Christchurch: The Human Cost

It is worth noting that not just infrastructure and architecture have been shattered by the seismic events of the past year.  People's lives have been turned upside down in so many ways:  

• Houses were destroyed by the quake and people were forced to find new accommodation
• Families living in "intact" dwellings were without power, water, sewers....
• Many school and university buildings were closed for several months forcing students into new locations, even private homes
• Businesses were destroyed, or forced to close down while damage was assessed.  Employees lost jobs.
• Many public institutions (art galleries, museums, public libraries, theatres)  have had to suspend or curtail operations.  
• Those people whose lives are relatively OK say that Christchurch is no longer a fun place to live.  If they can, they move away.  Our friend Fran observed that the city now has plenty of  "parking lots " but no reasons to use them.  The "destinations" have been destroyed.

I cannot imagine living with so much stress on a daily basis, still not knowing if the worst is yet to come. In this year of earthquakes, the residents of Christchurch have experienced over 1000 aftershocks. 

The Sumner Library:  closed.   A few other branch libraries provide service.