribute to the relief efforts you
mentioned in your note please let me know. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ James, Thanks, James for letting us know the status of the group from
Chengdu. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yes, thanks for the update.
Dear James and
Rich,
The delegation of *Chengdu for attending the Georgia Peach Festival
has been official canceled. In **Longquan County 9 people have died. About
800 houses are destroyed.
The Chengdu Government apologizes for the
cancellation. But they said they may come to Peach County later this year for a
special visit.
The earthquake is so very bad for China, and Chengdu.
About a quarter of a million people are injured.
More than fifty-thousand
people have died. Please pray for us, for all Chinese people.
Best
wishes!
Song
Dr. Song Yang
US-China Cultural and
Educational Foundation
It is with deep
regret that we receive this cancellation notice. All of us were looking forward
to hosting our friends from Chengdu in just a few weeks. We understand the
ramifications of the deadly earthquake that struck Chengdu and the Sichuan
province. We know the government officials have far more pressing needs that
need to be tended to right now.
As many have already said, our hearts go
out to the Chinese and we continue to pray for those families who have lost
their loved ones and their homes. There is talk of a relief effort from amongst
our delegation. Let us know how we can help.
Peach County stands
committed to hosting our friends next year if that is still possible. We will
never forget the friendship that we have begun between our two
countries.
Your friend,
James Khoury
*Chengdu is our sister city with a population of
12,000,000.
**Lonquan County is our sister county with a population of
1,000,000. It is the rural area where peaches are actually grown.
James
Sutton
Georgia Dept. of Agriculture
jsutton@agr.state.ga.us
I, too, am most sorry that the delegation will be
unable to visit this year. My sympathies go out to the people of Chengdu.
Please let me know if my office can provide assistance in a rescheduling of a
visit in the future.
Lynne Riley, Commissioner - District
3
Fulton County Board of Commissioners
404-612-8213
office
404-224-5353 FAX
Lynne.Riley@FultonCountyGA.gov
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is, indeed, a very sad time for the people of China. We are
sorry they will not be making the trip to Georgia, for many reasons, but
certainly understand the current situation. Hopefully a trip next year will be
possible.
I appreciate both your and Ian's efforts in trying to bring
them to Athens
so we, too, could enjoy the exchange and their beautiful
performance.
Our thoughts and prayers are with China along with our
deepest condolences.
Talk to you soon,
heidi
Mayor Heidi
Davison
301 College Avenue, Suite 300
Athens, Georgia 30601
Is anyone thinking along those lines?
Take a look
at these sad pictures and pray for them. How does this impact the Peach
festival? Let us know the latest. We will be organizing some kind of Charity
event to show our concern and contribute to the red Cross for Chengdu. Anything
being organized on your side? Best wishes to you all.
WORLD | May 19, 2008
World:
A Moment of Silence
Howard J. Cattie, Jr.
Athens,
Ga.
The people will remain in
my thoughts and prayers, and I will alert the hotel that we will no longer need
the rooms.
I am planning a benefit series in Athens and Atlanta as an
emergency SPOTLIGHT, my band's benefit side of our operation, and I will let all
interested know of that initiative's progress.
If anyone knows of ways
they may be able to contribute, please let me know.
Thanks for all the
efforts on this project.
Ian
Ian P.
Schwarber