Lazy8 wrote: 

That's pretty nice of them, when you think of all the, er, crap going down.

Re the impact of the quake, here's two good articles in the NZ Herald on it:

cost of the quake

financial health of NZ's earthquake commission

Basically NZ has a pretty good set-up to handle this kind of thing. I'm pretty confident the Cantabrians will bounce back. They are a pretty staunch bunch, Nevertheless, sure send them toilets!!

(Not to sure they'd beat a decent long-drop, but whatever... actually in retrospect, is this appeal based on a firm request for help from NZ? Smells a little um fishy to me)

Got this appeal by email today. Please help out if you can.

The 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Christchurch on New Zealand's South Island on Tuesday toppled buildings, buckled streets, and caused hundreds of deaths (100 confirmed with more than 225 people missing as I write this). The Christchurch community needs our industry's help. In fact, our colleagues in New Zealand have directly appealed to the U.S. plastics industry for a very critical, specific need: portable toilets.
Wednesday night, Simon Wilkinson, my counterpart at Plastics New Zealand, explained to me that the public sewage system in the impacted area may not be operable for more than a year! This is a dire sanitation problem that will quickly become a public health crisis if we do not offer our assistance. Simon informs me that there is a growing need for portable toilets in order to avoid adding disease and sickness to what is already a nightmare for these citizens. 

Manufactured largely from polyethylene, portable toilets are a specific need that our industry is uniquely qualified to meet. 

Here's How We Can Help

From the 2010 earthquakes in Haiti, to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike on the U.S. Gulf Coast and the 2004 tsunami and earthquakes in Asia Pacific, I have been extremely proud of the way my colleagues in the plastics and chemical industries have lent a generous hand with both monetary contributions and in-kind donations of the supplies that our companies manufacture: Bottled water, water purification chemicals and kits, PVC pipe to rebuild water and sanitation systems, water storage containers, plastic houses and other building supplies, personal care products, medical supplies and even prosthetic limbs.
The Christchurch earthquake is no different and SPI is spearheading an industry-wide effort to produce and ship 2,500 portable toilets to New Zealand. While one portable toilet manufacturer has already graciously offered to manufacture and ship 50 units at no cost, I am asking the rest of the industry needs to help fund the overall effort. I am appealing to you so that we can raise the $1.5 million necessary by next week - in both cash donations and in-kind contributions of resin and colorant. Be assured that 100% of your donation will be used directly for this effort's production and shipment costs only. 

Act Now: Quick, Easy Ways to Participate

Please click "Donate" to securely make a donation using a credit card. If you wish to make a cash or in-kind donation directly without going through the website, please call my assistant, Susan Douglas, at 202.974.5224 or email her at sdouglas@plasticsindustry.org. Thank you for supporting the plastics industry and the people of New Zealand in this humanitarian effort. 

Sincerely,
Bill Carteaux
President & CEO
SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association

121/7 in 29 Overs. Ouch.

 hippiechick wrote: 

Yep, he's jumped his waka.

 hippiechick wrote:
  Oh. Well in that case, when the HE!! is he gonna finish tiling my shower?

 cc_rider wrote: 
I don't believe you have to be concerned about him regarding this earthquake, since I am pretty sure he is living in the US now.

 cc_rider wrote: 
Yes.

 JustineFromWyoming wrote: 
Speaking of which, anybody heard from Cookie? He posted on FB the other day, that's about it.

A bit relieved to see a wall post from a college colleague at the radio station. He has been without power or water, but texted another friend that posted to his Facebook page that he and family are okay.

Yeah, I have a friend living in NZ I haven't heard from him in a while.

Best of wishes for all the folks down under. Parts of Australia has had it's share of misfortunes too.

Our condolences to everyone affected by the earthquake. Christchurch is a lovely city, filled with lovely people, and our hearts go out to you all. 

 Rod wrote: 
what he said

 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote: 

Keeping all New Zealanders in my thoughts. We Californians know earthquakes.

Just chatted wtih my cousin. She's waiting to be called up to relieve the fire fighters in town who've worked through the night. All focus now on removing the rubble brick for brick to get to remaining survivors. They revised the official death toll downwards overnight to only reflect people who have been identified by next of kin, so expect it to rise again during the day.

They must be so heartily sick of the earth moving. this has been going on since the big quake in September. At least that practice is paying off now as the emergency operation looks pretty slick. I know the people are a pretty staunch bunch and will fight back, but this continual damage and daily shaking would wear anyone down.

Here's just the last 60 days seismicity which doesn't even include the huge number of aftershocks immediately following the M7.1 Darfield quake in September.

There are already a bunch of videos on Youtube.

looks like a number of fatalities 

Strong Earthquake Hits New Zealand

6.3, near Christchurch
 
From CNN ....