tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76980317040061164042024-03-05T18:38:15.369-08:00the NOLA ProjectIn October 2007 I made a trip to New Orleans. I went not as a tourist, but as an artist. My goal was to write and paint, photograph and blog daily from the most devastated areas.
As the 3rd anniversary of the flooding of New Orleans passes, I have heard pleas from those still trying to rebuild and put their lives back together to “Please don’t forget New Orleans” and “Keep New Orleans in the news”Suzanne C Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286053083062642522noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698031704006116404.post-78666557766634114052008-09-02T09:18:00.000-07:002008-09-02T09:33:16.058-07:00Hooray for New Orleans! :) Getting back and cleaning up<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We can all let out a collective sigh of relief this morn as the damage was so much less than expected and looks like people will be able to return on Wednesday! This is very good news after such a scary situation.<br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;"></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br />They are beginning to let certain people back in the city (emergency personal, first responders).</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> <span style="font-family: verdana;">Checkpoints are up on all main arteries into greater N.O.<br /><br />Many people are understandably impatient to get back and there have been some problems at the checkpoints. Officials are asking residents to please wait for the Wednesday ok.<br /><br />We wish everyone a safe return.</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span>Suzanne C Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286053083062642522noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698031704006116404.post-52176135428510761362008-08-31T19:04:00.000-07:002008-08-31T19:12:16.249-07:00Leave, Please Leave!!!<span style="font-family:verdana;">I hope and pray that everyone is out of NO. I realize some feel obligated to stay and help others etc. But you can't help if you're dead!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It looks pretty bad and most everyone's saying the levee's will be overtopped.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Cat 4 storm now with possibility to downgrade to a 3 (when it hits the marshy, sediment filled coast) but that doesn't help much as the storm surge is the problem with a gigantic storm such as this.<br /><br />Saying landfall will be Mon around 1pm (central time i believe)<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">We hope and wish the best of luck for you all-S</span>Suzanne C Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286053083062642522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698031704006116404.post-89442472759404672972008-08-30T11:45:00.000-07:002008-08-30T12:31:56.824-07:00Watching Gustav<span style="font-family: verdana;">Today I continue to watch the forecast for hurricane Gustav. The situation is looking more bleak with major concerns as to the strength of the winds and related storm surge and whether the levees will hold.<br /><br />The dangerous storm is expected to make landfall sometime after midnight tues.</span><a name="more"></a><strong></strong><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;" class="caption">Voluntary evacuations of Orleans Parish began at 8 am today.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Looks like manditory evacuation is in effect for Orleans Parish Sunday. Traffic is already congested on I -10 west to Baton Rouge. Tomorrow will be the first usage of contraflow. That is the use of inbound traffic lanes for outgoing traffic. <br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />I feel really bad that this is happening and cannot imagine what it must be like for the people living there.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">New Orleans has only begun to move from recovery to renewal, and the prospect of having much of that wiped away is so sad. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the day that many thought they had escaped the worst of Katrina only to find that the city was to drown in water after the levees failed. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">An official with the army corp of engineers stated that the hurricane protection is only 20% complete but is the best in its history. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MR-GO) slated to be closed, is a site of major concern as there are predictions of a 17 foot rise in water as it rushes into the city if the hurricane is a category 3.</span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/08/080829-gustav-new-orleans.html"> National Geographic report</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Looking at this from the outside, up here in Maine, I would be very scared and would want to get out as soon as possible. I send all my love and hope for the best to the people of New Orleans. May you be comforted, may you be protected, and may you be safe. </span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/08/080829-gustav-new-orleans.html"><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"></span></span></a>Suzanne C Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286053083062642522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698031704006116404.post-12283962081020261892008-08-29T14:44:00.000-07:002008-08-29T16:47:46.855-07:00Show is hung and e-book is available<span style="font-family:verdana;">The third anniversary of Katrina is today. New Orleans acknowledges the day with bell ringing and candlelight vigils. See the link to the left.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The NOLA Project art show</span> is up at the Bangor Public library as of today. It is a show of the work I did during and since my trip to New Orleans. I am happy with the overall look of the show. Hope to get some comments there and also here on the blog.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Accompanying the show is an online e-book</span> for those who would like to see the work but are not in the Bangor area. Its pretty neat to be able to produce one of these and it feels like a nice addition to the paintings and photos.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><div style="margin: 1em 3em;"><a href="http://publishing.yudu.com/Freedom/Ao3ee/NOLAebook/"><img src="http://publishing.yudu.com/Freedom/Ao3ee/NOLAebook/resources/content/1Thumb.jpg" alt="NOLA e-book" border="0" height="198" width="198" /></a><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://publishing.yudu.com/Freedom/Ao3ee/NOLAebook/">NOLA e-book</a></div></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">_________________________________________________________________<br /><br />Democratic candidate Barack Obama took a swing at the administration during his acceptance speech in Denver Thursday evening, calling the Bush administration a government "that sits on its hands while a major American city drowns before our eyes," referring to post-Katrina New Orleans.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />__________________________________________________________________<br /><br /></span><span class="vitstorybody" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="vitstorybody">Still praying Gustav will miss New Orleans. To early to tell where or how much of a storm. As of Friday morning, New Orleans officials say that if it calls for an evacuation, it would come sometime on <strong style="font-weight: normal;">Saturday</strong></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">. Hopefully Gustav will spin itself out and not cause any further trouble.<br /><br />Suzanne<br /></span>Suzanne C Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286053083062642522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698031704006116404.post-88675362908766419112008-08-26T16:53:00.000-07:002008-08-26T17:21:37.005-07:00Hurricane Gustav and the Cone of Uncertainty<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYSJsYWN57fqeZAlu74zheIQnQwVqZVJuFZMa16uCCjoYUBH3K-BasHVmkCkyJ3rFwVGFSHEZyFW7tMElHMbBK3q7Q3M7ar7RxI2HmPm0uP7D5ZlXnbZp62t1eOo2PbJKzSk8dgbY9g/s1600-h/at200807_5day.gif"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYSJsYWN57fqeZAlu74zheIQnQwVqZVJuFZMa16uCCjoYUBH3K-BasHVmkCkyJ3rFwVGFSHEZyFW7tMElHMbBK3q7Q3M7ar7RxI2HmPm0uP7D5ZlXnbZp62t1eOo2PbJKzSk8dgbY9g/s200/at200807_5day.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238984989696486978" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">Cone of uncertainty-I have never heard this term before.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Gustav is forecast to be a major Category 3 hurricane with top winds of 120 mph about 300 miles south of New Orleans on Sunday afternoon, according to the 4 p.m. forecast of the National Hurricane Center.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">As Hurricane Gustav churns over Haiti and looks like it may touch Cuba, I worry about its possible path towards New Orleans. At this time it is way to early to say where it is going or what kind of strength it may have. Computer models put New Orleans in its cone of uncertainty.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=1043&tstamp=200808">from Wunder blog weather undergound</a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" ><br />The final landfall location of Gustav depends on the strength and speed of a trough of low pressure forecast to move across the Midwest U.S. late this week. At present, there is no way to guess which location in the Gulf of Mexico is the most likely. Keep in mind that the cone of uncertainty is correct only about 2/3 of the time--1/3 of the time, we can expect the storm's position to be in error by more than what the cone of uncertainty suggests.<br /><br /></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Forums are active with speculation and fear from those affected by a possible storm that </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">seems certain to intensify over water and will most likely hit landfall somewhere in the gulf--let us all think positive thoughts that it won't be New Orleans and everyone will be safe and secure everywhere.<br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Let's take a Look at Strom Protection<br /><br /></span></span> <div style="font-family: verdana;" class="ContentPhoto"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://members.authorsguild.net/johnmbarry/imagelib/000_untitled.jpg"><img src="http://johnmbarry.com/images/johnmbarry-140-exp-000_untitled.jpg" ls="images/johnmbarry-140-exp-000_untitled.jpg" alt="" class="ContentImage0" height="93" width="140" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://members.authorsguild.net/johnmbarry/imagelib/000_untitled.jpg">The storm surge barrier protecting London</a><br /><br /></div></div> <div style="font-family: verdana;" class="ContentPhoto"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://members.authorsguild.net/johnmbarry/imagelib/001_untitled.jpg"><img src="http://johnmbarry.com/images/johnmbarry-140-exp-001_untitled.jpg" ls="images/johnmbarry-140-exp-001_untitled.jpg" alt="" class="ContentImage0" height="141" width="140" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://members.authorsguild.net/johnmbarry/imagelib/001_untitled.jpg">The storm surge barrier in the Netherlands</a><br /><br /></div></div> <div style="font-family: verdana;" class="ContentPhoto"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://members.authorsguild.net/johnmbarry/imagelib/Providence-hurr.jpg"><img src="http://johnmbarry.com/images/johnmbarry-140-exp-Providence-hurr.jpg" ls="images/johnmbarry-140-exp-Providence-hurr.jpg" alt="" class="ContentImage0" height="97" width="140" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://members.authorsguild.net/johnmbarry/imagelib/Providence-hurr.jpg">The hurricane barrier built by the U.S. government to protect Providence, R.I.</a><br /><br /></div></div> <div style="font-family: verdana;" class="ContentPhoto"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://members.authorsguild.net/johnmbarry/imagelib/002_untitled.jpg"><img src="http://johnmbarry.com/images/johnmbarry-140-exp-002_untitled.jpg" ls="images/johnmbarry-140-exp-002_untitled.jpg" alt="" class="ContentImage0" height="97" width="140" /></a><br /><a href="http://johnmbarry.com/bio.htm"></a><br /></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://members.authorsguild.net/johnmbarry/imagelib/002_untitled.jpg">The flood protection provided by the U.S. government to New Orleans</a><br /><br />These images are in thanks to <a href="http://johnmbarry.com/bio.htm">John M. Barry</a><br /><br />John M. Barry is a prize-winning and New York Times best-selling author whose books have won more than twenty awards. <i>Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America</i>, won the 1998 Francis Parkman Prize of the Society of American Historians for the year’s best book of American history.<br /><br />New Orleans, you are in our thoughts.<br /><br />Suzanne<br /></div></div>Suzanne C Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286053083062642522noreply@blogger.com164tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698031704006116404.post-41597458259432992782008-08-24T16:24:00.000-07:002008-08-24T16:27:03.084-07:00Looking back at the storm<span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;">This is a video from UTube that breaks your heart all over again.</span><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/h-BlS6n4tK8&color1=11645361&color2=13619151&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/h-BlS6n4tK8&color1=11645361&color2=13619151&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is so much info and video out there. I would love to be able to put it all here on my blog but its easy to find for your self.</span>Suzanne C Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286053083062642522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698031704006116404.post-83561043097488461472008-08-20T10:31:00.000-07:002008-08-20T10:37:16.124-07:00video<span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">Video on the housing crisis in New Orleans<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mygOYj6NcR8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mygOYj6NcR8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Suzanne C Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286053083062642522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698031704006116404.post-66160559615110262632008-08-18T11:24:00.000-07:002008-08-18T12:12:11.201-07:003rd Anniversary of Katrina<span style="font-family: verdana;">"I feel so bad for how wrong everything went with Katrina aftermath. It shows that when faced with disaster - no one knows what the hell to do or how to do it. Look at all that money that was wasted while there were (& still are) folks living underneath bridge overpasses. I read the food mags (gourmet, bon apetit) & they rave about how New Orleans is “back” & they’re eating all fancy & partying, I can’t help but think of those folks under that damn bridge!" <span style="font-style: italic;">edited blogger comment</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">"New Orleans has always been a city of extremes, but now the extreme low end has gotten even lower while the other end looks like nothing ever happened. This is something Dubya could make right before he leaves office." <span style="font-style: italic;">edited blogger comment<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">____________________________________________________________</span><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />I have been working on the new pieces, doing a bit of info collecting and writing for the show to be hung Aug 28th at Bangor Public Library in Maine. Its been a long time in coming but the timing couldn't be better with the 3rd anniversary of Katrina coinciding with the show. I am excited about the work and happy to be doing this. I hope many will see, remember, think and possibly do something to be involved in some way.<br /><br />We hope to be working on an e-book to be available to anyone at any time online.<br />There will also be an online gallery set up for viewing the work for which I will post the link soon. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">There is much to be done and the complex problem points out the many difficulties that continue to face this country, not just in the rebuilding and healing of racial inhumanities in New Orleans but the ecological devastation, deteriorating infrastructure and racial and economical injustices found across the entire country.<br /><br />I hope you will visit the show either in person or online (link to be posted).<br /><br />I look forward to your thoughts and comments.<br /><br />Thank you,<br />Suzanne<br /></span>Suzanne C Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286053083062642522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698031704006116404.post-23534055463293543462007-12-03T11:17:00.000-08:002007-12-03T12:11:14.592-08:00Exciting news coverage in Lower 9th ward = increased awareness and renewed interest!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://mybagcares.com/mir/index.php"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 126px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKPyVE1HkfFUO_CWEF4DJ26ztLDHOcCPlsHfHlCXjvpXDtUbvGPNInQVxi0RhlFpKuN-NifIZvFY5NmJ73p017P3-8zGRnbeYCTyGHQWlpsu081Neq-J_3fOLCOJps4cxKzgWZBjAAg/s320/m_sub_LOGO.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139833272590162418" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />There are many opportunities to keep New Orleans alive in your heart at Christmas time. Make it Right has just unveiled Project Pink. Covered by the <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22067391/">Today Show (see video)</a> <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22067391/">this morning</a>, Project Pink is an installation in the Lower 9th created to bring attention to Make it Right and the adopt a house fund raiser. Headed by Bran Pitt (star power never hurts), you can adopt a whole house for $150,000 or just a gallon of paint or a compact flourescent light bulb. Donations in any denomination are also accepted.<br /><br />Project Pink consists of little pink monopoly type houses created to represent the future 150 homes. There will be viewing platforms for pedestrians while the project continues.<br /><br />Be sure to check out the really <a href="http://mybagcares.com/mir/index.php">neat web site!</a><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://mybagcares.com/mir/mir_SUB.php?section=low9&page=comm">Christmas Giving - New Orleans</a></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> link for many of the active organizations in Lower 9th that could really use donations and hope you will support them at this time.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">In case you missed it before here is the Wetlands video embedded into this blog</span><br /><br /><a href="http://%3cobject%20classid=%22clsid//www.viddler.com/player/e1fb206f/%22%20/%3E%3Cparam%20name=%22allowScriptAccess%22%20value=%22always%22%20/%3E%3Cparam%20name=%22allowFullScreen%22%20value=%22true%22%20/%3E%3Cembed%20src=%22http://www.viddler.com/player/e1fb206f/%22%20width=%22437%22%20height=%22370%22%20type=%22application/x-shockwave-flash%22%20allowScriptAccess=%22always%22%20allowFullScreen=%22true%22%20name=%22viddler_commonground_2%22%20%3E%3C/embed%3E%3C/object%3E"><br /></a></span></span><br /><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="viddler_commonground_2" height="370" width="437"><param name="movie" value="http://www.viddler.com/player/e1fb206f/"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.viddler.com/player/e1fb206f/" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" name="viddler_commonground_2" height="370" width="437"></embed></object>Suzanne C Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286053083062642522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698031704006116404.post-42907415552398273822007-10-16T14:55:00.000-07:002007-10-16T16:37:28.278-07:00Last Day-Musicians Village and FEMA Trailors and more FEMA Trailors<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1R4NgSL0kb2F17d1bxh0p8t_jMN2ZJBRruEIVPOJGcbEA33sgJckpcxhHz0fG2CpO6I_GvRl-8Fu_e9_ojJ-r2rEBRH0p3sEHzweNAG3ChWRyzqGUho3hP-TO9fKlcDuqirqg5kMRQ/s1600-h/tues+-+13.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 380px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1R4NgSL0kb2F17d1bxh0p8t_jMN2ZJBRruEIVPOJGcbEA33sgJckpcxhHz0fG2CpO6I_GvRl-8Fu_e9_ojJ-r2rEBRH0p3sEHzweNAG3ChWRyzqGUho3hP-TO9fKlcDuqirqg5kMRQ/s320/tues+-+13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122073026868041250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Musicians Village -upper 9th ward.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Today is my last day here. Its been a good but difficult trip. I feel so lucky I have a nice home to return to. Brandon has been a wonderful guide and I have seen so many things that I would not have if not for her. I thank her for all her time, insight and information. Her old truck barely crossed the bridges over the Mississippi but we made it to all our destinations.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">We made a trip over to <a href="http://www.habitat-nola.org/projects/musicians_village.php"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Musicians Village</span></a> today in the upper 9th.<br /><br />The Musicians' Village, conceived by Harry Connick and Winton Marsalis, will consist of 70 single-family, Habitat for Humanity-constructed homes for displaced New Orleans musicians and other qualifying families. On January 9, 2006 NOAHH acquired eight acres of land in the Upper 9th Ward where the core area of the Musicians' Village will be located.<br /><br />In addition to the homes in this tract, plans call for building at least 150 other homes in the surrounding Upper 9th Ward neighb</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">orhood. Construction began in March 2006 and the first ten homeowners moved into their new homes in August 2006. As of this date there have been 36 new Habitat homes constructed in the area. <span style="font-family:verdana;">As you probably know, Habitat for Humanity </span>helps families break out of the cycle of low-quality properties with high rent payments and into the world of reasonable payments toward home ownership.<br /><br />Along the Gulf Coast, Habitat is currently undergoing construction on more than 57 homes per month in a region where Habitat affiliates had built 57 per year. Additionally, Habitat’s three goals for the effort are being met. The goals, set immedia</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">tely after the hurricanes struck, included helping Habitat affiliates restore service in affected areas, partnering with other organizations to address the complex housing need and building simple, decent homes in partnership with low-income, hurricane-affected families.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qZa2yMh2I185hQbleoZm4wRxXA7NsWWlNFdcWg4SIhyB5gXfJjKnvuot1qhDKztKIgaFjLOBSLkoQgrrD0F9HurfeXpuJNzqWteMJ0TenrpsblIKIunI6FH3235_UCLQgH1gtOI6CQ/s1600-h/tues+-+01.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 322px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qZa2yMh2I185hQbleoZm4wRxXA7NsWWlNFdcWg4SIhyB5gXfJjKnvuot1qhDKztKIgaFjLOBSLkoQgrrD0F9HurfeXpuJNzqWteMJ0TenrpsblIKIunI6FH3235_UCLQgH1gtOI6CQ/s320/tues+-+01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122073323220784690" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:verdana;" >More Habitat for Humanity homes in upper 9th</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">This is a fantastic organization from what I have seen here and if you want to be involved or donate this looks like a really great group. They are still looking for <a href="http://www.habitat-nola.org/index.php">volunteers</a> and you can work just one day if that is all you the time you have.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfvvWmZibf7gpBsBGlc-p8Zw-B3obsm4KSlt-A2WkEd6xYTkp36gv_5XqYbnN3ZrITpR38HtNGA5zB78OFlEgMw0kwk2fJ3qoYkTZqjfaCeTuR9mzk1VudrQtSfTgDUoPdxbiXW2LjA/s1600-h/tues+-+12.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 146px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfvvWmZibf7gpBsBGlc-p8Zw-B3obsm4KSlt-A2WkEd6xYTkp36gv_5XqYbnN3ZrITpR38HtNGA5zB78OFlEgMw0kwk2fJ3qoYkTZqjfaCeTuR9mzk1VudrQtSfTgDUoPdxbiXW2LjA/s320/tues+-+12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122080676204795490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">FEMA trailors</span><br /><br />FEMA trailors are everywhere. Its hard to imagine whole families living in these tiny tin boxes. Those who were lucky enough to have a yard to place the trailor in </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">seem to be a bit better off than those w</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ho live in the FEMA trailor parks. Row after row of trailers on asphalt. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">About 3,000 people live in more than 20 large communities of trailers.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8r3DOGu_Hp14uMViI1FmTrXUjF_ojK0A2V6YlFd12q4kPb7TiPWPLoRPWAT5v4ygvcf4Y9WPgFelNmp8nhtWWGx6SVp4MBDTzvs9zKWxp12Z6uig5q6BUkfyVvqtRR1s-AsoYy_43xQ/s1600-h/tues+-+11.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8r3DOGu_Hp14uMViI1FmTrXUjF_ojK0A2V6YlFd12q4kPb7TiPWPLoRPWAT5v4ygvcf4Y9WPgFelNmp8nhtWWGx6SVp4MBDTzvs9zKWxp12Z6uig5q6BUkfyVvqtRR1s-AsoYy_43xQ/s320/tues+-+11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122080938197800562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">FEMA trailers behind fence.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JmXcxqNPBg9sOC2wn2zqOKM-pQooTUl2bYivxUaV7Ckt6lI0IE9fw5i9Oo8pNQOpcOZKDPVPWCBKqg9iAM-haojv73qUeZnrv4Go7jrKfdRz-lJ0ZyJNhamWaCQBDVUfVdgH5tDnyg/s1600-h/tues+-+05.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JmXcxqNPBg9sOC2wn2zqOKM-pQooTUl2bYivxUaV7Ckt6lI0IE9fw5i9Oo8pNQOpcOZKDPVPWCBKqg9iAM-haojv73qUeZnrv4Go7jrKfdRz-lJ0ZyJNhamWaCQBDVUfVdgH5tDnyg/s320/tues+-+05.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122080951082702482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2a-RcP8RvugjRhofcogeAlEdbcnXtvzmLF0CC2th1IcdAMc7GxCaIW7Any7lprpSa9YCZGfq0obvWf_-0XieR0Uz0tpl4do1dxuBizhXh8H8sRFsZr-9qVU4SPvhPXOVnQkGWrqh2xw/s1600-h/tues+-+07.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 315px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2a-RcP8RvugjRhofcogeAlEdbcnXtvzmLF0CC2th1IcdAMc7GxCaIW7Any7lprpSa9YCZGfq0obvWf_-0XieR0Uz0tpl4do1dxuBizhXh8H8sRFsZr-9qVU4SPvhPXOVnQkGWrqh2xw/s320/tues+-+07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122080946787735170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/521481/fema_trailers_in_new_orleans/">video</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Well, that's it for now. Thanks to everyone who has been reading along. I hope the writing wasn't too awful! Volunteer, donate, march, tell people, do whatever you can and hopefully someone's life will be better.<br /><br />Love, Suzanne<br /></span>Suzanne C Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286053083062642522noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698031704006116404.post-68643613867496682752007-10-15T16:41:00.000-07:002007-10-15T17:04:03.485-07:00no blog today<a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFJ0mmZPE4rkVOqs5XMiaH_nAGVyCx-9BHi_fx6XrxzYG4CGYRWIpf0969E2p8XBZxJINmxA7901p3qtsxKZamV5BOvoYEv4-hFRO01Xv3rkmDjRkTA70NxwiyJdYg0o2crmcJPnLMA/s1600-h/boys-in-the-neighborhood.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 429px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFJ0mmZPE4rkVOqs5XMiaH_nAGVyCx-9BHi_fx6XrxzYG4CGYRWIpf0969E2p8XBZxJINmxA7901p3qtsxKZamV5BOvoYEv4-hFRO01Xv3rkmDjRkTA70NxwiyJdYg0o2crmcJPnLMA/s320/boys-in-the-neighborhood.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121717798712923634" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">boys in the neighborhood</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGmfJ4u2Z0AvMsdYRmwgaCIIrKq0zun1PZZ8PcV0uo1dVXxcDTpWVziIHD7meJZYQp5vTfzdtX6m30yC5a9fcA1SdRq7EaU_JFaNBENGLCi35z5JYBFejsTn4z7JwHoW3TTWI9FCLbg/s1600-h/merboy-and-spartina.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 241px; height: 362px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGmfJ4u2Z0AvMsdYRmwgaCIIrKq0zun1PZZ8PcV0uo1dVXxcDTpWVziIHD7meJZYQp5vTfzdtX6m30yC5a9fcA1SdRq7EaU_JFaNBENGLCi35z5JYBFejsTn4z7JwHoW3TTWI9FCLbg/s320/merboy-and-spartina.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121717807302858242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">Mer-boy and spartina</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYUzXCIC63T6lZRraavuNlRJA4sWp6_TzXbHPAw4nLMY1OHMUcNZuImpxN0q1tV_TUbS5IUn8ejc6V5y-gF_nsbkmnP9l_a7nMTQnwFrtTzCgPINkQWJm14CUhiKvRpx_zjFsUA9_RQ/s1600-h/we-used-tp-play-here2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 470px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYUzXCIC63T6lZRraavuNlRJA4sWp6_TzXbHPAw4nLMY1OHMUcNZuImpxN0q1tV_TUbS5IUn8ejc6V5y-gF_nsbkmnP9l_a7nMTQnwFrtTzCgPINkQWJm14CUhiKvRpx_zjFsUA9_RQ/s320/we-used-tp-play-here2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121717811597825554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">We used to play here.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sorry today was a bit of a bust as I had to help Brandon take care of some parking tickets in Algeirs. It involved finding the old court house in a sort of out of the way area (court had to be moved after the hurricane). We took a car ferry back over the Mississippi which was a lot eaiser and faster.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The tickets were a bit expensive and could have probably been contested and dismissed. At the time she received them she was given confusing and conflicting information and it was too late at this point to contest. Like everything here it is not easy to get the correct information.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Worked on some photos earlier today</span>Suzanne C Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286053083062642522noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698031704006116404.post-83413940098331509882007-10-14T18:00:00.000-07:002007-10-14T19:37:24.567-07:00Wetland Restoration-Foundation of Everything<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvN72-8u6jrnEHXIncGBq4Vg9n25zpVciLxJF4YCoxRQ7jCXNZUnpuK7KCxPem0NU6lWNJDerbSZRtEu_1wwM0P6ruh5hDb-1-qqbDfrz8ZzBRmuIWw989N-e-r4Wg222eKYY8t68xpg/s1600-h/Last+Roll+-+54.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 383px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvN72-8u6jrnEHXIncGBq4Vg9n25zpVciLxJF4YCoxRQ7jCXNZUnpuK7KCxPem0NU6lWNJDerbSZRtEu_1wwM0P6ruh5hDb-1-qqbDfrz8ZzBRmuIWw989N-e-r4Wg222eKYY8t68xpg/s320/Last+Roll+-+54.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121374630825972962" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:verdana;" ><br />Bayou Bienvenue Cypress Triangle-a completely destroyed wetland.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtw5ykYH_cD5MUCcwHHiEcpM_s6YLlf_2X0toAmZVSJGiJKrWFljTqkRDFju_WYj9KeXe8kcvBWfA3vpSnIU122XRONhvVnGSeorufpzn7L36FZjw17Ri_ktNFS-Waqydxc0G9EbJ4g/s1600-h/Last+Roll+-+03.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 189px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtw5ykYH_cD5MUCcwHHiEcpM_s6YLlf_2X0toAmZVSJGiJKrWFljTqkRDFju_WYj9KeXe8kcvBWfA3vpSnIU122XRONhvVnGSeorufpzn7L36FZjw17Ri_ktNFS-Waqydxc0G9EbJ4g/s320/Last+Roll+-+03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121376108294722978" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:verdana;" >Lock on the Industrial Canal</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5mFeDcXepn7-5oGb5xilUIU8i4kbjUBw2Kk9NU0fqcZ_PH_2UkTSx_RfoUC0bbztqftzuDokJXGahmkwzHxzq818iGy6Zh9pc6U9jHXNebS0Wy2oRABrFYmyxNDFGM4wVEqxSs6mjQ/s1600-h/Last+Roll+-+64.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 330px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5mFeDcXepn7-5oGb5xilUIU8i4kbjUBw2Kk9NU0fqcZ_PH_2UkTSx_RfoUC0bbztqftzuDokJXGahmkwzHxzq818iGy6Zh9pc6U9jHXNebS0Wy2oRABrFYmyxNDFGM4wVEqxSs6mjQ/s320/Last+Roll+-+64.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121375455459693842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:verdana;" >Industrial Canal-Lower 9th side.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrqkAkg32qdHgVNpgjlqQw-LCtE7sInRRK6G9LR6oXc2HJf4JeENZTEd4soCI9ipPzJo7xF3xDLpo32gs34PkpB1p0Z8NW0E2vumtFGzZ3kz5RmizzCNw_ZJAKIXys9MRvRgQDZPwyQ/s1600-h/Last+Roll+-+48.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrqkAkg32qdHgVNpgjlqQw-LCtE7sInRRK6G9LR6oXc2HJf4JeENZTEd4soCI9ipPzJo7xF3xDLpo32gs34PkpB1p0Z8NW0E2vumtFGzZ3kz5RmizzCNw_ZJAKIXys9MRvRgQDZPwyQ/s320/Last+Roll+-+48.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121375459754661170" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">The Levee at Bayou Bienvenue Cypress Triangle</span></span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">So much of what needs to happen here depends on healthy wetlands. Without that foundation none of it will work in the long term. All politics aside, this is probably the most important problem to fix.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzNpC0c0WXJ5l-sb8Z9II6R5beRX7y57cKeUXOVrxvAEQZQooCf74lAMLl4Wid770oyRlQOaLUdSWh3Rsl08212KA8GyfLaCNQJEmN_JugCWJ0VhRGFW3oQEGzMB1W1Gp1o5vcbYqTA/s1600-h/Last-Roll---08.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 330px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzNpC0c0WXJ5l-sb8Z9II6R5beRX7y57cKeUXOVrxvAEQZQooCf74lAMLl4Wid770oyRlQOaLUdSWh3Rsl08212KA8GyfLaCNQJEmN_JugCWJ0VhRGFW3oQEGzMB1W1Gp1o5vcbYqTA/s320/Last-Roll---08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121385428373755330" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">Spartina awaiting wetland planting<br />in the nursery at Common Ground.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Today I visited The Bayou Bienvenue Cypress Triangle. This is located on the line between Orleans and St. Bern</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ard parish -north of L9. This was a thriving Cypress forest less than 20 years ago.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://www.commongroundrelief.org/taxonomy/term/44">See video</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The situation is this. in the late 60’s a canal called The Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet Canal (also known as MRGO, MR-GO or “Mr. Go”) was built for a shorter shipping route into New Orleans rather than take the Mississippi River which twists and turns. The problem is that the Gulf flows into it and brings salt water into inland fresh water. The wetlands make the transition between salt and non salt water. Inland plants don’t tolerate salt. Cypress trees are salt tolerant but not enough to withstand the salt that is coming in now. The lower 9th was once a cypress swamp.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Long-time Lo</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">wer Nine residents remember a time before the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet flooded the bayou with saltwater and killed the native cypress trees and swamp just north of the Lower Nine. They remember when there was more dry land than wet.<br /><br />There was a lot of fishing and social activity on the bayou</span>. <span style="font-family:verdana;">When the steel levee went up around the bayou after Hurricane Betsy it separated the bayou from the </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">community.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Work done by Hassam Mahriqui in a computer simulation at Louisiana State University’s Hurricane Center of MR-GO during Katrina found that it had raised the storm surge. Three months before Katrina, Mashriqui, a storm surge expert, called MR-GO a “critical and fundamental flaw” in the Corps’ hurricane defenses, a “Trojan Horse” that could amplify storm surges 20 to 40 percent. Following the storm, an engineering investigation and computer modelling showed that the outlet intensified the initial surge by 20 percent, raised the height of the wall of water about three feet, and increased the velocity of the surge from 3 feet per second (0.9 m/s) to 8 feet per second (2.4 m/s) in the funnel. Mashriqui believes this contributed to the scouring that undermined the levees and flood walls along the outlet and Industrial Canal. “Without MRGO, the flooding would have been much less,” he said. “The levees might have overtopped, but they wouldn’t have been washed away.”</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />St. Bernard Parish insists that only total closure can restore the wetlands destroyed by the MRGO. The plan proposed by the State of Louisiana also calls for the complete closure of the MRGO.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:verdana;" ></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpeq-u-h-KJFn286aoyNHs-ugqHutGzjhSLcTg9-F3Hnfr5Ol0CJLbN7Brum34JK-A-aa1IDMcsAh3EIYGdSjsibPQF8Qra-ngkmhAemHeFui3SCve8HTJM-Jq3KOlUSyzXCgUzbKQw/s1600-h/Last+Roll+-+68.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpeq-u-h-KJFn286aoyNHs-ugqHutGzjhSLcTg9-F3Hnfr5Ol0CJLbN7Brum34JK-A-aa1IDMcsAh3EIYGdSjsibPQF8Qra-ngkmhAemHeFui3SCve8HTJM-Jq3KOlUSyzXCgUzbKQw/s320/Last+Roll+-+68.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121374626531005634" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:verdana;" >Barges in the Industrial Canal<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTlFFuq0ZRVRHX-PvzUu5ESBATE0g3WmNyFgC9toxWdMbgeOQlg4mC7mz0c6WtK_Aa3NV6nJWthGHIkezsO3B0Qt5iTsA2w3U0897q_saOMER1oMw5yYinUkfQnjBiowMO84b3LeZNQ/s1600-h/Last+Roll+-+73.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 175px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTlFFuq0ZRVRHX-PvzUu5ESBATE0g3WmNyFgC9toxWdMbgeOQlg4mC7mz0c6WtK_Aa3NV6nJWthGHIkezsO3B0Qt5iTsA2w3U0897q_saOMER1oMw5yYinUkfQnjBiowMO84b3LeZNQ/s320/Last+Roll+-+73.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121375451164726530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:verdana;" >Alligator in some really dirty garbage filled water in<br />some sort of catchment system from the Industrial Canal.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> MISCELLANEOUS NEW ORLEANS SCENES<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fJh_pX2tO-cdOxy0_Z43Pujo6iLdsq3Kb619kTtMjcXXSCOeCpJTcTZHcTwPsEftZA77k5LC2eEfU3dadRfoU3M7T0s6RTjwQBrskpL-MPJZoXrKw5i1kQBCPzhF7t7vKEWKqFcf9g/s1600-h/Last+Roll+-+27.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fJh_pX2tO-cdOxy0_Z43Pujo6iLdsq3Kb619kTtMjcXXSCOeCpJTcTZHcTwPsEftZA77k5LC2eEfU3dadRfoU3M7T0s6RTjwQBrskpL-MPJZoXrKw5i1kQBCPzhF7t7vKEWKqFcf9g/s320/Last+Roll+-+27.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121375464049628482" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:verdana;" >New modular shotgun for sale in L9<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Cd3uQj5_b_sttq6VyJjFqQxhvhSRfEruLsURie1cwwof_mQLnufIybJIGlfKBoBIY8KoMt8TbXebooqKpoLEVXO5FGVLTq_wmNU678Se3LEicHJ6u-ueqfClX-y0SKPtf7vCipCP1w/s1600-h/Last+Roll+-+24.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Cd3uQj5_b_sttq6VyJjFqQxhvhSRfEruLsURie1cwwof_mQLnufIybJIGlfKBoBIY8KoMt8TbXebooqKpoLEVXO5FGVLTq_wmNU678Se3LEicHJ6u-ueqfClX-y0SKPtf7vCipCP1w/s320/Last+Roll+-+24.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121375850596685154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3HMxMhTgBE0ZAlIzskTM9nexDej9kWvMFzdvWX8RhaHrbPdqxnO5vKLTo9Nyee6r5j5BGFPRfs0G-qDQWpR01_qh5uuOeh482EkUxNXomZy2Zmc0yQwQLi9k6e6nxHv6SYW2ii_95w/s1600-h/Last+Roll+-+26.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3HMxMhTgBE0ZAlIzskTM9nexDej9kWvMFzdvWX8RhaHrbPdqxnO5vKLTo9Nyee6r5j5BGFPRfs0G-qDQWpR01_qh5uuOeh482EkUxNXomZy2Zmc0yQwQLi9k6e6nxHv6SYW2ii_95w/s320/Last+Roll+-+26.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121375850596685138" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">There is so so so much of this...and worse</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2iU4tC2AhG8CKJtwulXpHKlJwb1Pqu9cQmDvK_I5mSOJXa5vOAwbqm6-sezHAf_i-gvqP3e_7eVC1hkK37ia3uUk47Yy45YktpdkEq_zqYmNdX6E-T8DEYmD7vZOSkbz6wdhv4gpjw/s1600-h/Last+Roll+-+01.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2iU4tC2AhG8CKJtwulXpHKlJwb1Pqu9cQmDvK_I5mSOJXa5vOAwbqm6-sezHAf_i-gvqP3e_7eVC1hkK37ia3uUk47Yy45YktpdkEq_zqYmNdX6E-T8DEYmD7vZOSkbz6wdhv4gpjw/s320/Last+Roll+-+01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121376108294722994" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:verdana;" >Something was on fire here. It is not unusual to see a lot of burnt out buildings.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8E7HcTDMklRZS9aV6CvdERo4l-O57CEi-ILLe8FzIZnhS1vRWhGLgON8Njr9zzJaPZlRBkh1QhAQcQhkYzur5Y9hn-54l7bpqMvXZP1ar_ytGY08y-SVN9RyeTFS4yzrNQqS-IcN7sQ/s1600-h/Last+Roll+-+21.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8E7HcTDMklRZS9aV6CvdERo4l-O57CEi-ILLe8FzIZnhS1vRWhGLgON8Njr9zzJaPZlRBkh1QhAQcQhkYzur5Y9hn-54l7bpqMvXZP1ar_ytGY08y-SVN9RyeTFS4yzrNQqS-IcN7sQ/s320/Last+Roll+-+21.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121375854891652466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:verdana;" >Here is a shot of the memorial built on the meridian of Claiborne which is the main road through the Lower 9th. It was built hastily before a Bush visit. Who would ever go here? Its really awful and it is the only place the city mows in L9-everything else is mowed by volunteers or residents.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQN2UzRaVsDl6G1MnOtVOUFD3wa8mywx1b-r9FOmrhI3sl9uHYrUpXekgwkGBd6PX5kAS2NKVs_1XWWDM-O2IDPxRYRR7LcqfjkMLRwIiY5OGG3YP9lijUXTBgJN-9GZrdgGeNQPM3Sg/s1600-h/Last+Roll+-+19.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQN2UzRaVsDl6G1MnOtVOUFD3wa8mywx1b-r9FOmrhI3sl9uHYrUpXekgwkGBd6PX5kAS2NKVs_1XWWDM-O2IDPxRYRR7LcqfjkMLRwIiY5OGG3YP9lijUXTBgJN-9GZrdgGeNQPM3Sg/s320/Last+Roll+-+19.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121375859186619778" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> <span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">yep</span><br /><br />See ya tomorrow...S<br /></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"></span>Suzanne C Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286053083062642522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698031704006116404.post-54590638196496674872007-10-13T19:20:00.000-07:002007-10-13T19:41:53.418-07:00Glass Half Full<a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4o7UWIgjv83NUGQV6EblH8CAc2mUi1NZBEgwRAnRn1Q-p6zy8B7fgqe87W0ijGrosdgGxHNnhWQc78qcxd7ppEb72fheuHayrI71sQ2iS2FJpcJQtd7CgpAMSyLZq_tR2jLH8oR9HA/s1600-h/sat+-+6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 371px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4o7UWIgjv83NUGQV6EblH8CAc2mUi1NZBEgwRAnRn1Q-p6zy8B7fgqe87W0ijGrosdgGxHNnhWQc78qcxd7ppEb72fheuHayrI71sQ2iS2FJpcJQtd7CgpAMSyLZq_tR2jLH8oR9HA/s320/sat+-+6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121012616622527602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:verdana;" >The city of New Orleans sits to the right in this picture. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:verdana;" >The view all around is of water.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The reason I have named this post Glass Half Full is because someone said that to me today. A white man in the French quarter tourist info booth. He told me that was how most New Orleans people viewed the situation. I don’t know if that is really true or not--it might just be a bit of positive spin for the tourists.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">New Orleans is surrounded by water.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">That is a fact.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Mayor Nagan has come out saying he supports self-determination in what will happen in the various neighborhoods.</span><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEZTklET_0pkW1YE-1SDlPvqQrmVYIcYhbClMyLJdRaijmg2CPPWrwyW1v5AqNfU6Uls6tjrDJCQ81HznjPQf3vz1ITSZAzK6UqhJ2rdbTARqqXlT9w3QtCv_DsyD0s3Sde9sp8LX8w/s1600-h/sat+-+4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEZTklET_0pkW1YE-1SDlPvqQrmVYIcYhbClMyLJdRaijmg2CPPWrwyW1v5AqNfU6Uls6tjrDJCQ81HznjPQf3vz1ITSZAzK6UqhJ2rdbTARqqXlT9w3QtCv_DsyD0s3Sde9sp8LX8w/s320/sat+-+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121012436233901138" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnfdRC_OQph4mULXSESWG61hjYE7ckZVDB5bSeey47DaoWwJbPZFibA9VrRnCULFnhRffezkEuVigEo895Y98Hej_SOnB3Ny4jBtgXOIjKSQGfBBRCPvV7F-vNDflY_Lg4DktWOHdIw/s1600-h/sat+-+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 151px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnfdRC_OQph4mULXSESWG61hjYE7ckZVDB5bSeey47DaoWwJbPZFibA9VrRnCULFnhRffezkEuVigEo895Y98Hej_SOnB3Ny4jBtgXOIjKSQGfBBRCPvV7F-vNDflY_Lg4DktWOHdIw/s320/sat+-+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121012431938933826" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnKLAtmFYx4hRtMJcA0z-ZQ-m_rCPdyEXYzRRw5Tz12JmUNqsPTDp_nV7GiGaSbxfDqWh1YWLx_7k2fFaWqylu2umfD_fYfnVn6jFOyjKYjrTgIM2fzKviWPrS4_m6yRuN3LcxjXWxQ/s1600-h/sat+-+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 173px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnKLAtmFYx4hRtMJcA0z-ZQ-m_rCPdyEXYzRRw5Tz12JmUNqsPTDp_nV7GiGaSbxfDqWh1YWLx_7k2fFaWqylu2umfD_fYfnVn6jFOyjKYjrTgIM2fzKviWPrS4_m6yRuN3LcxjXWxQ/s320/sat+-+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121012427643966514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">Grass plugs planted by volunteers to try to save the wetlands</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />The preservation of New Orleans Depends on Healthy Wetlands</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">We visited Bayou Sauvage-possibly the largest national wildlife refuge within a city, located in the east of New Orleans. The Hydrology (movement of water due to seasonal changes) is artificially managed because the levees have interrupted the natural hydrology. Gates to control the water levels mimic the seasonal changes.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoA1uX0wbuG5tpz0exsWS7v1jrGPArxD0xOUHbasJETK16CXbK8XoAV2W77BrbdAWFVyVWZYpj7IrsdKbAzTtNEfAAXU71mTZ6J1y4CI7E4Oeb33OcCyRxfDozZmsZ23mCnpIGehgj-w/s1600-h/sat+-+5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoA1uX0wbuG5tpz0exsWS7v1jrGPArxD0xOUHbasJETK16CXbK8XoAV2W77BrbdAWFVyVWZYpj7IrsdKbAzTtNEfAAXU71mTZ6J1y4CI7E4Oeb33OcCyRxfDozZmsZ23mCnpIGehgj-w/s320/sat+-+5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121012436233901154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:verdana;" >Brandon explains some wetland facts</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilnGfN2Wp_xkGiBVL1_kNJjfXN-5L3cIxSMR50gV1adoaeZyePhHk2OCN2GPSfFfvpDctzGKhUEmJGvr8XYrKYjwnHnk1eIVctRgvYQo6DJnjfNcKYyrelFXFvr7ATLewATSiK4Xxa0Q/s1600-h/sat+-+3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 387px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilnGfN2Wp_xkGiBVL1_kNJjfXN-5L3cIxSMR50gV1adoaeZyePhHk2OCN2GPSfFfvpDctzGKhUEmJGvr8XYrKYjwnHnk1eIVctRgvYQo6DJnjfNcKYyrelFXFvr7ATLewATSiK4Xxa0Q/s320/sat+-+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121012423348999202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:verdana;" >Dry cracked mud and garbage =unhealthy wetland.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">We stopped at the point where a barge broke through and destroyed the wetland. Volunteers have replaced a lot of the grasses called Spatina Acturnal flora. You can see there is still a need for more.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUF4cuRWCvT2VBJCNYYFAqSILzM0FWoYqLe-GNdWZEzIqN885xWV1SAfkvH48vgY3pNcr7xjtQuOutOPFjhRYYDxFNv5gc9wGtwp-If7ZusNAqPafk_NUih6_oaH_OvYGlIKk1ETip4w/s1600-h/sat+-+7.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 389px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUF4cuRWCvT2VBJCNYYFAqSILzM0FWoYqLe-GNdWZEzIqN885xWV1SAfkvH48vgY3pNcr7xjtQuOutOPFjhRYYDxFNv5gc9wGtwp-If7ZusNAqPafk_NUih6_oaH_OvYGlIKk1ETip4w/s320/sat+-+7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121012620917494914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:verdana;" >HUGE oil refinery (one of many) that sits just outside New Orleans.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">New Orleans refines and ships through its port a lot of the country’s oil. This process has had a detrimental effect on the wetlands.<br /><br />Thats it for tonight.<br /><br />Best, suzanne<br /></span>Suzanne C Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286053083062642522noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698031704006116404.post-59273885796722415182007-10-13T06:19:00.000-07:002007-10-13T07:14:45.891-07:00St Bernard Housing Project and Community Garden<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtxJxUDWnR6VMf7g7IOO3JbiSiQdEZEmI6KImVJwRFLf2mz0pP9nLbBIiK58smw-qQkuF-iJDVBf7wPz-z-rvl8gFNupm6X7-1pX1OvMPvlv9j1-mewtkgD_uAJTPDUm_oebp09409w/s1600-h/nola+friday+-+91.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 323px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtxJxUDWnR6VMf7g7IOO3JbiSiQdEZEmI6KImVJwRFLf2mz0pP9nLbBIiK58smw-qQkuF-iJDVBf7wPz-z-rvl8gFNupm6X7-1pX1OvMPvlv9j1-mewtkgD_uAJTPDUm_oebp09409w/s320/nola+friday+-+91.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120816499825857426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixw7x3KM_GGp16PYTQUz8hjXRWJx_TCKj90HZc1ajWlPxd6t9BVekVuRE04Ijs2ujjxH5KSLczoTrrkx9TzhiDmhbxeK1FHGWoBCZVcAZPikTgQxJ3eXWPzqKHeKsQEYEVTRhPzJdHMg/s1600-h/nola+friday+-+90.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 324px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixw7x3KM_GGp16PYTQUz8hjXRWJx_TCKj90HZc1ajWlPxd6t9BVekVuRE04Ijs2ujjxH5KSLczoTrrkx9TzhiDmhbxeK1FHGWoBCZVcAZPikTgQxJ3eXWPzqKHeKsQEYEVTRhPzJdHMg/s320/nola+friday+-+90.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120816508415792034" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXRm0BSab7qMQ4GXT3GIWdEXRsBUQRNagaElUsbFR7Fqn5fSCKWY647RWFXYDpia8rdIbp__2x2obI3k-NgKb6T0MNC744s4NWB9WUwTiXq3qdAK6zZvi-36oEEok9W6WoGzyUlipYg/s1600-h/nola+friday+-+92.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 322px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXRm0BSab7qMQ4GXT3GIWdEXRsBUQRNagaElUsbFR7Fqn5fSCKWY647RWFXYDpia8rdIbp__2x2obI3k-NgKb6T0MNC744s4NWB9WUwTiXq3qdAK6zZvi-36oEEok9W6WoGzyUlipYg/s320/nola+friday+-+92.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120816521300693938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_jza8Fksm3Azd5P_9Xxp99tY0MLOF0vOLml2ZXGJRG-Sejvx-fuON9Ea-jB2UQmwKP1Ezf4sPNJkNwbdPLS7R6QmfVwBufOjh8QQcwOAY9IXEfb9TZYzZqlnEQuAx6K31C5pa3Ancw/s1600-h/nola+friday+-+93.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 321px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_jza8Fksm3Azd5P_9Xxp99tY0MLOF0vOLml2ZXGJRG-Sejvx-fuON9Ea-jB2UQmwKP1Ezf4sPNJkNwbdPLS7R6QmfVwBufOjh8QQcwOAY9IXEfb9TZYzZqlnEQuAx6K31C5pa3Ancw/s320/nola+friday+-+93.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120816529890628546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICILlIb8fBl5B273N_VFJaiBYAP_DjGWx8rDZx3OcIojRdOwB6X__1_Cm_pFUFFjmsYyD5-BlyDJ9xveaWwrAj0znVkacmZ088FcGoDrNMzlbvr1Bue9HdAJg12ggrVWyJyMepxrQZA/s1600-h/nola+friday+-+94.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 322px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICILlIb8fBl5B273N_VFJaiBYAP_DjGWx8rDZx3OcIojRdOwB6X__1_Cm_pFUFFjmsYyD5-BlyDJ9xveaWwrAj0znVkacmZ088FcGoDrNMzlbvr1Bue9HdAJg12ggrVWyJyMepxrQZA/s320/nola+friday+-+94.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120816534185595858" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"><br />Massive St. Bernard housing project, Lower 9th</span><br /><br />Day two in New Orleans was gorgeous, in the lower 80’s, with brilliant sun. Unfortunately my camera battery ran out on me so sadly I don’t have as many pictures from the day’s travels as I would have liked.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />The community housing project at St. Bernard in the Lower 9th looks like nowhere anyone would want to live. A waste land. Big old buildings resemble a prison more than a place to raise children. But for many people this was home.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The buildings sustained minimal damage from the hurricane and the residents have been trying to get the city to reopen the project. In 2006 after their request to reopen the project went unheeded, the residents constructed what was known as Survivors Village, a tent city on the meridian of the highway. There they lived. Rallies were held to try to get the project reopened. Over the past year Survivors Village has disbanded and some of its inhabitants can be found wherever the homeless try to survive and get by without being bothered by the police.<br /><br />The St Bernard housing project sits abandoned.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />The size is overwhelming. Building after building. There are over 1,000 units here.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">The whole thing is enclosed in a barb wire toped fencing. Brandon and I spent a bit of time wondering why the gates were open. Perhaps the lock had been cut? There were no trespassing and restricted access signs all over. The area was quiet, no one was around. It was an erie place.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">The huge brick buildings sit empty, some with windows open, curtains blowing in the breeze. Anything made of metal is rusted out and ancient looking.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">COMMUNITY GARDEN</span><br />Next we were off to the more peaceful Meg Perry Community Garden, (managed by Parkway partners). Also know as Sun Done Garden, the soil is in excellent shape with no contaminates possibly because the garden has always been organic since it was started in the 70's. The garden is rumored to have been started by the Black Panthers in order to provide a food source for the lower 9.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">The space contains a greenhouse, several large vegetable plots, and water catchment. There are grapefruit trees, okra, and eggplant to name a few of the very healthy plants thriving there. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">While we were there Brandon harvested basil from a plant the size of a small tree. Everything grows big here.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />One interesting plant that was thriving in a small basin of water was a Water Hyacinth. Brandon told me the plant is very invasive, choking waterways and bayous. The interesting thing about the Water Hyacinth is that it is very fiberous and would make an excellent alternative to corn in the production of ethanol.<br /><br />Many of the houses around the garden seem to have been repaired and in comparison to other areas the progress is apparent, but there are still an awful lot of FEMA trailers here.<br /><br />I will try to post todays work tonight--last night there was no internet connection, hence this post was delayed.<br /><br />till then...Suzanne<br /></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span>Suzanne C Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286053083062642522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698031704006116404.post-49141212042245262302007-10-11T18:35:00.000-07:002007-10-12T09:58:17.352-07:00New Orleans ~ its a complicated placeToday, my first in New Orleans, was a very busy and intense day. I came away from the day with a lot of confusion. This is an incredibly complicated situation down here that didn't start with the hurricane--the hurricane added another layer.<br /><br />Many here, volunteers and residents, feel the city used the hurricane to evict an undesirable population.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYyRJGmqZtUhZ6DZJZJVeeqesICndc4h2xsk4xBvz6pCGZ8gx7vmlTYbHpFsFAcNT_uVp0BjIYG3kXWKtpXDwAdosX5b2-pkIm8YQaTxmgDAUTb1P9b8bWNHNi2ad2AoY4YQImqI7yg/s1600-h/100_2886_v2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 157px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYyRJGmqZtUhZ6DZJZJVeeqesICndc4h2xsk4xBvz6pCGZ8gx7vmlTYbHpFsFAcNT_uVp0BjIYG3kXWKtpXDwAdosX5b2-pkIm8YQaTxmgDAUTb1P9b8bWNHNi2ad2AoY4YQImqI7yg/s320/100_2886_v2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120267289472815826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"><br />what's been left behind remind me of grave sites</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgBpsO5rE64xYNkrhhVFuoGA2OuECsU53kmXJFv0-I097EYM4lW-zA890zz9kOkzVURKIT5XLopQg2eGWasl6KCkBfOKB3dUCNHwAu_ojbjZBfPXFel-nmEWsFtc8l8amCdTxEVVuDA/s1600-h/100_2924.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 322px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgBpsO5rE64xYNkrhhVFuoGA2OuECsU53kmXJFv0-I097EYM4lW-zA890zz9kOkzVURKIT5XLopQg2eGWasl6KCkBfOKB3dUCNHwAu_ojbjZBfPXFel-nmEWsFtc8l8amCdTxEVVuDA/s320/100_2924.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120265309492892354" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"><br />stairs and paths that lead nowhere anymore.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOJ5hG0CVzoQs2dnxkilVs5x4T21vHT38Qbg9y2Qgz8SgDobJ_aWRn4KOZMxMJ2cTzBpP8hks8dIXlFWIheg6RNCWCm0dTZie6S9WgJ6v2LAQ9bMvYEQ-x6P7E0som1CEVFgRfI2QJQ/s1600-h/100_2906.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOJ5hG0CVzoQs2dnxkilVs5x4T21vHT38Qbg9y2Qgz8SgDobJ_aWRn4KOZMxMJ2cTzBpP8hks8dIXlFWIheg6RNCWCm0dTZie6S9WgJ6v2LAQ9bMvYEQ-x6P7E0som1CEVFgRfI2QJQ/s320/100_2906.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120265038909952626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">Common Ground Relief in L9</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMY8UZziVQvbhOMoaJEhTGMh8E8RKfvI5AsC_f26-SkxcqM0xH_hTTSbuvPyGgitbQ8tqpCXyFe32jk8Vhr__RWRUbr5T0BhyNG-zxv-3yWN4iNb4XU8OePIae0AYzr9UzfWjnWzevg/s1600-h/100_2919.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 334px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMY8UZziVQvbhOMoaJEhTGMh8E8RKfvI5AsC_f26-SkxcqM0xH_hTTSbuvPyGgitbQ8tqpCXyFe32jk8Vhr__RWRUbr5T0BhyNG-zxv-3yWN4iNb4XU8OePIae0AYzr9UzfWjnWzevg/s320/100_2919.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120265043204919954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">Zeraph (aka Brandon) my escort and wetlands<br />project coordinator at Common Ground.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">On visiting the Lower Ninth Ward one can only stare and wonder what is going on here. Vast flat fields resembling long neglected graveyards, driveways that go nowhere and slabs of cement with steps for no one. There is a strange beauty. The large trees that have survived dominate the landscape.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">A wildwest quality vibrates in the energy there. One can feel a tension and law-less-ness and an anything could happen feeling. This has attracted scores of mostly young people to volunteer in the lower 9th for what appears to be a loosely organized agency called Common Ground Relief. </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I got to hang with a couple of the volunteers today while working on a water collection system. Of the group I met, all have been on and off, long term, volunteers and were not into living any kind of mainstream lifestyle. </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><br />The Common Ground ar</span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">ea in the Lower 9th is comprised of about 7 or so buildings that are leased by the agency and house the volunteers, as well as a dining area, a donated clothing area, a small tree farm and plant nursery. There are numerous projects going on at any given time.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><br />One of the wierd-er things is seeing the tour buses go through the area. Some stop, people get off and briefly look around while others just roll slowly through.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGDS09fSfrFlXdpFsZX44nH0-iJlCXVzA3V8Vpxg3YGm0_TYFCEh4OhQrhC-Mmwi5d1VixkoWBFZNxByEDmoy31sQ0wAA2kSLD-_1oQAcB_Hm21CMhOOVW7OhyphenhyphendKbg5G_Y5B9NThgxg/s1600-h/100_2909.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGDS09fSfrFlXdpFsZX44nH0-iJlCXVzA3V8Vpxg3YGm0_TYFCEh4OhQrhC-Mmwi5d1VixkoWBFZNxByEDmoy31sQ0wAA2kSLD-_1oQAcB_Hm21CMhOOVW7OhyphenhyphendKbg5G_Y5B9NThgxg/s320/100_2909.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120265038909952642" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">Volunteers at Common Ground getting<br />ready to assemble a rainwater collection system<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVDjUwg6-Xn19FEydEO7VDDYGULakGJeLCEXxfWs0DfMn5FMEpCpJVLRVFLQKTgZGPUJ70CBTd_HpRyvQiyuoIgNUOPYVuERbsCF0iwRYUxxOkY0zfVCeUK24nQ28E6HAd7mR6irOJg/s1600-h/100_2899.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 245px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVDjUwg6-Xn19FEydEO7VDDYGULakGJeLCEXxfWs0DfMn5FMEpCpJVLRVFLQKTgZGPUJ70CBTd_HpRyvQiyuoIgNUOPYVuERbsCF0iwRYUxxOkY0zfVCeUK24nQ28E6HAd7mR6irOJg/s320/100_2899.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120264330240348770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8xPmAlcDx-z07UlXDwomNsMapg2fUVc7SGhhTVatm-srwr2cHj_ebFx9NPjiOtNaW48PIW-Dyj0HpYbHfV9hyOVd95Z3IG-k8USjmwrUP8UEhCkvsPA34ayMbhhq8esTa1ZyTZl6mw/s1600-h/100_2922.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 361px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8xPmAlcDx-z07UlXDwomNsMapg2fUVc7SGhhTVatm-srwr2cHj_ebFx9NPjiOtNaW48PIW-Dyj0HpYbHfV9hyOVd95Z3IG-k8USjmwrUP8UEhCkvsPA34ayMbhhq8esTa1ZyTZl6mw/s320/100_2922.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120265047499887266" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"><br />Three completely destroyed houses that are inexplicably<br />left standing while perfectly good homes have been demolished.<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br />Its hard to describe all the destruction here. In the Holy Cross neighborhood which is also a part of the lower 9th, there are more houses still left standing whereas on the other side of the lower 9th there are very very few.<br /></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Holy cross is also the site of the Global Green Housing development. We stopped by and had a visit with one of the workers who was a friend of Brandon's. I was under the impression that this was a great project but now I am not so certain. He pointed out that while it sounded good, the up keep on the house was so beyond what anyone from that area would be able to keep afford. He also pointed out this is a million dollar home going up in the most dangerous area of any place in the US. It started to seem like less of a good idea to me. I will try to follow-up on this latter. </span><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMSrQLMCf-Ewd9FOuobL35JvchytLaaeLJVpm9RAz1evcuY8yuBr4MT5laUOiDHVXILLeuqSabH_GohG_anYVoRs0EQVaoomxumMPqtlb5lyWnqfhAq7i_CXbzlbfM8IN8HKFK5NP4g/s1600-h/100_2894.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 331px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMSrQLMCf-Ewd9FOuobL35JvchytLaaeLJVpm9RAz1evcuY8yuBr4MT5laUOiDHVXILLeuqSabH_GohG_anYVoRs0EQVaoomxumMPqtlb5lyWnqfhAq7i_CXbzlbfM8IN8HKFK5NP4g/s320/100_2894.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120264325945381458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">Finishing construction on the </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">Global Green House<br />in the </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">Holy Cross neighborhood .</span><br /><br />WETLANDS PRESENTATION<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ksNf8Ggsr2o48zrTHOQwbMtDab88xFlp5mm8eetHeoAzDmSlWa5QHn-_-R4i0I0Qr5FZ51hE_Elb2RyJ7-3V_S2Q3UukudtZj5PDv57heRVc16TIhEeHZTfZQAAKskSg5FsyyOJQMw/s1600-h/100_2875.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ksNf8Ggsr2o48zrTHOQwbMtDab88xFlp5mm8eetHeoAzDmSlWa5QHn-_-R4i0I0Qr5FZ51hE_Elb2RyJ7-3V_S2Q3UukudtZj5PDv57heRVc16TIhEeHZTfZQAAKskSg5FsyyOJQMw/s320/100_2875.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120264317355446818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">School children listen to a wetlands presentation</span><br /><br />Today we also visited the John Dibert school in mid-city. Brandon assisted while Colleen made a presentation to groups of 2nd, 3rd and 4 th graders on what a wetlands is and the importance of the wetlands. The kids LOVED IT! It was so fun and I loved it too! The kids were really funny. Its so important that the wetlands are preserved.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4RU-XGiz5Tx-gY5vqYDuz035Av1mxbfy6bwx10wpUgtQ32tifImk9v19a7WGIvjhw1g5LpRKNJmQx2INvJq29506kpb6QY_3hOBEG0p_jtWxcsDZ_tqohAEb14zq1q-W5bkPaqUcjA/s1600-h/100_2877.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4RU-XGiz5Tx-gY5vqYDuz035Av1mxbfy6bwx10wpUgtQ32tifImk9v19a7WGIvjhw1g5LpRKNJmQx2INvJq29506kpb6QY_3hOBEG0p_jtWxcsDZ_tqohAEb14zq1q-W5bkPaqUcjA/s320/100_2877.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120288184488710882" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Thats all for now folks.<br /><br />I will try to have some stuff posted here tomorrow from paintings sites.<br /><br />Best always, SuzanneSuzanne C Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286053083062642522noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698031704006116404.post-62404940867494933002007-10-08T10:50:00.000-07:002007-10-08T10:56:40.570-07:00NOLA Project Update<span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >The NOLA Project Update</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I have been passionately and personally involved in the struggle of the lower ninth ward in New Orleans to recover their land, and keep their culture intact. I knew I wanted to visit the area, but not as a tourist. Then it came to me like a vision, I knew I had to go there as an artist, paint and document, and bring something of this place and time back with me to share with others.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">My daughter has been volunteering for the past 5 months in the lower 9th. Through her I have become very connected to the tragedy that continues to befall these folk 2 years after the levees broke. Having this personal connection has been the catalyst for me and I will be creating a body of work that will hopefully help other people connect with what is happening and what should be happening there.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I will be in New Orleans Oct. 10-17. While there I will be creating artwork, blogging and uploading photos daily here. My daughter will be my escort. Below is an outline the areas we will be visiting and painting:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Outline of the Painting and Blogging Locations</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lower 9th Landscape</span>–painting and trying to get a sense of the area–what has been and what the future might hold. Plan to paint at the site of a levee breach</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Survivors Village</span>–Survivor's Village is a tent city erected on June 3, 2006 by the residents of New Orleans public housing. Joined by other public housing residents, the residents of St. Bernard Public Housing Development initiated the tent city as a response to the federal government's continued undermining of the residents' rights to return to their homes and resume their leases, which is guaranteed by the UN International Policy on Internally Displaced Persons. <a href="http://www.survivorsvillage.com/">www.survivorsvillage.com</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Wetlands Restoration Project–a project of Common Ground Relief Organization. This project seeks to rebuild the destroyed wetlands that are crucial to absorbing storm surge. <a href="http://www.commongroundrelief.org/">www.commongroundrelief.org</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Common Ground Relief Headquarters</span>–a grassroots organization that has been there from day one. Many college age people flocked to Common Ground and offered immense help in gutting and mold abatement for example. <a href="http://www.commongroundrelief.org/">www.commongroundrelief.org</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bayou Communities</span>–though not part of the lower 9th, this is an impoverished area that little is heard about. They are struggling to survive post hurricane. Painting site.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Eco Green House and Habitat For Humanity</span> home sites–painting at the construction sites and finding out about the reconstruction that is going on through volunteer and philanthropic efforts. Painting site.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Holy Cross Neighborhood Association</span>–a very active area in the lower 9th. I have been contacted through my blog by another blogger from Kansas who is a volunteer for Holy Cross. Making a connection through the online community is another important part of this project.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Displaying the Work. <a href="http://www.helpholycross.org/">http://www.helpholycross.org</a></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">After returning from New Orleans, <span style="font-weight: bold;">the work created will be displayed online at </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.bluezeppelin.com/gallery/yikesstudio.">www.bluezeppelin.com/gallery/yikesstudio.</a> The blog will be ongoing and will also contain photos and links for more information. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Thanks to everyone for the wonderful support I have received!! </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Its not too late to buy a bracelet if you haven’t already as many expenses have yet to be covered)</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Next I will be talking to you from New Orleans!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Best Wishes,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Suzanne</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span>Suzanne C Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286053083062642522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698031704006116404.post-23908339234064420612007-10-05T09:46:00.000-07:002007-10-11T21:26:34.060-07:00Almost There-Getting Ready<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1b-vZ7hN_gFR9w-1Ys1EINRp7s051nZEBnST4mFhtZhQ8LcYXhQVX2O_dLh__fW6QVSlApe3d5gvYsg7lxJbh01Zp0A_Jz5c40HxTXGMZdb-m-1wvhpeNbC-eaeNoOm-XsmY1zZlGA/s1600-h/100_2831.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1b-vZ7hN_gFR9w-1Ys1EINRp7s051nZEBnST4mFhtZhQ8LcYXhQVX2O_dLh__fW6QVSlApe3d5gvYsg7lxJbh01Zp0A_Jz5c40HxTXGMZdb-m-1wvhpeNbC-eaeNoOm-XsmY1zZlGA/s320/100_2831.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117898181217374738" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:verdana;" ><br />YEAH!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Hello to all who have been checking this blog and are supporting this project. Sorry to have been lax in my blogging of late. So much to do and trying to get caught up with work before leaving for New Orleans. </span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Last weekend we (my husband Anthony and myself) attended an end the war rally/ bring home the troops etc. event in Bangor. It was a good rally and there were some really great speeches but I was a little disapointed by the turn out. There weren't that many more people attending then had been at the rally in March. With all the dissatisfaction and frustration I hear from everyone everyday I thought there would be more in attendance. There was lots of support from people passing by in cars. Everyone needs to get involved however they can.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">I don't really want to move the discussion here beyond New Orleans though its hard not to when everything is so related. As a country we should focus on what is needed right here like fixing failing infrastructures instead of spending billions of dollars on an unjust war.<br /><br />Well, so long till I post my first blog from New Orleans. You should expect to see something from me Oct 10 in the evening as that will be my first full day. I will be jumping right in and will have lots to show you.<br /><br />Till then,<br /><br />Best wishes,<br /><br />Suzanne<br /></span>Suzanne C Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286053083062642522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698031704006116404.post-44216921466435859542007-09-14T12:08:00.000-07:002007-09-14T12:45:52.458-07:00Wetlands and the importance of saving them<span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >PROGRESS REPORT</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />I can't thank everyone enough for their support of my project. It has been so great to see the "HOME" bracelets selling! Not only because they will help finance this project but I know that this blog will been read by even more people! It is my hope that this will be a sort of viral thing that takes off on its own. I am truly grateful for the response.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />THE WETLANDS</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />As part of my painting trip to New Orleans I will be spending time at the Wetland Restoration Project. I have received a lot of information regarding the importance in maintaining a healthy wetland as protection against storm surge.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What I have Learned</span><br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Louisiana is losing wetlands at an incredible rate- one football-field sized area every thirty minutes.<br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Wetlands are a natural levee and our best protection against storm surges and flooding. During Katrina a</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">nd Rita, levees with healthy wetlands on their sides did not breach, but those next to open water did.<br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">One to four acres of wetlands can reduce a storm surge by one foot. In addition, wetlands act like a giant sponge, soaking up billions of gallons of floodwater.<br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">The entire country relies on the Gulf of Mexico, so any obstacles to rebuilding a sustainable coast and Ne</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">w Orleans should be met with the full force of a national commitment. A stable New Orleans is predicated on a sustainable coast, and that will be achieved through massive river diversions, closing man-made channels, and holding oil and gas companies accountable for past destruction. There is still a lot of work to do, but with the help of all Americans, we can restore and protect Louisiana's coast, and we must.<br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:verdana;">Natural storm defenses -barrier islands, wetlands, and coastal forests- that once existed had suffered at the hand of humans, and their demise left coastal communities exposed. The storm surge Katrina created destroyed southern Louisiana, obliterat</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ed the coast of Mississippi, and toppled levees causing catastrophic flooding in New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish. People drowned in their houses, billions of dollars of property were destroyed, and cracks in American government and society were exposed.</span></li></ul> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4c2fJ6uGEugJ-H0Ap0N_SieDrGxvBu3A0jGrDt7ZUvgbi2Dx-k6WGO1oSYxlvPzHDLeng2YQPyyFe4bOjGyzDg6Yv57yNFnNekFNXDdhslGYjsb-nRo0cYjt4Nxgfqehae_B5fsyfNA/s1600-h/bushinjacksonsquare-1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4c2fJ6uGEugJ-H0Ap0N_SieDrGxvBu3A0jGrDt7ZUvgbi2Dx-k6WGO1oSYxlvPzHDLeng2YQPyyFe4bOjGyzDg6Yv57yNFnNekFNXDdhslGYjsb-nRo0cYjt4Nxgfqehae_B5fsyfNA/s320/bushinjacksonsquare-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5110147293993573410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);"><br />On September 15, 2005, the President pledged<br />to rebuild the Gulf Coast and do whatever it takes<br />to make New Orleans and the region rise again.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">As th</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >e recovery continues two years later, an honest federal commitment to effec</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >tive storm protection that incorporates coastal restoration and conservation, along with the proper levee alignments, is essential to rebuilding a sustainable Gulf Coast.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >KUDOS to WAL-MART</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Wal-Mart has decided that, as of January 1, 2007, the company will no longer accept cypress mulch that is harvested, bagged, or manufactured in Louisiana. It's a tremendous step that Wal-Mart has recognized cypress sustainability as an important concern.</span><br />__________________________________________________________________ <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />I am posting here a rather lengthy (please forgive me) exerpt from <span style="font-style: italic;">Our Coast to Fix -- or Lose</span> By John M. Barry, author of “Rising Tide” and secretary of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority East.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Saturday, May 12, 2007; A15 </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />There has been much debate in the past 20 months over protecting Louisiana from another lethal hurricane, but nearly all of it has been conducted without any real understanding of the geological context. Congress and the Bush administration need to recognize six facts that define the national interest. </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />Fact 1:</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> The Gulf of Mexico once reached north to Cape Girardeau, Mo. But the Mississippi River carries such an enormous sediment load that, combined with a falling sea level, it deposited enough sediment to create 35,000 square miles of land from Cape Girardeau to the present mouth of the river. This river-created land includes the entire coast, complete with barrier islands, stretching from Mississippi to Texas. But four human interventions have interfered with this natural process; three of them that benefit the rest of the country have dramatically increased the hurricane threat to the Gulf Coast. </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />Fact 2:</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Acres of riverbank at a time used to collapse into the river system providing a main source of sediment. To prevent this and to protect lives and property, engineers stopped such collapses by paving hundreds of miles of the river with riprap and even concrete, beginning more than 1,000 miles upriver -- including on the Ohio, Missouri and other tributaries -- from New Orleans. Reservoirs for flood protection also impound sediment. These and other actions deprive the Mississippi of 60 to 70 percent of its natural sediment load, starving the coast. </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />Fact 3:</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> To stop sandbars from blocking shipping at the mouth of the Mississippi, engineers built jetties extending more than two miles out into the Gulf of Mexico. This engineering makes Tulsa, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and other cities into ports with direct access to the ocean, greatly enhancing the nation’s economy. The river carries 20 percent of the nation’s exports, including 60 percent of its grain exports, and the river at New Orleans is the busiest port in the world. But the jetties prevent any of the sediment remaining in the river from replenishing the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts and barrier islands; instead, the jetties drop the sediment off the continental shelf. </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />Fact 4: </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Levees that prevent river flooding in Louisiana and Mississippi interfere with the replenishment of the land locally as well. </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />Fact 5:</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Roughly 30 percent of the country’s domestic oil and gas production comes from offshore Louisiana, and to service that production the industry created more than 10,000 miles of canals and pipelines through the marsh. Every inch of those 10,000-plus miles lets saltwater penetrate, and eat away at the coast. So energy production has enormously accelerated what was a slow degradation, transforming a long-term problem into an immediate crisis. The deprivation of sediment is like moving a block of ice from the freezer to the sink, where it begins to melt; the effect of the canals and pipelines is like attacking that ice with an ice pick, breaking it up. As a result, 2,100 square miles of coastal land and barrier islands have melted into the Gulf of Mexico. This land once served as a buffer between the ocean and populated areas in Louisiana and part of Mississippi, protecting them during hurricanes. Each land mile over which a hurricane travels absorbs roughly a foot of storm surge. The nation as a whole gets nearly all the benefits of engineering the river. Louisiana and some of coastal Mississippi get 100 percent of the costs. Eastern New Orleans (including the lower Ninth Ward) and St. Bernard Parish -- nearly all of which, incidentally, is at or above sea level -- exemplify this allocation of costs and benefits. Three man-made shipping canals pass through them, creating almost no jobs there but benefiting commerce throughout the country. Yet nearly all the 175,000 people living there saw their homes flooded not because of any natural vulnerability but because of levee breaks. </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />Fact 6:</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Without action, land loss will continue, and it will increasingly jeopardize populated areas, the port system and energy production. This would be catastrophic for America. Scientists say the problem can be solved, even with rising sea levels, but that we have only a decade to begin addressing it in a serious way or the damage may be irreversible. Despite all this and President Bush’s pledge from New Orleans in September 2005 that “we will do what it takes” to help people rebuild, a draft White House cuts its own recommendation of $2 billion for coastal restoration to $1 billion while calling for an increase in the state’s contribution from the usual 35 percent to 50 percent. Generating benefits to the nation is what created the problem, and the nation needs to solve it. Put simply: Why should a cab driver in Pittsburgh or Tulsa pay to fix Louisiana’s coast? Because he gets a stronger economy and lower energy costs from it, and because his benefits created the problem. The failure of Congress and the president to act aggressively to repair the coastline at the mouth of the Mississippi River could threaten the economic vitality of the nation. Louisiana, one of the poorest states, can no longer afford to underwrite benefits for the rest of the nation.</span> <br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >John M. Barry is the author of “Rising Tide” and secretary of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority East. This article was published in the Washington Post on line.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Till next time--Suzanne</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" ><br /></span>Suzanne C Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286053083062642522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698031704006116404.post-586344537011594022007-08-29T17:10:00.000-07:002007-08-29T21:07:48.470-07:00Two year Anniversary<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcR99EUrNKkSbRJMkDn7rX9RxyUlDW0lZj9fiPTm2GvV3KdscPX0JQDJE_BLcITijxHsxZwc9CSq6NvrPKwmDysMRFYbjOTJlIJqkUO3FBq5GPZlOwCZjm46dt1XvgfpY4cX4jV3W5mw/s1600-h/house-construtcion-katrina-bl.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcR99EUrNKkSbRJMkDn7rX9RxyUlDW0lZj9fiPTm2GvV3KdscPX0JQDJE_BLcITijxHsxZwc9CSq6NvrPKwmDysMRFYbjOTJlIJqkUO3FBq5GPZlOwCZjm46dt1XvgfpY4cX4jV3W5mw/s320/house-construtcion-katrina-bl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104291405056215234" border="0" /></a><br /><em style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51); font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;"></em><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:verdana;" ><br />As some houses are rebulit and repaired, some remain in</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:verdana;" >the same state of disrepair. Ninth Ward, August 2007, Michael J. Sax <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelsax/sets/72157601639387493/">www.flickr.com/photos/michaelsax/sets/72157601639387493/</a></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelsax/sets/72157601639387493/"><br /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Two years ago today Hurricane Katrina, the costliest and one of the deadliest hurricanes in the history of the US, made la</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ndfall in the Gulf. The most severe loss of life and property damage occurred in New Orleans when the levee system failed catastrophically hours after the storm moved inland.<br /><br />The system failed in 53 different places. Nearly every levee in metro New Orleans breached as Hurricane Katrina passed east of the city, subsequently flooding 80% of it. Much of the city and many area of neighboring parishes were underwater for weeks. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Two weeks after Katrina, President Bush, in Jackson Square, pledged to the nation a massive reconstruction. "Bureaucracy", he said "is not going to stand in the way of getting the job done for the people". Now two years later a bureaucratic stranglehold is choking off its recovery. Huge amounts of money have gone to waste, while so called leaders are mired in scandal, corruption, and fighting all the way down the line.<br /><br />In the past year as all the fai</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">lures have come to light Bush visited New Orleans twice and didn't even mention the great city in the State of the Union address last January.<br /><br />Much of New Orleans still looks like a wasteland, with businesses shuttered and houses abandoned. Basic services such as schools, libraries, public transportation and childcare are at half their original levels and only two-thirds of the region's licensed hospitals are open. Workers are often scarce. Rents have skyrocketed. Crime is rampant.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I am shocked, I am dismayed. That this country's leadership is so bankrupt and has strayed so far that the we</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">lfare if its own people has become unimportant. To be willing to throw away the cultural richness and human dignity of a once great city is beyond my comprehension. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />It is my mission and my goal to help bring some humanity back by connecting to this terrible tragedy through art.</span> <em style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></em><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBDAy0FFJ8LHvHx9gCThiiJ-rUcANDe-YLugOnhX1eiyQLwRr2xSKGvczu9jBy0rbcIK4NATn-SCgBpA_RPvbn7Vmf0oT67UNB98dgWNOfK-vtJCvAk3DetwMlE036b-XDiKUZBfVMQ/s1600-h/no-katrina-demo-toilet-bl.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 363px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBDAy0FFJ8LHvHx9gCThiiJ-rUcANDe-YLugOnhX1eiyQLwRr2xSKGvczu9jBy0rbcIK4NATn-SCgBpA_RPvbn7Vmf0oT67UNB98dgWNOfK-vtJCvAk3DetwMlE036b-XDiKUZBfVMQ/s320/no-katrina-demo-toilet-bl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104291405056215218" border="0" /></a><br /><em style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-family: verdana;"><br /></em><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:verdana;" >The Lost World-There are no trailers, no signs of FEMA,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:verdana;" >no construction crews or anyone around at all. This is the Lost World.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:verdana;" >New Orleans, May 2007 <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9735372@N03">www.flickr.com/photos/9735372@N03</a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">ONLINE GALLERY<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The address for the online gallery where I will be posting artwork during and after the New Orleans trip will be<br /><a href="http://www.bluezeppelin.com/gallery/yikesstudio">www.bluezeppelin.com/gallery/yikesstudio</a><br /><br />Till the next blog...<br />~Suzanne<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span>Suzanne C Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286053083062642522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698031704006116404.post-72084695196879471522007-08-27T09:31:00.000-07:002007-08-27T09:51:52.463-07:00Fundraising Bracelet available online<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.yikes.etsy.com/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 91px; height: 47px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgObIgkHVjKFTGLjhvTNCCCBVzNg12e9lci496UE3to18oWBeIMng7uMEMNuDE7noL0ty05ZEoSiTkuKti3dXnS22MRxIGmZj5C5NDVHkrZ-abXz7uM3zcUkjp6FKx3y4hGqd0uRmUQ/s320/logo.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103419745738459282" border="0" /><span class="on" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"></span></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hi, I wanted to let people know that the handmade fundraising bracelet "Home" is now available for purchase online at </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.yikes.etsy.com/">Etsy</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">. They make it very easy to purchase items through their secure server, can accept all major credit cards and PayPal.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">THANKS TO THE SPONSORS</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I am thinking it would be nice to list everyone who has made this trip possible.<br />Please let me know if you would like your name listed on this site as a sponsor.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ORGANIZING THE TRIP</span><br />I am in the process of getting my itinerary together as far as what I will be doing each day. Here are the things I am planning at this time. Painting at the Common Ground Wetlands Restoration Project, painting at the Eco Green building site, Painting at the volunteer center. Painting at a Habitat for Humanity site (met the Bangor Habitat for Humanity volunteers at the Folk Festival in Bangor last weekend-They sell an adorable "House" pin to raise money!).<br /><br />If anyone knows about anything else I should check out, please let me know and I will do my best.<br /><br />Have found a fantastic place to stay in New Orleans on Craig's List. It is a weekly rental that has a kitchen and plenty of room for my art supplies!<br /><br />The dates are cemented in for Oct 10-17. Probably not long enough but it looks like that is what is affordable.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">News</span><br />Will have some interesting info about Wetlands Restoration here soon.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Thanks for your support--Suzanne</span><br /></span></span></span>Suzanne C Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286053083062642522noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698031704006116404.post-19664227964893402112007-08-10T19:59:00.000-07:002007-08-21T04:16:16.084-07:00Great Things are Happening in NOLA!<span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNs4909RS7MBbEc5BBdnCQdZ0LUKreywaHkBC86braXKFws4ZRFIfcXZ2TkruhZPJTVkz_suleduoHC76ZXdgtVhVurpOi74QFII4ZWv3ttrMRWAg306TeErBvEDphIPdPY2pieBfjw/s1600-h/global-green-homex.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNs4909RS7MBbEc5BBdnCQdZ0LUKreywaHkBC86braXKFws4ZRFIfcXZ2TkruhZPJTVkz_suleduoHC76ZXdgtVhVurpOi74QFII4ZWv3ttrMRWAg306TeErBvEDphIPdPY2pieBfjw/s320/global-green-homex.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101097117619095570" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">A single-family, eco-friendly home from </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">Global Green USA and workshop/apd's New Orleans project.</span><br /><br />I Wanted to post a pict here about <a href="http://holycrossproject.globalgreen.org/about.php">Holy Cross Neighborhood Association, Global Green and Brad Pitt </a>and the creation of the first of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Green houses in Lower 9th</span>. This is an amazing project financed by Pitt and HomeDepot. The Holy Cross Project consists of 5 single-family homes, an 18-unit apartment building, and a community center/sustainable design and climate action center.<br /><br />As part of my trip to New Orleans I plan to visit the construction site, do some drawings and will upload photos of this fantastic project.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Global Green USA and New Orleans – an Overview</span><br />After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and the inadequate response of the US Government, Global Green USA made a dedicated commitment to sustainable building in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. As part of that commitment, Global Green, in partnership with Brad Pitt, sponsored an international design competition during the summer of 2006, with more than 125 entries competing to design a zero energy affordable housing development in the Holy Cross Neighborhood of the Lower 9th Ward. Matthew Berman and Andrew Kotchen of Workshop/APD in New York created the winning design. With the Home Depot Foundation as lead sponsor, Global Green is now working with Workshop/APD and a dedicated and highly skilled team of sustainable design and building experts together with the Holy Cross Neighborhood Association to translate the winning development proposal into a reality.<br /><br />Charles Allen Speaks<br />08-16-2007<br />The Holy Cross Project symbolizes renewal and rebirth of the Holy Cross/Lower 9th ward community. Given the fact that this community housing/multi-use project is very modern and state of the art in its appearance and technological design/features, it sends a strong message to the world that the people of this community have fully embraced sustainable redevelopment and wish to serve as a model community in this regard. We in this community wish to no longer be seen as being relegated to substandard conditions for living and working in this community. We want nothing but the best. And, we wish to proclaim commitment to helping preserve the global environment.<br /><br />-- Charles Allen - President of the Holy Cross Neighborhood Association<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">FILM</span><br />If you haven't seen Spike Lee's film "When the Levees Broke" try to see it soon.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">TRIP UPDATE</span><br />looks like the dates will be Oct 10-17. Not a lot of time to cover everything but I plan to get as much packed in as possible. </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Might not be sleeping much as I intend to create as much work there as possible.<br /><br />Thanks for all your support<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">--Suzanne<br /></span></span>Suzanne C Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286053083062642522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698031704006116404.post-86863276871085147862007-07-25T07:49:00.000-07:002007-07-30T10:35:43.466-07:00Please Help me get to New Orleans<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSwCZNapQTTAoNahMKL54GgzChVFoZlCGlNy2GOujIWEdW8oroVHgxDKn6eQ2sq_ASs6ocdO0NOqSBRxoiFXtjQMCHEaiULUwh45KYZWomK27TFGWJTU2U-6UHLQX7wFZFh6flcP3Cg/s1600-h/barge+NOLA.png"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSwCZNapQTTAoNahMKL54GgzChVFoZlCGlNy2GOujIWEdW8oroVHgxDKn6eQ2sq_ASs6ocdO0NOqSBRxoiFXtjQMCHEaiULUwh45KYZWomK27TFGWJTU2U-6UHLQX7wFZFh6flcP3Cg/s400/barge+NOLA.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091158778390869730" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);font-family:verdana;" >Barge (on right) that broke through the levee in the<br />industrial </span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);font-family:verdana;" >canal destroying neighborhood.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBkRikTKcrC0rzFkP4Uh3ku3sO0rKL_fGdq54_E0VwOuLTgDIUbRW-XqebV5C9wqarSilf3CEHh9S0bsY4HQmTlwRpA9fg4h_ufvzsrkf38GiMz4b_jqXSmUmjar0BSG7WjLuJq4prA/s1600-h/main-3.php.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 168px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBkRikTKcrC0rzFkP4Uh3ku3sO0rKL_fGdq54_E0VwOuLTgDIUbRW-XqebV5C9wqarSilf3CEHh9S0bsY4HQmTlwRpA9fg4h_ufvzsrkf38GiMz4b_jqXSmUmjar0BSG7WjLuJq4prA/s400/main-3.php.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091908018255787858" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);font-family:verdana;" ><br />Protester in the Lower 9th.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hi and Thank You for Visiting My Blog.</span><br /><br />This is where I will be posting updates on fundraising for the NOLAProject and when I arrive in New Orleans I will be blogging daily from there as well. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">What is The NOLAProject??<br /><br /></span>At the end of Sept '07. I plan to be in New Orleans Lower 9th ward to create a body of work that will help to raise awareness of this tight knit community after the devastation of hurricane Katrina. After 2 years these folk are seeing a very slow rebuilding of their neighborhood. Phrases like "ethnic cleansing" don't seem like they are far off the mark. Through the work</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> of non-government relief organizations there is hope that this once vibrant, close-knit community will come back.<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdT5aFqAptQoQAYYaRhNsrdV9k5pJQTWwscQlw2vzMcnyM5UDNlURdTH40XArWJmbxH5UEfQiDBN8vRDHCKp-6FfnUAlI8lA31-Woe22qK-4yvYXQIBiq1W19Om0V1-x14zphP9IomA/s1600-h/main-1.php.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdT5aFqAptQoQAYYaRhNsrdV9k5pJQTWwscQlw2vzMcnyM5UDNlURdTH40XArWJmbxH5UEfQiDBN8vRDHCKp-6FfnUAlI8lA31-Woe22qK-4yvYXQIBiq1W19Om0V1-x14zphP9IomA/s400/main-1.php.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091908018255787842" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">Common Ground Relief volunteers with founder Malik Rahim, center<br />of standing group.</span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I plan to create my work along side volunteers for <a href="http://www.commongroundrelief.org/">Common Ground Relief</a>, a group of volunteers working very hard, everyday, in the area. Besides doing drawings, paintings etc. <span style="font-weight: bold;">I will be blogging and sending photos every evening to let everyone know what I have been up to and what I am seeing</span>. I think it is esp. important for us northerners to try to get a sense of this. I can't not go--I have to know!<br /><br /></span>"The recent hurricanes not only devastated much of the city of New Orleans, they exposed long-standing injustices faced by the residents of the lower income, African American communities. It is estimated that over 275,000 housing units were destroyed and efforts to clean up, repair or open livable housing has been slow. In New Orleans Parish, nearly 40% of the community earns under $20,000 per year, and more than 70% of the households are headed by a single parent. The literacy rate in New Orleans is roughly 39%. It is critical, therefore, that the immediate needs of the community are being met while long-term strategies to stabilize the community are initiated." ...from Common Ground web site<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeLmL5PO7CeIZ2fsb_M4gTFuIo0iO2Zgp1oa199BfNYTjjZc4Jq9UF9sOYJxUjQEreiVabdJyOf1rCQTKG2OhMDePkmte-5MqFrFpn3ObyXegFIYbielEKsdWuJcM-Vj131MFOz5kKQ/s1600-h/bead-2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 203px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeLmL5PO7CeIZ2fsb_M4gTFuIo0iO2Zgp1oa199BfNYTjjZc4Jq9UF9sOYJxUjQEreiVabdJyOf1rCQTKG2OhMDePkmte-5MqFrFpn3ObyXegFIYbielEKsdWuJcM-Vj131MFOz5kKQ/s400/bead-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091906991758604082" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-vn-_XpumfU4Xcmn3XjNw6Cmlqvlsk1NYMDCN1t2FZUBER_07v-KszDh-XT3k6dd-CcPAgvLaR1MWub5SoD3V5LzHOzdJjx3yZ4RJKSx2E0NMwNPHHanEMkc0suc4GZUyANO5wQVuw/s1600-h/bead-1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-vn-_XpumfU4Xcmn3XjNw6Cmlqvlsk1NYMDCN1t2FZUBER_07v-KszDh-XT3k6dd-CcPAgvLaR1MWub5SoD3V5LzHOzdJjx3yZ4RJKSx2E0NMwNPHHanEMkc0suc4GZUyANO5wQVuw/s400/bead-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091906991758604066" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);"><br />Two examples of the beads in the Home bracelet</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">The Bracelet<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I have decided to create a bracelet to help raise money for this trip. I am calling it the "Home Bracelet" and it symbolizes the importance of home for all of us. The little house in the bead has a lot of stormy, swirly patterns symbolizing the flood waters in New Orleans. The beads are all unique and made entirely by myself. I hope you will decide to help and buy a bracelet.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">The Art</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">While in the lower 9th ward. I will be doing paintings and drawings of the scene before me. These will later all come together to form a show complete with written notation. The idea is to try to communicate what is happening down there in a visual way. It is my goal to help people connect with the residents of the lower 9th. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Check out my Maine paintings at <a href="http://yikestudio.com/">www.yikestudio.com</a><br /></span></span></span><br />To all who have purchased a bracelet--THANK YOU SO MUCH! I hope you will enjoy wearing it.<br /><br />Please check back soon as I will have more info and important links.<br /><br />Suzanne<br /></span>Suzanne C Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286053083062642522noreply@blogger.com4