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<title>Tzu Chi Northern CA Activity Report</title>
<link>http://northerncal.us.tzuchi.org/nc.nsf/home/index</link>
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Tzu Chi Northern CA Activity Report (RSS 2.0)
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<language>zh-tw</language>
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<title><![CDATA[Tzu Chi relief assessment team from Argentina is in Chile now]]></title>
<guid isPermaLink="false">k11780</guid>
<pubDate>03/14/2010 08:37:52 AM PST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Tzu Chi relief assessment team from Argentina is currently in Chile assessing the earthquake damages and needs. On March 11, another earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 struck Chile. On the same day, Tzu Chi relief assessment team met with the Mayor of Concepcion to discuss the needs in the area. The Mayor assigned a few governmental officials to support Tzu Chi with its assessment work. Tzu Chi relief assessment team visited two fishermen villages and a community outside of Concepcion today. There are over 450 households in these three locations that need support. The needs in these areas include shelter, blankets, public toilets, food and water. On March 12, Tzu Chi relief assessment team will assess the situation in a severely damaged area using helicopter, as the area remains inaccessible via roads.]]></description>
<link>http://northerncal.us.tzuchi.org/nc.nsf/report/k11780</link>
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<title><![CDATA[Tzu Chi Survey Chile for future aid relief]]></title>
<guid isPermaLink="false">k11779</guid>
<pubDate>03/14/2010 08:12:40 AM PST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[A team of six Tzu Chi volunteers from Argentina flew to Chile this week to survey damage in quake-hit areas of the country, and make an assessment for future aid relief missions. < Argentinean volunteers go to quake zone >Taking the Tzu Chi flag, a group of volunteers from Argentina sets out for the earthquake-hit areas of neighboring Chile. Leaving Buenos Aires on March 10 the six-member team took the 2-hour flight to Santiago, before travelling nine hours to Concepcion, to survey damage at the epicenter of the quake. The volunteers meet up with local Taiwanese entrepreneurs, through whom they made contact with the mayor of Concepcion.]]></description>
<link>http://northerncal.us.tzuchi.org/nc.nsf/report/k11779</link>
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<title><![CDATA[Collaboration in Community Events ¡V Promoting Eco-Friendly Living as part of the 3 Green Acts Pledge]]></title>
<guid isPermaLink="false">k11659</guid>
<pubDate>03/13/2010 10:15:17 PM PST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[To encourage people to use public transportation to get to public parks, the Bay Area Rapid Transit Authority (BART) and the East Bay Regional Park District co-organized the ¡§Tracks to Trails¡¨ event along Iron Horse Trails on Saturday, July 11, 2009. Since Tzu Chi has been actively involved in the East Bay area for many years, and since the goals of the event were in alignment with Tzu Chi¡¦s own philosophy, Tzu Chi chose to participate in the first year of this event. Volunteers set up booths to introduce the public to Tzu Chi, to promote Eco-Friendly Living, to introduce the overall 3 Green Acts, and to present the New Bamboo Banks project.]]></description>
<link>http://northerncal.us.tzuchi.org/nc.nsf/report/k11659</link>
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<title><![CDATA[Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Disaster Operations Report on Haiti ¡V March 12, 2010]]></title>
<guid isPermaLink="false">k11775</guid>
<pubDate>03/13/2010 09:16:40 AM PST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Tzu Chi has been attending UN Haiti earthquake humanitarian relief cluster meetings and meetings with other NGOs and individuals in Haiti. Director of Tzu Chi Global Volunteers, Stephen Huang, met with the President of Haiti to discuss long-term reconstruction plans for the quake survivors. Tzu Chi will focus its long-term reconstruction work in the city of Leogane. For the initial phase, Tzu Chi will focus on the reconstruction of hospitals and schools. Besides the reconstruction of buildings, Tzu Chi will emphasize on guiding and encouraging the people in Haiti to stand on their own feet and to help one another, forming a cycle of love. Tzu Chi continues to recruit more local volunteers and doctors to join Tzu Chi¡¦s mid- and long-term relief operations. Local Tzu Chi volunteers will continue to conduct home visits and community service work in Haiti in the long-run. As part of its mid-term relief effort, Tzu Chi continues to distribute tents and tarps to the quake survivors to help them through the raining season.]]></description>
<link>http://northerncal.us.tzuchi.org/nc.nsf/report/k11775</link>
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<title><![CDATA[Taiwan Charity Has Global Reach]]></title>
<guid isPermaLink="false">k11773</guid>
<pubDate>03/11/2010 05:58:01 PM PST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
<link>http://northerncal.us.tzuchi.org/nc.nsf/report/k11773</link>
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<title><![CDATA[Reaching out to the Public to Spread Dharma ¡V A Report on the Mountain View Day Worker¡¦s Center for Tzu Chi¡¦s Free Dental Clinic Services]]></title>
<guid isPermaLink="false">k11686</guid>
<pubDate>03/01/2010 06:31:05 PM PST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Jing Si Aphorisms ¡V Love is like the pure water Dharma. It will bring in fresh water and help to moisturize one¡¦s drying heart. On Wednesday the 29th of July, with the invitation of the Mountain View Day Worker Center, the Northern California Tzu Chi Foundation medical team and local Tzu Chi volunteers organized a free dental clinic event at the parking lot of St. Joseph¡¦s Catholic Church in Mountain View. They provided compassion, care and quality dental examinations and treatment for the uninsured day workers.]]></description>
<link>http://northerncal.us.tzuchi.org/nc.nsf/report/k11686</link>
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<title><![CDATA[Starting Point ¡V The Orientation of Mission Tzu Ching]]></title>
<guid isPermaLink="false">k11768</guid>
<pubDate>02/23/2010 09:23:15 PM PST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Starting Point ¡V The Orientation of Mission Tzu ChingAuthor: Lifen Chern Photo: James LiangTranslation Team: Helen Chiao, Cecilia Chang, David BurrowesSept. 13 was Mission Tzu Ching¡¦s orientation day. I drove my son and two of his classmates to the Milpitas service center. The kids chatted happily when they met their old friends, while the adult volunteers and parents were busy taking pictures, arranging chairs, and preparing snacks. Sister Sophia Chern was busy checking that the students were dressed according to the dress code: boys should have their shirts tugged into their pants and girls should have their hair tied up. No one can get away with deviating from the code under her watch! At 9:15, all 210 students were divided into seven groups based on their high schools. The seven groups were: Cooperation, Harmony, Contentment, Gratitude, Tolerance, Thoughtfulness, and Unity. Under the guidance of Tim, a Tzu Ching alumnus, we took this year¡¦s first group photo in the parking lot of the service center.Seeing this group of energetic kids standing together in high spirits, I was speechless and my heart was filled with gratitude. They are our next generation of Tzu Chi. They are taking on the responsibility of continuing Tzu Chi¡¦s legacy.After taking the group photos, the students went into the classroom while praying and chanting. After the Three Bows ceremony Tim asked if everyone knew why he or she was required to bring a greeting card. All students answered ¡§Yes¡¨. These were intended to encourage primary school aged kids who storm victims in Taiwan.Each student wrote down blessings carefully on their hand-made or store-bought cards. Many students drew a smiley face and hoped that kids in the disaster areas did not forget to face the world with a smile. There is hope when there is love and caring.Next, all students watched a video from Master Cheng Yen. The video showed that the world suffers from frequent natural disasters. We all agreed that our Mother Earth has treated us with kindness, compassion, and tolerance but the question is ¡§How do we return her kindness, compassion and tolerance?¡¨ Although natural disasters strike us almost mercilessly, people from different countries work together and devote themselves to helping one another.One senior, Joe Huang, made a special trip from Chicago to attend the orientation. He told younger college students that when he was in college he spent much of his time at parties, on electronic games, and hanging out with friends. Schoolwork was always the last priority. Volunteering was never on his to-do list. That was, until the 9/21 earthquake when he saw people became helpless in the face of natural disaster. He suddenly woke up and realized that life is very vulnerable. He felt he should do something to help those people. It so happened at that time he had an opportunity to come to work in San Jose. He contacted Tzu Chi in San Jose. Then volunteering gradually replaced his electronic games. At the beginning, he thought he could buy the blue and white volunteer uniform with money then he realized that he would need to have enough service hours in order to be eligible to wear the uniform. Joe continued by saying when he and the Tzu Chi Chicago branch went fund-raising at the University of Chicago, Urbana-Champaign, many Americans took the initiative of telling the fundraisers that they had known Tzu Chi for many years. Many Tzu Chi volunteers devoted countless hours, and unconditionally helped many people in that area. Because of Tzu Chi¡¦s track record in helping people it had established credibility in people¡¦s hearts. Therefore there was no need to introduce Tzu Chi; everyone was willing to donate money to the organization. Joe told these young students a Tzu Chi story. About Forty-three years ago, a few housewives were guided by Master Cheng Yen. They saved 50 cents from their daily grocery money and used the accumulated money to help others. Now the first thing he does each morning is to put a coin in his piggy bank. He also reminds himself that he should have a good thought. He encouraged all the young students that they should always have a good thought daily. The senior students carefully designed a very interesting Jeopardy game and used it to test the younger classmates to see if they paid attention to the talks. For example: They showed many pictures and asked them what is the right way to wear the uniform? What are the eight Tzu Chi missions? All students were trying to answer. The eight missions are Charity, Health Care, Education, Humanities, International Disaster Relief, Bone Mallow Donation, Community Volunteers, and the Environmental Protection. Another question asked: what is the only thing one must always wear? Everyone started to guess. One student gave the correct answer: A smile. During our group discussion, ¡§mothers of loving hearts¡¨ made delicious sandwiches for the students. All students introduced themselves while eating sandwiches. In the meantime, fellow seniors and the instructor took the opportunity to bring up the topic of ¡§community services¡¨. The Orientation finished on time after students bowed with praying hands. After returning home, my son put his uniforms neatly on the hangers. He was always sloppy and this was the first time he did this. Seeing his change, I was so touched. Action always follows after someone is strongly touched by something. Today may be the starting point of many actions.]]></description>
<link>http://northerncal.us.tzuchi.org/nc.nsf/report/k11768</link>
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<title><![CDATA[Heart to Heart to Interweave Warmth and Brightness - Gratitude Charity Concerts for the Victims of Typhoon Morakot.]]></title>
<guid isPermaLink="false">k11767</guid>
<pubDate>02/23/2010 08:47:15 PM PST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The damages caused by Typhoon Morakot were tremendous. In order to gather compassion and care from people so that more helping power could be mobilized, on September 19, 2009, the Northern California Tzu Chi Foundation held two charity concerts at Chabot College in Hayward, CA. Various groups of performers and Tzu Chi volunteers gathered together to express their thanks to the people who had helped in the relief for the victims of Typhoon Morakot. The concerts represented a union of thousand of hearts. Even after the concerts were concluded with a prayer for all of the performers, the audience was still reluctant to leave.]]></description>
<link>http://northerncal.us.tzuchi.org/nc.nsf/report/k11767</link>
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<title><![CDATA[Faith Leaders Appreciation Breakfast with South Bay Religious Groups The City Government Recognizes the Tzu Chi Foundation]]></title>
<guid isPermaLink="false">k11711</guid>
<pubDate>02/23/2010 06:09:02 PM PST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[On October 15, 2009, the Tzu Chi Foundation and other South Bay religious groups were invited to attend the Faith Leaders Appreciation Breakfast at San Jose City Hall. The San Jose Mayor, Mr. Chuck Reed, awarded a plaque to the Tzu Chi Foundation for providing services to homeless people over the years. At the same time, "The Council for a Parliament of the World¡¦s Religions¡¨ also honored the San Jose City Government for its effort in achieving harmony among different religions.]]></description>
<link>http://northerncal.us.tzuchi.org/nc.nsf/report/k11711</link>
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<title><![CDATA[The Mission and Responsibility of Core Team Members¡¨ ¡V testimonial from Sister Gee Ching Yeung]]></title>
<guid isPermaLink="false">k11655</guid>
<pubDate>11/04/2009 09:08:57 PM PST</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[At the 2009 ¡§Northern California Commissioner Training and Retreat Camp¡¨, the Training Committee asked Sister Gee Ching Yeung to deliver the keynote speech about the mission and responsibility of core team members. The Committee hoped Sister Gee¡¦s speech would inspire attendees to bravely march forward and never consider a change of heart.]]></description>
<link>http://northerncal.us.tzuchi.org/nc.nsf/report/k11655</link>
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