“Natural disasters may destroy homes, but the collapse of public trust is even more deadly.”

By Cindy Carter | China Digital Times

Summary

Repeated scandals, fraudulent fundraising, and poorly executed disaster relief campaigns have led to a profound public skepticism in China around the efficacy and integrity of charitable donations. This skepticism is particularly evident in cynical and hostile reactions to flood relief appeals by local governments.

A decline in charitable donations from corporations and the entertainment industry, as well as the general public, indicate a broader crisis of confidence in the mechanisms and institutions responsible for disaster relief.

The damage incurred by scandals, such as the uproar provoked by Guo Meimei — a wealthy Chinese woman who flaunted an extravagant lifestyle on social media while claiming to be the General Manager of Red Cross Commerce — have done much to sour goodwill.

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