"It tells me that it doesn't matter how devastated your society is, " said Mr. Weiner.

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He added: "We were devastated and didn't think there was any chance - mentally - of restoring it, " he said.

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'But the indigenous forest has its own roof, so wind and oxygen are reduced and we don't see the fires that have devastated the surrounding countryside.

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We just weren't sure, the school was pretty much devastated and mostly destroyed.

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She said her husband didn't want to talk and her children were devastated.

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"There are people who are just doing their normal lives because they weren't affected, and then there are people who are devastated, " he said.

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Last year Interactive got attention for a community effort that was completely unplanned and that didn't spring from the fest itself: After earthquakes and tsunamis devastated Japan on the opening day of the festival, attendees launched "SXSW4Japan, " which raised funds for relief efforts.

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"Cauda equina syndrome has devastated her life, but the tragedy is that it doesn't have to cause such significant disability and can be treated effectively with urgent surgery, " JMW lawyer Eddie Jones said.

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Centre director Michael Wiseman said children were "devastated" when Gordon did not appear at the weekend, "but we couldn't send out a headless gorilla".

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