Source: CCTV.com

07-11-2007 09:45

Their not professionals, their works are not classical, but one group of artists is making a material contribution.

China's northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is suffering its worst drought in half a century. Soaring temperatures and scant rainfall have left the region parched - with serious shortages of drinking water for people and livestock. Members of an amateur choir in Beijing want to do their part to help keep Inner Mongolia green. Monday night, the choir performed a charity concert to raise money for the cause.

They're not professional but they sing from the heart, to save their youthful vision of paradise. Choir members average 50 years of age. Most spent part of their teens in Inner Mongolia, during the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and 70s. They formed their choir in Beijing in 1999.

Shen He, chorus member, said, "I went to Inner Mongolia in 1967. At that time, we were only 17 or 18 years old. Local nomads treated us the same as their own children. I lived there for 11 years which I won't forget for my whole life."

Even as the years separating them from their youth in the grasslands grow in number, Inner Mongolia remains in their hearts.

And they share in the distress of those who suffer the severe drought there.

Ma Xiaoli, chorus' head, said, "We went to Inner Mongolia and the drought left us feeling anxious days and nights. Summer is the best season of the grassland. But what we saw was shocking. Sheep were eating mud. Our hearts are broken. We try to do everything we can to help. We also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. He wrote back and supported our charity concert."

From famous singers of long songs to China's TV industry's pioneers, celebrities were invited to add their talents to the effort to keep Inner Mongolia green.

Shen Li, famous anchor, said, "It's my honor to perform here for the grassland. It's my duty to help."

Over 30,000 yuan have been raised. All proceeds will be donated to a fund to help Inner Mongolia fight the drought.

 

Editor:Liu Fang