wet come to "newsline." i have the news at this hour. thursday marks exactly five months since the march 11th earthquake and tsunami. flower altars have been set up across the area in miyagi prefecture. the tsunami and ensuing fires damaged 9,500 homes in the city.

>> translator: i feel that the five months have passed quickly. we still have a long way to go. >> on thursday flower altars were set up at 13 locations including schools and fish markets. many residents were seen praying at the elementary school. one of the evacuation sites. >> translator: my daughter is still missing. i hope we can find her soon. she left two children behind. >> the earthquake and tsunami killed nearly 15,700 people and 4,700 are missing. the survivors are still struggling to get their lives back to normal. more than 87,000 people have lost their homes due to the disaster or have been forced to evacuate by the crisis at the fukushima daiichi nuclear plant. 90%% of the plant temporary housing units have been completed.

some remain vacant because they are in remote areas. more than 140,000 people in miyagi prefecture have lost their jobs but there have only been about 86,000 job offers. over 700 households in these prefectures are on welfare. the labor industry plans to step up support for the unemployed in the region asking businesses nationwide to give them priority in hiring. the okinawa government has asked the foreign ministry to provide information on the radioactive waste held at a u.s. base in the prefecture. the u.s. military carried out an operation to help areas of northeastern japan hit by the earthquake and tsunami in march. aircraft and other equipment used in the operation were contaminated by fallout from the nuclear disaster at the fukushima daiichi plant. material used to remove contamination are being kept at an american naval base in

nagasaki prefecture. the foreign ministry notified the prefectural government on the matter wednesday. the japanese government is working on setting standards and guidelines for disposing of radioactive material. the spokesperson in okinawa says the american military will properly store other waste until the japanese government disposes of it adding that its radiation level is so low there's no possibility of a leak. the accident at the fukushima teach is not getting in the way of a nuclear deal between japan and vietnam. the japanese government will continue with a plan to build two nuclear reactors in the southeast asian country. state secretary for foreign affairs met on thursday in hanoi with is the vietnamese deputy minister. japan will learn from the fukushima daiichi accident and have higher standards than ever

bp. had said his trust of japan's technology and once they reach an agreement in place. the country sign ad deal last october. two reactors japan set to construct are scheduled to start operating in 2021. vietnam plans to do a total of 14 nuclear reactors by 2030 to meet the growing demand for electricity. new numbers show people in japan are getting more of what they eat from abroad. the country's food self-sufficiency rate in the last year dropped below 40% for the first time in four years. the agricultural ministry says the fiscal year through march fell one percentage point to 39%. the rate is based on the population calorie intake of food produced in japan. this is the second straight year it has decreased. the agricultural ministry says bad weather triggered a drop in domestic production of wheat and potatoes leading to more imports. japan set a goal of increasing

the country's food self-sufficiency to 50% by the year 2020. that would help them deal with the possibility of the rising global food prices that could limit imports. the government is using a new implement supplement program to encourage farmers to increase their production of wheat, soybeans and other foods. north korea denied a south korean allegation that it fired artillery shells into waters near the disputed maritime border in the yellow sea. south korea's defense ministry said on wednesday three rounds of artillery fire were held near yeonpyeong island after 7:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. and two more after 7:00 p.m. shells landed in the sea near the demarcation line in the south korean marines returned fire into the north's waters. the spokesperson denied the allegations in a statement saying construction work nearby province was using explosives

and that the south fabricated the shelling. last november north korea launched an artillery attack killing four people including two civilians. in washington the u.s. state department called on north korea to exercise restraint. representatives for the united states and south korea say they will agree to end a future request for bilateral dialogue from the north korean government. that's despite the fact that the north hasn't changed its stance on uranium enrichment. u.s. deputy secretary of state nicholas burns met wednesday in washington with south korean presidential secretary for foreign affairs and national security chun yung woo. they discussed north korea's nuclear program. burns explained that north korean representatives insisted in bilateral talks last month. their country enriches uranium to generate energy. he said the argued it shouldn't be seen as problematic.

the united states and south korea are trying to resume the six-party talks on north korea's nuclear program. the discussions have been on hold since 2009, but the two countries insist the talks will not resume unless north korea takes concrete steps toward nuclear disarmament and that includes stopping the uranium enrichment program. syria is becoming isolated because of its use against anti-government demonstrators. the rift between the country other nations widened wednesday at the united nations security council on the official talks. oscar fernandez reported about 2,000 have been killed in the violence so far. the you and european countries warned syria could face sanctions if the suppression continues. >> it would be much, much better for the people of syria and syria would be better off without assad. >> germany's u.n. deputy minister demanded syrian forces

to stop killing peaceful demonstrators immediately. the syria's ambassador defended his government's actions. >> it is very indicative and informative to hear the prime minister of england describing the riots and rioters in england as by using the term gangs. why they don't allow us to use the same term for the armed groups and terrorist groups in my country. this is hypocrisy. >> up next, extended world weather forecast.

>> that's our broadcast this

hour. we will be back with more news in a half hour. thank you for watching. bye-bye. ♪ china now boasts the second largest gdp in the world. a young man is trying to right an imbalance in this money-obsessed society. 30-year-old gu lin is a popular guy at homes for the elderly. he's an expert listener. quitting his company job, he's made voluntary service his life's work.

lin gives it all he's got. once called the paris of the east, and home to 19 million people, shanghai is china's commercial capital. china is aging rapidly as a result of its one child policy. already, one in four chinese is over 60 years old, and immediate steps must be taken to meet their needs.

gu lin volunteers at senior citizens homes every day. today he's visiting a government operated home. he's been coming here for two years now. >> hello. >> hello. >> the ladies look forward to his visits. >> there are 60 residents in this home. the average age of them is over 80 years old. first he plays a fun mental exercise game with them.

lin spends most of his time talking with the residents. you talk to lin about everything, don't you? he comforts her with a gentle touch.

attentive to every detail, lin wants to do something about this old tv. a good friend to the elderly, lin brings smiles to their faces.

after graduating from college in 2005, lin tried construction work and other jobs, but couldn't find one he liked. a turning point came three years ago. when he took a job at a catering service for senior citizens homes. his heart ached for the many lonely elderly. wanting to be their friend, lin quit his job and is determined to be a volunteer for life.

lin's activities are starting to expand. he now has a desk in the ward office. his salary is zero, but that doesn't stop him. in an aging society, where welfare policy lags behind needs, his work is starting to draw attention. in only two years, 200 young

people have joined him. 80% are students. lin tries hard to connect young and old.

lin, you are certainly passionate. today, lin and a student volunteer are visiting a welfare center for the elderly in the city. it's the student's first time to volunteer. expensive pcs stood idle because no one taught the elderly how to use them.

so they're volunteered for the job of instructor. how is the new student volunteer managing? while determined to be a volunteer for life, lin is also a husband and father. the family of three live in a shanghai apartment.

his wife, wang qin, is 28 years old. the family's bread winner, she works in the i.t. industry. lin is dedicated to taking care of their daughter. lin made his life-changing decision when his wife was expecting their first child.

qin is so understanding. lin, you mustn't disappoint her. by 2050, nearly 400 million chinese will be over 60 years old. in march 2011, the government launched a new initiative for senior services. volunteer activities are becoming more important. lin is always looking for new homes in need of his services. many residents of this private nursing home are bedridden and need care 24 hours a day.

the caregivers are too few to care for the many elderly. lin starts by talking to the elderly individually.

he listens patiently, even if they're not on the same wavelength. back in his office, lin finds a member of his volunteer group. many many of the elderly have hearing problems so he's asking a doctor to test them. two days later, lin visits the home with two doctors. they're ear, nose and throat specialists from holland and

norway. the residents have never been examined by ear specialists. the tests found that 80% of the residents could improve their hearing with hearing aids. money is always an issue for volunteer groups. lin has asked many firms to contribute, but the result is --

in funds from the government or companies, so he must depend on people's goodwill. last december, he placed a collection box in his office. he's trying to raise money to buy a tv set for the senior citizens home. members of his group contribute, too. this man is donating money his child saved from their allowance.

the president of a trading firm who frequently donates came to chip in pocket money. lin takes time from his busy life to visit his parents twice a month. jiangsu province where lin grew up is an hour's train ride from shanghai. he's welcomed by his 65-year-old father, who lives on a pension. lin's mother is 62. they both worked while raising him. born in 1981, lin is a typical only child in china. he wants to live with his parents someday and care for them.

his parents generation tend not to ask for help. lin has mixed feelings about their attitude. today a gift has arrived at the senior citizens home.

good-bye to the flickering old tv. ♪ lin bought a $500 liquid crystal tv with the money he collected.

♪ lin also visits senior citizens living alone. they've known each other for two years now. she trusts lin completely. her smile makes me happy, too. the elderly he's met through bonding, their smiling faces are gu lin's pride and joy.