(Clearwisdom.net) Editors' Note: In both Western and Chinese culture, the principle of karmic retribution, that is, being held ultimately accountable for one's own actions, is widely accepted. The fundamental teaching of Falun Gong is the characteristic of the universe, "Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance." The universe will reward actions that are in harmony with this principle, while actions such as beating, torturing and murdering people will incur karmic retribution. Stated another way, good deeds will be rewarded with good, while evildoings will meet due retribution. Articles such as this one are meant as a compassionate reminder of this principle to those who would commit wrongdoing. While many of those who persecute Falun Gong are merely "following orders," the universal law requires that they, too, be held responsible for their actions, and that only by reversing their course of wrongdoing may they escape retribution.

 

Xinhua Net reported that on June 24 and June 25, 2002, severe rainstorms, averaging a precipitation of between 30 and 70 millimeters (about 1 to 3 inches), occurred in the following areas: Western Zhejiang Province, Southern Anhui Province, Northern Jiangxi Province, Northwestern Hunan Province, Northeastern Guizhou Province, Central Yunnan Province, Northern Beijing City, Hebei Province and the Southeastern Inner Mongolian District. The Mentougou District, a suburb of Beijing, reached 158 millimeters (over six inches) of precipitation. The urban area of Beijing, facing its first and largest storm challenge of the season, had an average of 50 millimeters (about two inches) of rain.

Chutianjin News reported that the worst storms occurred in Hubei and surrounding provinces between June 19 and June 24, 2002, as they entered the rainy season. The Yinjiadian area, North of Suizhou City, had the most rain, at 361 millimeters (over 14 inches). In the cities of Suizhou and Xiangfan alone, the storm brought direct economic losses of 50 million Yuan RMB [This amount would be equivalent to USD$6 million.]

From June 13 through June 23, 2002, sixty-two cities and counties in Hunan Province were attacked by the storms and flooding that affected 9.77 million people. Six hundred fifty-eight villages became stranded due to flooded roads and highways. Crop damage covered a total of 452 thousand qing (7.458 million acres). Twenty-seven thousand houses collapsed. One hundred thirteen dams, containing two medium-sized reservoirs and one hundred eleven smaller reservoirs, were broken. Power lines were down for a total of 3,468 kilometers (about 2,155 miles). Direct economic losses of all types from these eleven days of storms and flooding totaled 2.14 billion yuan.