Over 100 candles were lit on Tuesday in remembrance of the victims of the Nepal earthquakes. The candlelight vigil took place in the Erb Memorial Union amphitheater at 7 p.m.
Several people spoke before the candles were lit, including international students from Nepal, a student who was visiting Nepal when the earthquake struck and a physician who will soon travel to Nepal to aid relief efforts.
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” Sugam Singh said, one of the international students who spoke at the vigil.
“I see you all as part of Nepal,” said Anjani Lama, another international student at the event.
Other speakers emphasized the resilience of Nepal and the quick response by the Eugene community to assist Nepal’s recovery. It was announced that the Eugene City Council has voted to send $50,000 to the country’s relief efforts.
A brisk wind blew through the crowd as the candles were lit, so keeping them aflame was difficult. People relit each others’ candles when they blew out. “Perseverance in times of adversity,” Singh said, calling it symbolic of the struggles in Nepal.
Overall the event was designed to raise awareness, according to Lama. “The target is to bring awareness and also to let people know that our country needs help,” she said. Attendees were encouraged to donate online, as money could could not be gathered by event organizers themselves since cash donations are not allowed to be collected on university property.
“Speaking as a student myself,” Singh said, “I realize it’s hard to give, but student groups have helped out in other ways.” He added that simply showing solidarity for Nepal is helpful. “Remember the victims, remember the survivors,” he said to the crowd, “but also remember Nepal in two weeks, a month, two months from now.”
Many speakers criticized the government’s relief efforts in Nepal, saying that most of the work has been done by volunteers. Marie Caroline Pons, a UO student in attendance, called the event “a representation of what’s happening in Nepal. There’s this effort for people to do things by themselves.” She called the gathering symbolic of that community effort to help.
“We’re continuing to pray,” Ani Padmadechoktso said, a Tibetan nun in attendance. She reminded the crowd that Eugene itself is on a fault line and is expecting a 9.0 earthquake in its future.
After the vigil, attendees signed a banner that will be sent to Nepal. The banner was covered with notes like “We are with you,” “Best wishes,” and “Everything will be better.”
Large red type at the top of the banner read “Nepal will rise again!”