Features from New Orleans
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Greetings from the Common Ground Garage
A Report from New Orleans
October 9 - Greetings from the Common Ground garage, where we continue to live in the weird world of no showers, but wireless internet access. Pagan Cluster has been very busy the last two days, engaged in all of the tasks of relief and rebuilding. Here are some of the stories and activities:
Casey worked her slim young body into the muddy crawl space and wrestled molding, rotting, hanging insulation off the house and into the yard. It was someone else (Diane?) who went in after her to face a rat's nest.
The Common Ground Community Center and Food Not Bombs kitchen in the 9th Ward of New Orleans
Jessie continues to work with Mama Dee and her crew to clean houses and cook. A young woman, Hally Burton, has set up an amazing array of batteries, wiring, lights, and small refrigerators to keep everything running from a single generator. I have fantasies of apprenticing to her to learn what looks like one of the most useful post-apocalyptic skills I've seen yet.
Dr. Marie is the woman who helped me re-align my back 4 weeks ago in Camp Casey. After 3 weeks working with Red Cross, who wouldn't let her dispense a band aid because of liability concerns, she is very grateful to have a chance to work through Common Ground. Even Red Cross workers sent her off with every medicine they could, hoping she would find a place where she could dispense them. She is educating us on self-alignment and on what health care looks like, or doesn't look like, for the poor. Apparently drug companies have been sending their most expensive and addictive medicines for "relief".
I've heard Baruch is an awesome counselor. He seems very happy here. Scott Weinstein, who was in Quebec, was here, but has now left.
Yesterday, when I called to talk with Diane, she said that everyone else was unavailable for a quick conference because they were on the roof. Lisa rescued the sweetest black female dog, all skin and bones. The Animal Rescue group (middle-aged women from Baton Rouge) we'd seen minutes before had given us dog food. They'd been driving all day without being able to cox a single dog into their care. They were almost as excited as this dog to feed her and take her for care.
Relaxing at the Common Ground Community Center and Food Not Bombs kitchen
I've been collecting soil and water samples. It takes me into the most devasated areas without the solace of offering any relief whatsoever. In many of these areas, there is no one coming back for a long time. I see the occassional person driving by with a totally blank expression; unable to comprehend what they are seeing as a world they once new. It brings to mind childhood stories of biblical apocalypse. I can only wonder what the Christians must be thinking.
Blessings,
Juniper
How You Can Help
How You Can Help
Donations are urgently needed for all aspects of the rebuilding effort. You can donate directly to Reclaiming folks working in New Orleans via PayPal by clicking this link:
Donate to the Pagan Cluster's New Orleans work.
If you want to support a local New Orleans grassroots group with whom Reclaiming is working, you can donate to Common Ground at their website: www.commongroundrelief.org
For more information
Email katrina@pagancluster.org
There is also useful and updated information at the following web-sites:
www.commongroundrelief.org
www.pagancluster.org
Photos by Arizona Indy Media, arizona.indymedia.org. Please do not copy, reproduce, fold, spindle, mutilate, or otherwise use them without contacting them. Thanks!
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