Gutted over Christchurch

Taken in happier times, at the top of the Cathedral spire

The last time I was in Christchurch, New Zealand,  I climbed to the top of the Cathedral spire and gazed at the view before me (below right).

As I came down the 134 steps (see below left), I asked the Cathedral staff:  "what would happen if there had been an earthquake". They assured me that it has been all retrofitted.

The spire where I was standing is now rubble in a wrecked square. The 26 storey hotel around the corner that I stayed in many times is rumored to be collapsing. All because of a few seconds of quaking 10km ( 6miles), southeast of the city. Have a look at this very honest human video of one man's experiences after the earthquake.

I am gutted at the sights of the gutted city (see pics).  I am gutted over those who have been killed, injured, shocked and trapped in this 6.3 sized earthquake so close to the centre of New Zealand's second largest city. New Zealand has declared a National State of Emergency, its first ever. 75 fatalities and 100s missing.

Like many across the world, I love Christchurch and feel so so sad. In fact, at one time, I considered moving to the city.

Handling the Situation (advice gleaned from various sources). You can comment on this blog post below. Comments welcomed.

View from the top of the Cathedral Spire

1. Pray for the City
2. Donate to NZ Red Cross directly  or via  the GrabOne website which is  operating an emergency donation system for Red Cross. NZRC is not currently  accepting donations of goods or volunteers.
3. Watch Prime Minister's Press Conference on this "ruthless act of nature" where he reminds us that "People are irreplaceable" and promises us rebuilding: "Christchurch will rise again"
4. Stay away from the City 
5. Avoid movement in Christchurch. Don't sightsee. Don't go to work unless in a food related service industry or medical/emergency role- all schools are closed. 
6. Do not overload phone lines with non-emergency calls.
7. Need a bed or got a bed?
8. Free ads on Trade Me for offers of help with Emergency accommodation, Transport, Lost & found pets and Volunteer labour
9. Healthline 24 hours service is staffed by registered nurses who can assess your health needs, and give advice on the best level of care on 0800 611 116.
10. Expect aftershocks, continue to Drop, Cover & Hold when they happen
11. Welfare related enquiries help line: 0800 7799977
12. Looking for family - try Google friend finder or please call the NZ Red Cross National Enquiry Centre on 0800 REDCROSS (0800 733 276) (note this line may be overloaded) International calls can be made to +64 7 8502199 or tweet #eqnzContact and "they'll do their best"
13. Do not use any lifts anywhere in Christchurch.
14. Water is in short supply- boil water - check NZHerald website for location of water distribution points
15. Skylight have great resources on dealing with the trauma and grief linked to the earthquake- lots for kids too- call 0800 299 100
16. Agencies will need help with rebuilding efforts so connect with Volunteering Canterbury to volunteer or ask for volunteers. 
17. Plan a holiday there in a few months to put money into the economy

More pictures from happier days in Christchurch:

Thunderbirds and the Aussie Floods/Haiti earthquake etc

The flooding in Australia has now spread to five of our six states (we have bushfires in the sixth state). Its weird going from massive drought to massive floodwaters in such a short time.

We are talking astronomical amounts of water being poured out on us, a lot of flooded houses and much heartbreak and also many positive stories of courage, love and respect. There are 22 000 volunteers mobilised this weekend in Brisbane to clean up houses, streets, schools and community facilities.

Our hearts go out to the families of those who have died. We are also mindful that 560 people have died in Brazil this weekend in their worst ever flood disaster.

I always liked the show Thunderbirds. The characters worked for an agency called International Rescue- which has been created to help those in grave danger using technically advanced equipment and machinery. I am full of admiration for the amazing rescuers from across the globe who in the last year have rescued and rebuilt in Haiti, Pakistan,  Russia, Greece, indonesia, New Zealand and now Brazil and Australia.

I was wondering is it time we created an International Rescue agency for the globe's natural disasters? We all still seem to be taken by surprise by them, fundraising and infrastructure rebuilding is seemingly ad hoc. For example, I guarantee that the rebuilding in Brisbane, Australia will be swifter than that in Haiti. There are some in Australia who will have the right type of insurances and others who don't. There  were four million  Pakistanis made homeless in 2010. Many of them currently still love in tents. Is any of this right?

New Zealand has an amazing scheme the Earthquake Commission (EQC) set up in 1945 to provide New Zealand residential property owners payouts for damage caused by earthquake, natural landslip, volcanic eruption, hydrothermal activity, tsunami; in the case of residential land, a storm or flood; or fire caused by any of these.

For more than 60 years it has been collecting premiums for a fund called the Natural Disaster Fund backed up by reinsurance from overseas groups and a Government Guarantee.

EQC also researches about matters relevant to natural disaster damage and it has brilliant education and information programs to help people prevent and mitigate damage caused by natural disasters.

Surely, something similar on a global scale would help our world?



My prayers and concern to everyone around the world who face displacement, homelessness, fear and pain. And thanks to the amazing team of "International Rescuers"

Person of the Year?

Not sure how I feel about Time Magazine naming  Mark Zuckerberg, founder of The Facebook (now known as Facebook) as their 2010 person of the Year...

Other Possible Contenders:-

• Jessica Watson who sailed around the world solo, youngest person ever to do so
• Liu Xiaobo, hinese literary critic, writer, professor, and human rights activist who called for political reforms and the end of communist one-party rule in China
• the volunteers who helped clean up after the Chilean, Indonesian, New Zealand and Turkish earthquakes, the  Italian, Colombian and Pakistan floods, and those affected by Super Typhoon Meg in the Philippines
• Ben Stiller for his charity work
• Aung San Suu Kyi from Burma
• Lady GaGa, singer
• Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil who is overseeing the transformation of that nation
• Julian Assange - threat or liberator of information, awarded for exposing extrajudicial assassinations in Kenya amongst other things
• Oprah with her ultimate surprise- a trip to Australia for her audience, many of whom had never flown before
• Julia Gillard, first Female Prime Minister of Australia, inducted by the country's first female governor general under the distant watchful ceremonial gaze of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 
• The Qantas pilots who kept the 400 passengers safe when a A380 engine exploded crippling the massive jet
• the New Zealand Miners who lost their lives and the Chilean ones who kept theirs as well as the many Chinese miners who lost their lives to keep the world moving 

Who would you vote for?

Personally, my nieces and nephews who make life inspiring and worth living. Thanks guys