Disaster journalist speaks at Elon

Rebecca Solnit oers insight on disaster, hope, and the power of the human spirit
the University of Califor nia at Berkeley, where she ear ned her Masters in Journalism. Having worked as both an art critic and a museum researcher, Solnit began writing independently in 1988. An advocate both on and o the page, she has been involved in numerous human rights campaigns, including the Western Shoshone Defense Project in the early 1990s. " Disaster is often a moment of liberation, Solnit explained. The point is not to welcome disaster, the point is that disaster oers a window into societal desire. Solnit took time to discuss the abuse the news media enacts upon the disaster-stricken. She cited a series of examples of print journalism characterizing citizens searching for food and supplies as looters, and discussed the damaging eects the media had on New Orleans postHurricane Katrina. The editors back in their safe offices cook up their crazy headlines, she said. After incorrectly reporting death tolls at the Superdome and a series of other statistics, many newspapers oered retractions. Solnit said this was too late, however because the damage had already been done. Solnit challenged the audience to ask questions of authority rather than accept what they say at face value. She cited a series of examples where those in a position of authority acted in a manner to prevent uprising. Were told we become sheep or wolves in times of crisis, she said. We need to be reminded that we have souls. Solnit was asked how to stand up to authority in times of

Insight from Solnit:

Everyday life is a kind of disaster for most people. Getting the story right matters for survival, as well as for justice and for history. The rules are dierent in disaster. Disaster is often a moment of liberation. When you say there is no hope, there is no hope. But if you take a stand, there is hope. d i s a s t e r. Pe o p l e s t i l l m a ke mistakes, she said. Ask what their plan is. She added that many cities now have emergency plan managers, and that things are getting better. Solnit briey touched on why she researches and writes about disaster.. There are a lot of disasters in store for us in the coming years, she said. There are more vulnerable people than ever before. Solnit said that there is hope and even beauty in turmoil. A disaster unfolds a little like a revolution, she said. Disaster reveals what else the world can be like. Making paradise is the work that we are meant to do. There are a lot of disasters in store for us in the coming years, she said. There are more vulnerable people than ever before. Solnit said that there is hope and even beauty in turmoil. A disaster unfolds a little like a revolution, she said. Disaster reveals what else the world can be like. Making paradise is the work that we are meant to do.

by Steven Ebert
Author and journalist Rebecca Solnit appeared at Elon University Monday evening, discussing the ability of humanity to rise to the occasion after disaster strikes. Focusing on her book A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities that Arise in Disaster, Solnit called the audience to think outside of the box about disaster and to continue to challenge leaders to do what is right in the face of what is easy. Ideas matter, Solnit explained to the audience. Ideas shift our world. " Solnit took a departure from her notes to discuss the recent uprising in the Middle East, specifically, the changeover of power in Egypt and Tunisia. The barrier of fear has been removed, she said. It really is the beginning of the end of the regime in the region. There were moments where people found they were powerful, that they were important. They had history in their hands. " Solnit started researching disaster after her time in high school. Completing the tenth grade and graduating with a GED, Solnit spent a brief period of time studying in Paris before returning to California. There, she attended San Francisco State University and