Shanghai Daily news

Tony Chen, vice president of eBay EachNet (left) and Xing Fangjie, deputy director
of the Shanghai Red Cross, launch a charity auction yesterday to raise funds for
tsunami-stricken areas.

The city's first online charity auction to raise money for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami began on EachNet.com yesterday.
Initiated by eBay EachNet, the auction was sponsored by nearly 10 Websites and IT companies, such as Tom, Netease, Tencent, Shanda and Nokia, who will donate their own products for auction until January 24.
Products and services on sale included VIP mailboxes and accounts, special QQ numbers, prepaid computer game cards for sponsor Websites, Nokia handsets and other digital products donated by BENQ.
Dongfeng Automobile Co Ltd will also put five of its latest type of vehicles, which is scheduled to be released next Tuesday, up for auction.
Altogether about 3,000 products will be put on sale, with a total value exceeding 1 million yuan (US$120,482), organizers said.
Meanwhile, locals can also join the auction by either bidding or putting their own belongings up for bid on the e-business platform. About 10 million netizens are estimated to participate in the two-week auction.
All sales volume will be cashed into a special bank account and donated to the Shanghai Red Cross to help the Asia tsunami-stricken areas.
"We sincerely hope all people with love and care will participate in the charity activity and help those victims to return to their homeland as soon as possible," said Tony Chen, vice president of eBay EachNet.