Bin Xu

The 2008 Sichuan earthquake killed 87,000 people and left 5 million homeless. In response to the devastation, an unprecedented wave of volunteers and civic associations streamed into Sichuan to offer help. The Politics of Compassion examines how civically engaged citizens acted on the ground, how they understood the meaning of their actions, and how the political climate shaped their actions and understandings. Using extensive data from interviews,...

The little boy's house was surrounded by many bamboo forests and streams. He lived with bamboo all year round. In spring, bamboo shoots were his delicious food; in summer, bamboo baskets and bamboo brooms were his tools in fishing; in fall, bamboo kites flew high and far; in winter, pork cooked with bamboo shoots was the special dish for the New Year's Eve dinner. Even his gift from his grandpa on the New Year's Eve was made of bamboo. The ever-growing...