“We can act to deal with the consequences of the earthquake and tsunami, but the disaster was only faintly political in the economics and indifference...the relief will be very political, in who gives how much (Bush offering 15 million, then 35 million under pressure, the cost of his inauguration and then 350 million under strong international pressure)...but the event itself transcends politics, the realm of things we cause and can work to prevent. We cannot wish that human beings were not subject to the forces of nature, including the mortality... we cannot wish for the seas to dry up, that the waves grow still, that the tectonic plates ceast to exist, that nature ceases to be beyond our abilities to predict and control... But the terms of that nature include such catastrophe and suffering, which leaves us with sorrow as not a problem to be solved but a fact. And it leaves us with compassion as the work we will never finish”
Quote by Rebecca Solnit
Work
Storming the Gates of Paradise: Landscapes for Politics is a scholarly work that investigates the complex interplay between political ideologies and the physical landscapes they inhabit or transform. The book examines case studies from various historical periods and geographical locations, analyzing how political actions and policies have influenced the natural world and how landscapes have been used as tools of political power. It offers a nuanced perspective on the political significance of land and space, providing insights into the broader implications of environmental politics. more
Author
Rebecca Solnit is an American writer known for her works on environmental, cultural, political, and social issues. Her writing spans a wide range of topics, including nature, travel, gender, and power. Her books include 'Wanderlust', 'A Field Guide to Getting Lost', and 'The Faraway Nearby'. more
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