Parapets, politics, and making a difference: Lessons from Christchurch
dc.contributor.author | Brower, AL | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2020-03-08T23:03:41Z | |
dc.date.available | 2017-11 | |
dc.date.issued | 2017-11 | |
dc.date.submitted | 2017-06-27 | |
dc.description.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. | |
dc.format.extent | pp.1241-1255 | |
dc.identifier | https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=elements_prod&SrcAuth=WosAPI&KeyUT=WOS:000418599000001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL | |
dc.identifier.doi | 10.1193/080816EQS128O | |
dc.identifier.eissn | 1944-8201 | |
dc.identifier.issn | 8755-2930 | |
dc.identifier.other | FQ8FT (isidoc) | |
dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10182/11550 | |
dc.language | en | |
dc.language.iso | en | |
dc.publisher | SAGE | |
dc.relation | The original publication is available from SAGE - https://doi.org/10.1193/080816EQS128O - http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/080816eqs128o | |
dc.relation.isPartOf | Earthquake Spectra | |
dc.relation.uri | https://doi.org/10.1193/080816EQS128O | |
dc.rights | © 2017, © SAGE Publications | |
dc.subject | policy | |
dc.title | Parapets, politics, and making a difference: Lessons from Christchurch | |
dc.type | Journal Article | |
lu.contributor.unit | LU | |
lu.contributor.unit | LU|Faculty of Environment, Society and Design | |
lu.contributor.unit | LU|Faculty of Environment, Society and Design|DEM | |
pubs.issue | 4 | |
pubs.notes | Opinion paper | |
pubs.publication-status | Published | |
pubs.publisher-url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/080816eqs128o | |
pubs.volume | 33 |