Canterbury Earthquake

I like many people heaved a huge sigh of relief on Saturday when it became apparent that no one has been killed by the earthquake which struck the Canterbury region and wrecked such havoc in Christchurch. However, as the news continues to come in about how devastated parts of Christchurch are, it is slowly sinking in how torn apart the lives of some people down there have been and how long it will take for the city to return to some semblance of normality.   As someone who grew up in Christchurch and lived there until I was 30, it is scary to think of the place which seemed so stable being torn apart.  Please spare a thought for the people who have been badly affected by this quake, and try to remember them in the coming months when the media attention turns elsewhere and most people will have moved on with their lives.  The damage and destruction wrought there does not disappear overnight and for many people they are beginning a long period of rebuilding.  This earthquake could have struck anywhere in New Zealand and those of us not living in Christchurch when it occurred are can count ourselves lucky it wasn't us this time.  Many people have been through hard times recently and were probably going without insurance, these people will be badly affected.  There have been conversations about how to deal with these people and what message it sends to bail them out when others have been paying for their insurance.  Surely, this is a time for compassion and sympathy.  This is a time when New Zealanders should stand up and help our people who have found themselves caught out by this disaster.  It could happen to anyone of us, if the circumstances fell that way.  Please give financially if you can, and give of your thoughts no matter what.