It's the Wetlands, stupid!

Reports are that the Congress is likely to consider "The Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act" (S.3711) early this week. At stake is the future of America's WETLAND in coastal Louisiana, where the equivalent of a football field of land vanishes to erosion every 38 minutes. A steady stream of funding is vital to save this region before it is too late and OCS revenue sharing proposed in the bill recognizes both the conditions and the needs of this region, which is vital to the energy and economic security of the nation. This area is of world ecological significance and must be preserved.

PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TODAY TO ASK YOUR COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS TO CONTACT THEIR CONGRESSMEN AND URGE PASSAGE OF THIS MEASURE.

It is these moments that will define our conservation legacy and our will as a nation to ensure for a sustainable coast.


To find out more about America's WETLAND: Campaign to Save Coastal Louisiana, visit Americas Wetland dot com.

Scuzzbucket of the Week

Didn't have too look to far for this week's scuzzbucket.

May I present Legislative Democratic Caucus and Senate President Donald Hines, Louisiana Senator



Hines was leading the charge for a $135 million sugar syrup mill in his hometown, with half the cost to be guaranteed by taxpayers.

The Bunkie mill was conceived as a benefit for 42 cane farmers in four central Louisiana parishes, one of whom is Hines' son-in-law. Hines is not just a benevolent paterfamilias on this occasion, but also a landlord. His son-in-law's farm includes 100 acres rented from pops.

Hines says he sees no conflict in his pursuit of public subsidies for sugartown, but perhaps a reading of the ethics laws would change his mind.

taken from this Times-Picayune artice

Krazy Kathleen

From the office of Louisiana's sad excuse for a governor....
Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco announced new immediate expectations of ICF International, the organization implementing Louisiana's Road Home program today. As the Road Home establishes an accelerated pace, Gov. Blanco is requiring ICF to exceed this month's goal by raising the cumulative total of award letters to citizens from 10,000 to 25,000 by the end of December.

I wish her term were over. This woman is a complete imbecile. All this will do is levy more anguish and aggrivation on the people enrolled in the LRA program. I've heard several instances where people are getting more letters with more erroneous information and claims. Haven't these people been through enough? Accelerating the pace is doing nothing more than harming these people who have endured unimaginable frustration since August 29, 2005.
Raising the count of letters going out just looks good for KBB.

There must be something concrete done to fix yet another blunder by Mizz Guv-nah.

Still not Okay

Wetbank Guide discusses the potential future tragedy that could happen to New Orleans



As we stare at a new year that promises an endless series of challenges its important that we not give up hope, that we not let the anger that is righteous anger dissipate and become despair. Like Lincoln in his darkest moment, we need to get up from the darkened room and go out and find the generals who can win this war and stand beside them as they fight it. We the 200,000 who have fought our way home can not give up or the ten generations of our forebearers who built this city will have labored in vain.

Sinn Fein

Whew

You can almost hear the collective sigh of relief from gulf coasts residents

Contact Pelosi

The democratic leader of the House - Nancy Pelosi - needs to hear from you.



Check out this post by Ashley Morris and follow through. There is strength in numbers.

Thank you.

FEMA, jeesh...

b.rox details the never ending bullshit with FEMA.

Claiming a seemingly intact-looking house is slated for demolition because
it "could be an imminent threat to public health and safety".

Unbelievable.

Public Housing

NOLAgrit puts it better than I ever could.

IVAW

Ray has a piece about the recent gutting work of Iraq Veterans Against the War
Thank you twice, guys!

15 Months

Time moves on.

It's been fifteen months since Katrina devastated this area.

450 days. For those out there who haven't lived with the remains
of the storm, it must seem like a lifetime. You probably can go for
days without thinking about Katrina. Not so down here.

Sitting here at work, I can here two co-workers talking happily on their
progress in getting back into their homes. 15 months. Where I work, over
50% of the employees lost EVERYTHING except what they evacuated with.
I work for a company that employs over 2000 people. I am among the
minority here in that I lost very little. Yes, I have survivor's guilt. I cannot
imagine what it's like to live in a FEMA trailer full time. I admire and respect
all of the people out there who've pulled themselves up by the bootstraps and
started their lives over again. Dealing with insurance companies and government
entities.
In my group of a dozen people, six lost almost everything. They lived in Lakeview, Chalmette, New Orleans and Slidell. The past year
has shown the true strength and character of these people. They are a special breed
and I am proud to know them.

Driving home last night past the Northshore Square Mall in Slidell I remembered
how awe-struck I was three days after Katrina when we were standing in line at
Home Depot waiting to purchase a generator (which turned out to be three grueling hours in the 90 plus degree heat)
and I looked over at the mall parking lot. It was full - and I mean FULL - of electrical bucket
trucks from all over the country. I wish I hadn't been so shell-shocked at the time and had
carried a camera around to capture all of the unbelievable things we saw right after the storm. The sight
of that mall parking lot will be with me forever. It served as a staging ground for recovery and stayed that way for
at over a month. The Walmart parking lot turned in to an RV and trailer park for the longest time, housing
relief workers. Walmart, Sam's & Home Depot bussed in employees from Texas and beyond
until the Slidell employees returned home. A lot haven't returned.

link of pictures in the Bayou Liberty area

It's been a long, strange trip and there's a long and I'm sure very strange road ahead.
Thank you, Katrina survivors for showing the world your strength and resilience.

katrina tribute

The Birth of Floodwall

Moved and heartbroken by the profound loss New Orleans would endure for decades to come, local artists Rondell Crier and Jana Napoli attempt to preserve a small part of what the levees could not. What defies death, but the spirit of the city--made up of the vibrant, diverse culture and history of New Orleans that is tied to neighborhoods, material culture, traditions, and most importantly people.