Parapets, Politics, and Making a Difference: Lessons from Christchurch

Author:

Brower Ann1

Affiliation:

1. Lincoln University, Department of Environmental Management, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Abstract

At 12:51 on 22 February 2011, 12 people died beside me. The parapet and facade of an unreinforced masonry building on the main street of Christchurch, New Zealand, crushed the bus that I was riding. I'm the only one left, the lucky 13th. My leg, my hand, and my soul will never be the same. I broke more bones than the surgeons were willing to count, spent two months in the hospital, and most of a year off work. I walked, slept, and dreamed in a fog for four years. It cost half a million dollars to save my left leg. I treasure that leg, scars and all, but still feel the earthquake in every step. In this opinion paper, I share my story—from the earthquake, to the Bright Light, to the Dark Place, to the hospital, to the Dalai Lama, to the halls of Parliament. I also share the story of a nation coming to grips with its home on the Ring of Fire. The story ends on 8 May 2016, when Parliament passed the new Building Act, complete with a ministerially titled “Brower Amendment” that halved the remediation time for unreinforced masonry parapets and other falling hazards. I conclude with the lessons I've learned on making a difference.

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Subject

Geophysics,Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology

Reference31 articles.

1. Does Cross-Sectoral Partnership Deliver? An Empirical Exploration of Public Service Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Equity

2. BrowerA. 2008 Who Owns the High Country? Craig Potton Publishing Nelson, NZ, 200 pp.

3. BrowerA. 2014 Submission to Parliamentary Select Committee for Local Government and Environment, June 2014. Available at https://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-nz/50SCLGE_EVI_00DBHOH_BILL12960_1_A387546/4e683e6bb91f5d7ead35c5565421a3bc17caf786

Cited by 2 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

1. Potential non-disasters of 2021;Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal;2022-10-07

2. Effectiveness of unreinforced masonry seismic retrofit programmes: review of policies in New Zealand and the United States;International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction;2022-06

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