Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I would like to thank the Fushun government for hosting this lunch and for giving me the chance to speak before you all today. I've been asked to briefly touch on two topics this morning. The first is what volunteer work means to me and the second is how volunteer work relates to Fushun.
For me these topics are deeply intertwined. So speaking about one without the other is not possible. Firstly volunteer work is not a foreign concept to me. I believe all humans hold high the ideals of altruism and compassion for others, but seldom act upon these ideals. I have participated in volunteer work sporadically in the past, but with no real passion invested in it. This has changed now.
I arrived in China on the 6th of May, 2008. After acclimating to my new environment for only 6 days China was struck by the tragedy that was the Sichuan earthquake. Shortly thereafter I saw China's greatest strength. With no reservations I can say that China's greatest strength is it's people. I