Oct 12, 2001

Day 32 - Tzu Chi USA News Update
Reported on 10/12/01 5:00 p.m. PST

1. In the morning hours of October 13, on the American East Coast, the New York City Branch Office, the New Jersey Branch Office, and the Long Island Branch Office will be holding a prayer assembly at the Peace Park in New Jersey. At 9:11AM Eastern Standard Time, the event participants will link up with SNG in Taiwan. This prayer assembly is to be a symbolic memorial for the September 11th tragedy, and it signifies the formal launch of the October 13th One Person One Charity endeavor. Among the various dignitaries to join the brother and sisters in this event would be: the governor of New Jersey, various law makers, tragedy victims' families, and Knightbridge International representative Dr. James Laws.
2. Starting from 9:11AM on the East Coast, all the branch offices and contact points across America will pray for the tragedy victims of September 11th at 9:11AM in their respective locations, and this formally kicks off the One Person One Charity effort. This event, which stretches from the Eastern Seaboard to Hawaii, shall last about six hours. The U.S. Main Office will also issue press releases to the news media, informing them about this commencement of the One Person One Charity venture.
3. The U.S. Main Office, located in California, and the Southern California Branch Office will join together in the Southern California Branch Office at 9:11AM PST for a October 13th One Person One Charity Prayer Assembly. At the conclusion of the activity, Vice Executive Officer of U.S. Main Office Gher, the Executive Officer of the Southern California Branch Office Tsai, and Vice Executive Officer Pan will all take part in planting a Bodhi tree.
4. Today (October 12th), the U.S. Main Office Executive Officer Austin Tsao and Sister Hsueh Lin Chen of San Francisco, went to the Bay Area cable television station KPST Channel 66 for an interview with Ms. Jiang Ying of the Face To Face news program. This interview will broadcasted on October 13th from 7:30 to 8PM in the Bay Area. The intended audience will be the region's Chinese immigrants. This exchange will cover two important issues: Tzu Chi's efforts following the September 11th tragedy and the October 13th One Person One Charity event.
5. Today (October 12th), at 6PM Pacific Standard Time, the Greater Los Angeles Chinese radio station AM1300 will hold a joint interview with Chief Director Si-Sien in New York, Brother Jin-Guei Hsieh in Taiwan, and Brother Gher at the U.S. Branch Office. The conversation will discuss Tzu Chi's efforts after the September 11th attack, charitable assistance of Afghan refugees, and the October 13th One Person One Charity event.
6. October 14th, Tzu Chi and Knightbridge International will hold an press conference at the JFK Sheraton Hotel in New York at 1pm to explain to the public how Tzu Chi and Knightbridge International plan on assisting the Afghan refugees and shall formally embark on a mission to Afghanistan.
   

   Source: Tzu Chi USA Main Office