哀思津城

美國紀事專欄

哀思津城

文/胡曼荻   

              

       突然接到南希的短信：“剛剛聽到天津濱海地區大爆炸的信息，希望你那裏的朋友們都安全！納特市長已給黃市長發了慰問信。真是人間慘事！”查看新聞，才知812的悲慘事件，天天窩在家裏照顧小威廉，有點隔世的感覺，第二故鄉天津還是牽動神經，擔憂揪心，好在得知天津故友均平安，唯有為不幸罹難者祈福。

              

       南希·蓋博女士為費城市府外辦主席，去過天津三次，還有一個來自天津的幹女兒，對天津有著獨特的情感。因費城為天津的姊妹友好城市，她一手促成了三年前費城納特市長訪問天津，其時吾隨費城代表團出訪，兼任納特市長翻譯，訪問的第一天全天考察天津開發區濱海新區，保稅區和貨運碼頭都在參觀之列，那是天津的一個窗口，對外的驕傲，南希記憶猶新，難忘泰達之旅。若幹年後重新造訪，還是很吃驚濱海新區發展的日新月異，秀給費城代表團，甚為之自豪，隨團的美國團員均對那一片土地的發展神速欽佩仰慕。納特市長當時對那片新區的年發展速度覺得難以置信， 濱海新區這種火箭式的發展速度在他眼裏是個奇跡。

              

       吾在天津日報做記者期間，以為對泰達的一切很熟悉，那時隻有泰達經濟開發區。幾次采訪開發區，走進去，聞到的滿大街均是方便麵的味道。三年前的訪問更是記憶猶新：開發區擴張成濱海新區，據說這裏是未來中國經濟發展最快的地方：百分之二十的發展率。那裏建成雙城雙港，成為天津濱海新區的中軸：泰達低碳中心城、中新生態城(Eco City)、天津南港和東疆保稅港。在英語中，Eco City表示一種能使大自然良性循環的環保生態城市。從規劃圖裏看，十年前，中新生態城的原址還是一片鹽堿地，這個中國和新加坡在蘇州工業園區之後的合作項目，中新天津生態城作為世界上第一個國家間合作開發建設的生態城市，將為中國乃至世界其他城市可持續發展提供樣板；為生態理論創新、節能環保技術使用和展示先進的生態文明提供國際平台；為中國今後開展多種形式的國際合作提供示範。

         

       當時代表團看到的是精致的新區，寬廣的大道，是新城的氣派，車行駛在橫平豎直的廣闊街道，兩邊錯落有致星羅密布太陽能節板。最讓納特市長無法忘懷的是參觀東疆保稅港，這是在五年之內人工圍海造地出來的一片不可思議的神奇之地。它位於濱海新區最東端，是用疏浚航道的淤泥吹填造陸，形成的三麵環海半島式港區。 納特市長搖頭不可想象：費城四十年城建都沒有什麽翻天覆地的改變，最多就是幾棟新樓矗立而已，這五年創出的一個碼頭港口的奇跡隻有中國可見。他極為震驚，且不說全球五百強企業有將近兩百家落戶天津，僅是天津港填海擴大項目就能容納新增的二十三台重型集裝箱起重機，相比之下費城港口僅能容納五台。當被告知東疆保稅港未來十年將會有更大舉措，麵積會加倍，而且意將其建成為了北方最大的豪華遊輪始發碼頭。納特市長和同仁們交換著驚詫的眼光，比較費城的海軍基地改造的港口，這天津港的發展簡直不可同日而語。

              

       去年天津黃市長回訪費城，納特市長特別設宴招待遠道的朋友，兩位市長結下特殊友情。此番納特市長第一時間，便對天津轉達費城的慰問，自然是發自內心的深切關心。南希聯係一些在費城生活的天津人，正組織著募捐，在美國為天津盡些微薄之力。這是一個非常時期，大洋彼岸的美國友人都在默默祈禱。

              

       驚聞爆炸慘烈，很是震驚，拒絕相信。在天津度過最美好的歲月，對津城一草一木皆有情感，更思念天津老友。唯有通過文字，來為故土逝者追思。

 

附上南希·蓋博女士給生活在費城的天津人之公開信，以及她和天津市長的合影

 

                                                                                                August 13, 2015

 

A note from CDI President, Nancy Gilboy

 

Yesterday was a very sad day for Tianjin, Philadelphia’s Sister City in China. Two massive chemical explosions ripped through a section of their large port, and throughout last night and today each report I read increased the number of citizens who were killed and injured. As I write this, the latest report has at least 50 dead – including more than a dozen firefighters - 700 injured and 3,500 who spent last night in shelters because their homes were destroyed.

 

When the news reached Mayor Nutter about the explosions, he immediately wrote to Tianjin's Mayor Huang, whom he first met in 2012 when he led a delegation there. Their relationship developed through the Sister Cities Program.

 

Over the 35 years that Philadelphia and Tianjin have been “twinned,” Philadelphians have welcomed government officials, executives, artisans and students from Tianjin – many we now consider close friends. Meeting people through international exchanges, such as the Sister Cities Program, can’t help but make us care about them and heighten our interest in the city and country they’re from. That’s why international exchanges are an important part of our country’s international relations efforts. Yesterday’s tragedy means more to us than it might to others outside our region because each citizen of a Sister Cities is a member of our extended family.

 

For 61 years Citizen Diplomacy International of Philadelphia (CDI), has worked with international exchanges for both the U.S. Department of State and the City of Philadelphia. CDI is honored to administer Philadelphia’s Sister Cities Program – and from this wonderful program we’ve made friends in Tianjin, as have hundreds of others here.

 

I spent last night and today contacting the Tianjin citizens I’ve met over the years, and was happy when each wrote back they were safe. I’ve also heard from Tianjin natives currently living in the Philadelphia area who offered to work with us to raise funds to help citizens impacted by the explosions. We are now considering a fundraiser and will be in touch as plans progress.

 

In the meantime, please keep our Tianjin family in your prayers.

 

Nancy

 

Tianjin & Philadelphia: Tianjin, China’s fourth largest city with more than 13 million citizens, is in Northeast China, 90 miles from Beijing. It became Philadelphia’s Sister City in February 1980 when the cities signed an agreement to celebrate, support, and create economic, educational and cultural partnerships. Many activities have taken place since the signing. Most recognizable from this relationship is the Friendship Gate at 10th and Arch in Chinatown, the only authentic Friendship Gate remaining in the United States.  In 2008 Tianjin sent artisans to restore the 25 year old gate to its original beauty by using ancient methods for painting and gold leafing. The project was done in cooperation with the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation.  In late 2012 Mayor Nutter led a delegation that included China Partnership of Greater Philadelphia, Citizen Diplomacy International, Drexel University, Fox Chase International, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and White and Williams.  Agreements were signed for cooperation in energy, education, medicine, culture and law.  A reciprocal visit by Mayor Huang was made in the Spring of 2013. The first Sister City Scholar, who graduated from Drexel as Class President, was from Tianjin.  

 

CDI:  Formerly the International Visitors Council of Philadelphia (IVC), CDI has been the region's official international relations organization since 1954 as a public/private partnership with the U.S. Department of State and the City of Philadelphia. It oversees the Sister City Program and the State Department's highest exchange, the International Visitor Leadership Program.

 

CDI engages local citizens in playing a role in international relations, builds mutual understanding among nations and promotes Philadelphia’s rich history, culture and economy to the world.

 

CDI is part of a national network that was nominated for the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize.

 

2015-08-16@美國費城塢木齋

胡曼荻為美籍華裔作家，著有關於美國移民留學的長篇小說《美漂》。互動新浪微博@胡曼荻，新浪博客: http://blog.sina.com.cn/huximei

 

南希·蓋博女士和天津市長的合影如下：

[Wiserman]

天津 爆炸的根本原因是：
1. 鄧小平效應的發酵 -- 一切向錢看，做事不負責任，貪圖虛功。
2. 溫家寶施政的成績 -- 把過多的發展都放在博海邊，隻注意發展天津。