Based on similar experiences in other countries that has had bad earthquakes, buildings fail in seismic events only when their design or construction is not robust enough. Further, the criminal activity of construction malfeasance is not new or unique to the PRC. It happens the world over. That's why construction inspection is so important; it prevents buildings from falling down and killing people. Since the PRC government, which promised to investigate why so many schools collapsed in the earthquake, but to date has remained mired in its own nonfeasance, that is failure to act, a private Chinese citizen took it upon himself to collect the data that the government needed to gather. Based on available anecdotal evidence, I suspect that his findings will eventually reveal rampant construction corruption and its attendant payoffs to government building inspectors and officials. But, that's become a real problem for the PRC government now. Their misfeasance, or failure in oversight had contributed to the unnecessary deaths of a suspected 19,065 children. In a nation that only allows parents the one child, the grief from these deaths is immeasurable. Hence, any indication that someone is getting close to the truth gets quick attention from the PRC government. They will crush any chance that this information is ever revealed to the Chinese people. In a rush? For a quick synopsis, just read the red highlighted lines. It is sad to realize that as Chinese parents, on the anniversary of the quake, try to hold ceremonies of remembrance for their dead children, PRC police and troops will crush their displays of sorrow, and actively use the state's 'law enforcement' powers to stamp out any questions of corruption and wrongdoing by the state. The PRC has always used the common Chinese's suffering for its own political gain. But when Chinese citizens have suffered by government hands, then we should just take that suffering in silence? Sidebar: For a related story about the suspected real number of children that die in the earthquake see this 21 Nov 2008 New York Times article: Garbled Report on Sichuan Death Toll Revives Pain
