A Scarred Nation

A Scarred Nation   
This week EO dedicated a 16-page special on the coverage of Sichuan earthquake that struck on May 12, with 50,000 people feared death. The Cover is filled by a blown-up picture showing many pairs of hands trying to reach out to support an earthquake victim being carried on a door board. The theme of the special–国殇 (guo shang) – spread across the centre of the front page.

The words traditionally have two-fold meaning, that of dying before one's age or sacrificing for one's country. The EO has adopted the words to refer to a grave disaster that has struck the nation to the core, causing nationwide anguish. The foreword under the title read: "If it is fated that calamity must dawn on us, let's face it with courage and confidence; if the pains must be endured, let's be collected in our show of strength. Let's reach out and bear the weigh together."

The back cover of the Special is a list of companies pledging to shoulder social responsibility and stand together with the quake victims in time of need.