Rich girl flaunting wealth on microblog triggers crisis of confidence in China Red Cross

From Southern Weekend:

Recently a registered microblogger under the name of Guo Meimei has brought the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) under the public’s scrutiny. The 20 year-old girl flaunted about her luxury cars and bags on her micro blog page, but what brought her and the RCSC under the attention is that Guo’s microblog occupation is "General Manager of RCSC Commercial Club".

Received my gift for 20^th birthday. I picked it up in the cold wind…2011 is really geilivable (Chinese internet buzzword, means awesome, cooperative) right?!

When exposed, Guo Meimei first defended herself on her microblog, said she is not a staff in RCSC but her company has some business relations with the RCSC. "Our company put personal insurance and medical appliance advertisements on the Red Cross medical vehicle. Therefore it’s called RCSC commercial club." Later she deleted this entry and posted another entry saying she had nothing to do with RCSC at all. Her title is just a joke she made up for fun.

An telephone interview with Guo Meimei

Guo blamed the public and netizens of being hostile towards rich people, "I spend the money I earn, what does it have anything to do with you?"

After internal investigation, the RCSC declared Guo Meimei is not a staff in the organization and she has nothing to do with the RCSC. On June 23^rd, the RCSC reported this case to the police, saying they reserve the right to take legal actions against Guo Meimei.

Though both parties of this incident declared they don’t have any relationship, people just don’t buy it. Many wild guesses appeared, such as Guo Meimei is actually the daughter of vice president of RCSC Guo Changjiang (as both of them have the same family name). Some even offered a reward of 20 thousand yuan for the netizens to human flesh search for the real identity of Guo Meimei.

Just two months ago, a nearly ten thousand yuan catering invoice under the heading of Shanghai Luwan District Red Cross was circulated on Weibo (microblog). While the authenticity of the invoice is still under question, many have started to accuse the RCSC of abusing donation and ask for a more transparency.

The 9859 yuan catering invoice under the heading of Shanghai Luwan district Red Cross

The China Red Cross’s crisis is compounded by the audit problem pointed out by the nation’s audit administration. In the Auditing Working Report on the Execution of the Central Budgets for 2010 and Other State Revenues and Expenditures, which is released yesterday, the audit administration found a "4.2 million yuan excessive procurement". This report only covers the financial allocation from the government, not including the public donation. The report shows there are many problems in the financial management of the China Red Cross.

The exposed scandals have put the China Red Cross in the crisis of public confidence. Many netizens say they don’t want to donate money to the RCSC anymore.

网易山东省青岛市网友 [NDYD]：2011-06-27 14:13:37 发表
"不管你是420万还是4毛2，我要以后给你捐钱我TM就是你孙子。。什么红十字会，什么宋庆龄基金会等一类的组织，都是狗娘养的"

"Whether it’s 4.2 million yuan or 0.42 yuan, if I ever donate any money to RCSC again I called myself your grandson. Red cross, Song Qingling Foundation? All these organizations suck…"

网易福建省泉州市网友 ip:120.33.*.* 2011-06-27 06:36:01发表
还敢捐款不?

"You dare to donate again?"

网易天津市手机网友 ip：60.28.*.* 2011-06-28 11:45:50 发表
"大家以后都别捐了，除非能直接捐到最需要的人手里"

"Don’t donate money to these organizations again, unless you can give the money to the needed people’s hands in person."

网易新疆乌鲁木齐市网友 ip：124.88.*.*2011-06-27 14:19:05 发表
"在监管制度实施完善之前一分钱都不会捐。"

"I won’t donate a single penny until the regulatory system is perfect. "