Dear Secretary Clinton,
As a concerned citizen of the United States and a global citizen, I am writing to offer my comments on the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) that was released on August 26, 2011. As I understand the present situation, the Department of State must carry out an evaluation of the application for a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline project. This evaluation of the application extends beyond environmental impact, taking into account economic, energy security, foreign policy, and other relevant issues.
After reviewing the FEIS, I am convinced that to permit this project would be to encourage and provide a powerful incentive to the old fossil fuel energy economy. Meanwhile, we the people are making investments, both public and private, in the new green energy economy based on renewable energy and energy efficiency. Granting approval of this application would work at cross purposes to the stated goals of the Obama Administration.
As President Obama said, "The nation that leads the world in 21st century clean energy will be the nation that leads in the 21st century global economy. America can and must be that nation."
To permit the Keystone XL Pipeline project would be a major retrenchment in America’s world leadership toward a clean energy future.
The threats to our national interest that climate change poses are great. The coastal cities of the US will face rising sea levels. Our farmlands will face increasing disruption of normal seasonal rainfall, increasing temperatures and more violent weather events that could lower crop yields and threaten our food security. Southwestern states, including New Mexico, face drought, forest fires and water shortages as the annual snow pack shrinks and summer storms fail to arrive.
Meanwhile, the costs of maintaining the old fossil fuel energy economy are increasing at an elevated rate. The specific costs of the Keystone XL project include environmental destruction of fragile lands with unique ecosystems to produce this most dirty and destructive form of oil. The pipeline would provide strong incentives for Canadian Big Oil companies to expand their destruction to increase production. Extraction and refining of this tar sands oil results in more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional oil. In addition the increased production of tar sand oil will require the cutting down of some 740,000 acres of boreal forest, a natural carbon reservoir. As global citizens, we cannot just ignore this destruction because it occurs in Canada, not the USA.
Furthermore, the disturbance of fragile lands with unique ecosystems along the 1700 mile path of the pipeline during construction as well as the necessity to cross rivers and other recharge areas of the great Ogallala aquifer in the nation’s heartland will create disruption that will be slow to heal. When the dirty oil with its volatile diluents begins to flow, there is the ever present risk of spills and releases, as stated by the EPA in the letter to the State Department of June 6, 2011. These oil spills will cause additional environmental destruction and the risk of aquifer contamination. In my estimation, the environmental risks are just not worth the benefits!
Investment of $7 billion in the old fossil fuel energy economy could be invested in new green energy. This would be much more effective in creating the future we seek, create green jobs when we need them most. A visit to the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy website demonstrates all of the investments that we the people are making to create incentives for the green economy. Why would we the people permit a dirty and destructive oil pipeline project to be built and operated when we are making so much progress toward a clean energy future?
This morning, I read again the position papers on energy and environmental protection that set forth the promises of presidential candidate Barack Obama to us, the voters. In 2008 I made a decision to vote for the president and worked hard to encourage others to do the same. Now, I am asking President Obama to stick by his campaign promises. Permitting the Keystone XL Pipeline project to proceed will go against these promises and cause me to reconsider my support. Yes, this is that important to me!
Sincerely,
Susan Gorman
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Please Read this Book!
A Review of World on the Edge: How to Prevent Environmental and Economic Collapse
by Lester Brown
Our summer in Berlin has been truly filled with the joys of urban living - except for the changeable weather! People tell us this has been the coolest, wettest summer they can recall. We still have had some lovely sunny days but more frequent cool and rainy times indicate that the weather is just not normal! Folks here are convinced this is not an aberration - it is climate change at work.
It was with these thoughts in mind, that I read Lester Brown’s latest book, World on the Edge, to understand what’s really happening with the planet. World on the Edge, the most recent release of the Plan B series of books, is assiduously well documented, and a reasoned account of the environmental trends that are undermining the world economy.
For those unfamiliar with Lester Brown, he is the founder of the Earth Policy Institute and before that he founded Worldwatch, the organization that has published State of the World each year. Brown and the Earth Policy Team developed Plan B, outlining a plan, a budget, and a timetable for rescuing our twenty-first century civilization.
The environmental trends he discusses are falling water tables, eroding soils and expanding deserts, rising temperatures, melting ice, shrinking harvests and food insecurity. These trends lead to a new politics of food scarcity, environmental refugees, mounting stresses and failing states. As Brown states in the Foreword, "Restructuring the economy in time to avoid decline will take a massive mobilization at wartime speed." This book provides a more urgent call to action and presents the latest version of Plan B supported by new data and research.
On the hopeful side, he reports that all over the world, investments are being made by private firms, national governments and international organizations to restore the global economy’s natural support systems through energy efficiency, renewable energy generation, reforestation, and irrigation efficiency. Investments are being made, too, in education, health care and family planning.
But it is not enough! This Plan B envisions an additional annual expenditure of $75 Billion to meet the social goals such as universal primary education and school lunch programs, adult literacy programs, reproductive health and family planning and universal basic health care worldwide. To meet the environmental restoration goals including stabilizing water tables, protecting biodiversity, planting trees, and restoring topsoil, range lands and fisheries, an additional annual investment of $110 Billion will be needed. The total investment of $185 Billion is the ‘new defense budget’ to address the most serious threats to national and global security. This investment is just 28% of the US military budget or 12% of the world military budget!
What is needed, then, is a fundamental restructuring in two cornerstone areas: taxation and security. Plan B envisions a total restructuring of taxation from income to carbon. Income taxes would be reduced while carbon emissions would be taxed to include the costs of climate change and pollution. As to security, a total rethink would take place. As Brown states, "The threats to our future now are not armed aggression but rather climate change, population growth, water shortages, poverty, rising food prices, and failing states."
Lester Brown has made a powerful, well documented case to foretell the grim and chaotic future our civilization faces. He has also advanced a way forward for all of us to save civilization. But this massive mobilization at wartime speed requires each of us to participate by taking action in some way. He has provided the plan and the information sources, the data and the rationale. Now it is our turn.
I urge you to read the book, to think about how you will participate in the transformation, and to act!
My offer:
If you have a book reader or laptop, you may download a pdf copy for free from Earth Policy Institute, http://www.earth-policy.org.
If you promise to read this book, let me know and I will send you a print copy.
After you have read the book, please share your reactions and your own personal Plan B with us at http://globalPW.blogspot.com
by Lester Brown
Our summer in Berlin has been truly filled with the joys of urban living - except for the changeable weather! People tell us this has been the coolest, wettest summer they can recall. We still have had some lovely sunny days but more frequent cool and rainy times indicate that the weather is just not normal! Folks here are convinced this is not an aberration - it is climate change at work.
It was with these thoughts in mind, that I read Lester Brown’s latest book, World on the Edge, to understand what’s really happening with the planet. World on the Edge, the most recent release of the Plan B series of books, is assiduously well documented, and a reasoned account of the environmental trends that are undermining the world economy.
For those unfamiliar with Lester Brown, he is the founder of the Earth Policy Institute and before that he founded Worldwatch, the organization that has published State of the World each year. Brown and the Earth Policy Team developed Plan B, outlining a plan, a budget, and a timetable for rescuing our twenty-first century civilization.
The environmental trends he discusses are falling water tables, eroding soils and expanding deserts, rising temperatures, melting ice, shrinking harvests and food insecurity. These trends lead to a new politics of food scarcity, environmental refugees, mounting stresses and failing states. As Brown states in the Foreword, "Restructuring the economy in time to avoid decline will take a massive mobilization at wartime speed." This book provides a more urgent call to action and presents the latest version of Plan B supported by new data and research.
On the hopeful side, he reports that all over the world, investments are being made by private firms, national governments and international organizations to restore the global economy’s natural support systems through energy efficiency, renewable energy generation, reforestation, and irrigation efficiency. Investments are being made, too, in education, health care and family planning.
But it is not enough! This Plan B envisions an additional annual expenditure of $75 Billion to meet the social goals such as universal primary education and school lunch programs, adult literacy programs, reproductive health and family planning and universal basic health care worldwide. To meet the environmental restoration goals including stabilizing water tables, protecting biodiversity, planting trees, and restoring topsoil, range lands and fisheries, an additional annual investment of $110 Billion will be needed. The total investment of $185 Billion is the ‘new defense budget’ to address the most serious threats to national and global security. This investment is just 28% of the US military budget or 12% of the world military budget!
What is needed, then, is a fundamental restructuring in two cornerstone areas: taxation and security. Plan B envisions a total restructuring of taxation from income to carbon. Income taxes would be reduced while carbon emissions would be taxed to include the costs of climate change and pollution. As to security, a total rethink would take place. As Brown states, "The threats to our future now are not armed aggression but rather climate change, population growth, water shortages, poverty, rising food prices, and failing states."
Lester Brown has made a powerful, well documented case to foretell the grim and chaotic future our civilization faces. He has also advanced a way forward for all of us to save civilization. But this massive mobilization at wartime speed requires each of us to participate by taking action in some way. He has provided the plan and the information sources, the data and the rationale. Now it is our turn.
I urge you to read the book, to think about how you will participate in the transformation, and to act!
My offer:
If you have a book reader or laptop, you may download a pdf copy for free from Earth Policy Institute, http://www.earth-policy.org.
If you promise to read this book, let me know and I will send you a print copy.
After you have read the book, please share your reactions and your own personal Plan B with us at http://globalPW.blogspot.com
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
A Letter from Cairo
Our good friend, Lora Lucero, is visiting Cairo this summer, hoping to obtain permission to go to Gaza. She sent this letter to us on August 6, 2011....
I really hope you visit Egypt --- but plan a cooler time of the year.
The Egyptians I talk with are naturally better-educated and speak English. They are urban, as opposed to rural, and they are generally younger than me --- 20-40s. They see Turkey as a good model. None have mentioned Germany as a model. But an Egyptian woman (middle class) living in Germany now said that she doesn't think Egyptians know how to build a democracy. "They must first learn to live democracy in their homes, before they can build a democracy in the country." She doesn't think Mubarak should have left.
Things are very fluid here. I think they could go in any direction based on what I read in the English-language newspaper, hear on the English-language TV and learn from English-speaking people.
The demonstrators in Tahrir Square are symbolic of the tensions in Cairo. The majority of them left Tahrir Square voluntarily out of respect for the month of Ramadan, with intentions of returning at the end of the month. A few die-hards remained and the army came in and forcibly removed them. Some of the shop owners near Tahrir Square are upset with the demonstrators because they feel they have disrupted business and tourism.
Last night there were 100-150 peaceful demonstrators standing behind a fixed barrier near Tahrir Square, not obstructing traffic or being unruly. About 500 army men dressed in full uniform, with helmets, batons and shields marched towards the demonstrators in a line as a show of force, and stopped in front of them. Without any warning or provocation, the army charged and began beating the demonstrators. The army warned a cameraman against taking pictures of this scene and confiscated another person's camera. It didn't appear that anyone was seriously hurt - no blood. But this raises some serious questions: Will the military be able to transition to a new form of government? Will there be freedom of the press in the new Egypt? Are demonstrators going to be seen as a constructive force for progress or a flashpoint for division and violence?
In Cairo, I met a 76-year-old woman from Spain who married an Egyptian many years ago. She speaks Spanish, Arabic, Italian, English and probably other languages as well. She now lives alone in her apartment directly over Tahrir Square and had a front-row seat to the mayhem and violence in January-February this year. She was so nervous about the events taking place in Cairo that she headed to Spain for a few weeks to avoid the craziness. Since her return, she has panic attacks and was so nervous with Mubarak's trial being televised that she asked me not to take a photo of the TV. : ( She wants stability to return to Egypt.
I don't think anyone can predict the future for Egypt. I certainly can't.
Lora
I really hope you visit Egypt --- but plan a cooler time of the year.
The Egyptians I talk with are naturally better-educated and speak English. They are urban, as opposed to rural, and they are generally younger than me --- 20-40s. They see Turkey as a good model. None have mentioned Germany as a model. But an Egyptian woman (middle class) living in Germany now said that she doesn't think Egyptians know how to build a democracy. "They must first learn to live democracy in their homes, before they can build a democracy in the country." She doesn't think Mubarak should have left.
Things are very fluid here. I think they could go in any direction based on what I read in the English-language newspaper, hear on the English-language TV and learn from English-speaking people.
The demonstrators in Tahrir Square are symbolic of the tensions in Cairo. The majority of them left Tahrir Square voluntarily out of respect for the month of Ramadan, with intentions of returning at the end of the month. A few die-hards remained and the army came in and forcibly removed them. Some of the shop owners near Tahrir Square are upset with the demonstrators because they feel they have disrupted business and tourism.
Last night there were 100-150 peaceful demonstrators standing behind a fixed barrier near Tahrir Square, not obstructing traffic or being unruly. About 500 army men dressed in full uniform, with helmets, batons and shields marched towards the demonstrators in a line as a show of force, and stopped in front of them. Without any warning or provocation, the army charged and began beating the demonstrators. The army warned a cameraman against taking pictures of this scene and confiscated another person's camera. It didn't appear that anyone was seriously hurt - no blood. But this raises some serious questions: Will the military be able to transition to a new form of government? Will there be freedom of the press in the new Egypt? Are demonstrators going to be seen as a constructive force for progress or a flashpoint for division and violence?
In Cairo, I met a 76-year-old woman from Spain who married an Egyptian many years ago. She speaks Spanish, Arabic, Italian, English and probably other languages as well. She now lives alone in her apartment directly over Tahrir Square and had a front-row seat to the mayhem and violence in January-February this year. She was so nervous about the events taking place in Cairo that she headed to Spain for a few weeks to avoid the craziness. Since her return, she has panic attacks and was so nervous with Mubarak's trial being televised that she asked me not to take a photo of the TV. : ( She wants stability to return to Egypt.
I don't think anyone can predict the future for Egypt. I certainly can't.
Lora
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Seniors Giving Back for a Better Future
This week, the news from America was dominated by the Washington Budget Wars as President Obama and the congress struggle to find common ground about what spending to cut and what to save. The Economist pointedly explained that most of the cuts proposed by Republicans and Democrats alike have little or no impact on Social Security, Medicare or most of Defense, the bulk of federal expenditures.
"Why is the federal government so reluctant to propose financial reforms to Social Security?", we wondered. "And why are Americans so reluctant to pay for the government we want and need?", we mused. And finally, we asked, "What could we do to make a difference that might change the course and keep America from going down?"
Then, an idea occurred to us! What if we give back a portion of our Social Security checks each month? This money could either be used to keep the Social Security Trust growing for the future retirees. Even better, perhaps it could be a contribution toward keeping all those valuable programs alive, such as scholarships for lower income students, an investment in our future.
Surely, we'd be sending a message that we're really concerned about the financial situation and want to take action to fix it!
We are financing our wonderful life as Nomad Expatriates mostly on our two monthly checks from Social Security and a small check from Blair's pension. Occasionally, we dip into our retirement savings to maintain cash flow while the rest stays in managed funds. This retirement savings was accumulated over our working lives and, while not vast, is much more than we'll ever need, based on current projections.
How many other folks are in the same financial situation? Perhaps many more seniors could afford and would be willing to give back a portion of their Social Security checks each month, too. Perhaps there are enough of us so that some of those programs that are investments in the future could escape the cuts.
We urge all seniors to analyze their financial situation and consider giving back to invest in the future. This would truly be a change we could believe in!
A few quotes from credible sources for perspective:
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, http://www.cbpp.org/
CBPP Statement: February 14, 2011
For Immediate Release
Statement: Robert Greenstein, Executive Director, on the President's Budget Proposal
"Measures to restore long-term Social Security solvency also can contribute to deficit reduction in future decades, albeit on a far more modest scale. But here, too, policymakers will not be able to secure sizable savings in the decade ahead. Policymakers across the political spectrum widely agree that changes in Social Security benefits generally should not affect people who are now 55 or over, and that any reforms should phase in changes in Social Security benefits and taxes gradually over a considerable period of time."
Congressional Budget Office, http://www.cbo.gov/
Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2011 to 2021
January 2011
"The resulting federal budget deficit of nearly $1.5 trillion projected for this year will equal 9.8 percent of GDP, a share that is nearly 1 percentage point higher than the shortfall recorded last year and almost equal to the deficit posted in 2009, which at 10.0 percent of GDP was the highest in nearly 65 years."
"Why is the federal government so reluctant to propose financial reforms to Social Security?", we wondered. "And why are Americans so reluctant to pay for the government we want and need?", we mused. And finally, we asked, "What could we do to make a difference that might change the course and keep America from going down?"
Then, an idea occurred to us! What if we give back a portion of our Social Security checks each month? This money could either be used to keep the Social Security Trust growing for the future retirees. Even better, perhaps it could be a contribution toward keeping all those valuable programs alive, such as scholarships for lower income students, an investment in our future.
Surely, we'd be sending a message that we're really concerned about the financial situation and want to take action to fix it!
We are financing our wonderful life as Nomad Expatriates mostly on our two monthly checks from Social Security and a small check from Blair's pension. Occasionally, we dip into our retirement savings to maintain cash flow while the rest stays in managed funds. This retirement savings was accumulated over our working lives and, while not vast, is much more than we'll ever need, based on current projections.
How many other folks are in the same financial situation? Perhaps many more seniors could afford and would be willing to give back a portion of their Social Security checks each month, too. Perhaps there are enough of us so that some of those programs that are investments in the future could escape the cuts.
We urge all seniors to analyze their financial situation and consider giving back to invest in the future. This would truly be a change we could believe in!
A few quotes from credible sources for perspective:
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, http://www.cbpp.org/
CBPP Statement: February 14, 2011
For Immediate Release
Statement: Robert Greenstein, Executive Director, on the President's Budget Proposal
"Measures to restore long-term Social Security solvency also can contribute to deficit reduction in future decades, albeit on a far more modest scale. But here, too, policymakers will not be able to secure sizable savings in the decade ahead. Policymakers across the political spectrum widely agree that changes in Social Security benefits generally should not affect people who are now 55 or over, and that any reforms should phase in changes in Social Security benefits and taxes gradually over a considerable period of time."
Congressional Budget Office, http://www.cbo.gov/
Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2011 to 2021
January 2011
"The resulting federal budget deficit of nearly $1.5 trillion projected for this year will equal 9.8 percent of GDP, a share that is nearly 1 percentage point higher than the shortfall recorded last year and almost equal to the deficit posted in 2009, which at 10.0 percent of GDP was the highest in nearly 65 years."
Friday, March 4, 2011
We're going for the "Oldest Backpacker" award!
Even though we transport our stuff via wheely bags rather than large backpacks, we believe we qualify because we've spent more nights in hostels than many actual backpack bearers. Furthermore, the vast majority of backpackers are under 30 and we are, well, significantly older than that! Never mind, 'backpacker' is a state of mind.
As professional Nomads, we have stayed in a wide range of accommodations, our favorites being short term studio apartments for longer stays and hostels for briefer ones. There are two principle aspects of hostel stays that are especially advantageous: low cost and kitchens. Other aspects include social connections with other travelers and Nomads, lounges where we can work, free or low cost Wifi for Internet, and laundry facilities.
We have stayed in hostels in many countries but since we arrived in Australia and then moved on to New Zealand, we have lived exclusively in hostels, known as Backpackers Hostels, every night except for the four weeks we lived in a 'share house' in Melbourne. http://www.pioneerwest.net/nomad/melbour1.html
Let us explain this situation in a bit more detail.....
Australia has a shortage of laborers for farm work, hotel housekeepers, and other low end jobs. According to www.fairwork.gov.au, the National Minimum Wage is $15/hour or $569.90/week before tax. The work week is 38 hours.
In the USA, the national minimum wage is $7.25/hour. Some states have minimum wage laws to set the minimum wage above the national rate.
Australia offers work visas to people who want to come for a year or two to take these lower end jobs and large numbers of young people take advantage of this opportunity. The logical place for these folks to live is in Backpackers Hostels. Often the hostels employ them to work for accommodation.
So, then there is us. As candidates for the Oldest Backpacker award, we have suppressed our desire for privacy (sharing the kitchen and often the bathroom with folks who may not share our concept of neatness and sometimes living in a mixed dorm), expanded our tolerance, if not our enjoyment, for hip hop music, MTV, and daytime TV by tuning these out, engaged in some of the most stimulating discussions about a wide range of topics, and broadened our understanding of the life choices that are now open to young people everywhere. We have come to respect these adventurous, courageous, open minded, visionary, hopeful folks who, after all, are our hope for the future of this endangered planet!
We're not sure how to apply for our award but we are certainly enjoying the competition!
As professional Nomads, we have stayed in a wide range of accommodations, our favorites being short term studio apartments for longer stays and hostels for briefer ones. There are two principle aspects of hostel stays that are especially advantageous: low cost and kitchens. Other aspects include social connections with other travelers and Nomads, lounges where we can work, free or low cost Wifi for Internet, and laundry facilities.
We have stayed in hostels in many countries but since we arrived in Australia and then moved on to New Zealand, we have lived exclusively in hostels, known as Backpackers Hostels, every night except for the four weeks we lived in a 'share house' in Melbourne. http://www.pioneerwest.net/nomad/melbour1.html
Let us explain this situation in a bit more detail.....
Australia has a shortage of laborers for farm work, hotel housekeepers, and other low end jobs. According to www.fairwork.gov.au, the National Minimum Wage is $15/hour or $569.90/week before tax. The work week is 38 hours.
In the USA, the national minimum wage is $7.25/hour. Some states have minimum wage laws to set the minimum wage above the national rate.
Australia offers work visas to people who want to come for a year or two to take these lower end jobs and large numbers of young people take advantage of this opportunity. The logical place for these folks to live is in Backpackers Hostels. Often the hostels employ them to work for accommodation.
So, then there is us. As candidates for the Oldest Backpacker award, we have suppressed our desire for privacy (sharing the kitchen and often the bathroom with folks who may not share our concept of neatness and sometimes living in a mixed dorm), expanded our tolerance, if not our enjoyment, for hip hop music, MTV, and daytime TV by tuning these out, engaged in some of the most stimulating discussions about a wide range of topics, and broadened our understanding of the life choices that are now open to young people everywhere. We have come to respect these adventurous, courageous, open minded, visionary, hopeful folks who, after all, are our hope for the future of this endangered planet!
We're not sure how to apply for our award but we are certainly enjoying the competition!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Rare Earth - Earthquakes around the Planet: The Next Event
Back on September 4, 2010 a powerful earthquake shook the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. Our friend, Pat Boland wrote about the experience in two posts soon after (search "earthquake" to see these).
On February 12th, 2011 we arrived in Christchurch. We had a lovely ten days to enjoy this beautiful city with its rich collection of heritage buildings. As we explored the neighborhoods, studying the urban form, we noticed that many buildings were still standing but enclosed by fences, awaiting demolition or refurbishment as the work of earthquake recovery continued.
Then, on February 22, 12:51 PM local time, the City Centre of Christchurch was struck by another violent earthquake!
We were in our hostel, Old Country House, at that moment. There was a deep rumble and the building starting shaking quite violently from side to side. We just dropped to the floor and clung to the walls to keep from falling. As the shaking subsided we hurried outside to find all our housemates huddled together, many quite disturbed, waiting for what might happen next. Fortunately no one was hurt. A number of aftershocks followed, one quite violent, but our hostel held up with virtually no damage.
We survived the next couple of days fairly well, considering. We had to boil the water we could find and cook our food on the BBQ since there was no electric power and no running water, but we were uninjured and had a safe place to be with a stable roof over our heads. Many in the city were not so fortunate.
The power was restored after a day and a half so we could cook more easily but no water came from the taps until late on the 24th and it needed to be boiled for safe drinking. On the second day, we volunteered to be part of the cleanup crew for Andy's house. He's the owner of the Old Country House, our hostel-haven, but his house in Sumner received a bad shaking and everything in the kitchen was smashed on the floor. As a reward for our help, he hooked up a generator and connected the Wifi so we could send a message to a few folks to say "We're safe!".
We walked around our neighborhood to see what had happened nearby. We'll post some pictures on Flickr when we have a moment.
We also made friends with many of our housemates - nothing like sharing a disaster to bring folks together! When the power came back, Andy hooked up the Wifi so we could make a few calls to cancel reservations for places we were no longer able to travel to and to start making a Plan B.
On February 25th (the 3rd day after the quake), we boarded a bus and traveled south to Dunedin, 400 km south, where all was normal.It was a great relief to be away from all the destruction. We feel apologetic and sad about leaving Christchurch while so many are left there, but because we felt that we couldn't help, it would be better to leave and be two less visitors that would need food and possible assistance.
No doubt you have all heard the news and seen the pictures of destruction and death, rescues and debris, roadblocks and mud floods, rock slides and road cracks. To add a bit of perspective, Christchurch is a very, very badly wounded city but much of it, especially the western and northern parts are fairly normal, almost unscathed. Our friends, Bob and Pat and their family are safe and unharmed, having suffered a loss of windows in their lovely cliff side home.
The brave folks of Christchurch must now battle on, facing the continuing recovery and rebuilding process with the addition of recovery from the grief of losing loved ones and friends. Our hearts are with them. Having lived through the earthquake experience and survived unharmed, we understand more deeply the physical and emotional stresses and pain that such an experience imposes on people.
On February 12th, 2011 we arrived in Christchurch. We had a lovely ten days to enjoy this beautiful city with its rich collection of heritage buildings. As we explored the neighborhoods, studying the urban form, we noticed that many buildings were still standing but enclosed by fences, awaiting demolition or refurbishment as the work of earthquake recovery continued.
Then, on February 22, 12:51 PM local time, the City Centre of Christchurch was struck by another violent earthquake!
We were in our hostel, Old Country House, at that moment. There was a deep rumble and the building starting shaking quite violently from side to side. We just dropped to the floor and clung to the walls to keep from falling. As the shaking subsided we hurried outside to find all our housemates huddled together, many quite disturbed, waiting for what might happen next. Fortunately no one was hurt. A number of aftershocks followed, one quite violent, but our hostel held up with virtually no damage.
We survived the next couple of days fairly well, considering. We had to boil the water we could find and cook our food on the BBQ since there was no electric power and no running water, but we were uninjured and had a safe place to be with a stable roof over our heads. Many in the city were not so fortunate.
The power was restored after a day and a half so we could cook more easily but no water came from the taps until late on the 24th and it needed to be boiled for safe drinking. On the second day, we volunteered to be part of the cleanup crew for Andy's house. He's the owner of the Old Country House, our hostel-haven, but his house in Sumner received a bad shaking and everything in the kitchen was smashed on the floor. As a reward for our help, he hooked up a generator and connected the Wifi so we could send a message to a few folks to say "We're safe!".
We walked around our neighborhood to see what had happened nearby. We'll post some pictures on Flickr when we have a moment.
We also made friends with many of our housemates - nothing like sharing a disaster to bring folks together! When the power came back, Andy hooked up the Wifi so we could make a few calls to cancel reservations for places we were no longer able to travel to and to start making a Plan B.
On February 25th (the 3rd day after the quake), we boarded a bus and traveled south to Dunedin, 400 km south, where all was normal.It was a great relief to be away from all the destruction. We feel apologetic and sad about leaving Christchurch while so many are left there, but because we felt that we couldn't help, it would be better to leave and be two less visitors that would need food and possible assistance.
No doubt you have all heard the news and seen the pictures of destruction and death, rescues and debris, roadblocks and mud floods, rock slides and road cracks. To add a bit of perspective, Christchurch is a very, very badly wounded city but much of it, especially the western and northern parts are fairly normal, almost unscathed. Our friends, Bob and Pat and their family are safe and unharmed, having suffered a loss of windows in their lovely cliff side home.
The brave folks of Christchurch must now battle on, facing the continuing recovery and rebuilding process with the addition of recovery from the grief of losing loved ones and friends. Our hearts are with them. Having lived through the earthquake experience and survived unharmed, we understand more deeply the physical and emotional stresses and pain that such an experience imposes on people.
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