Studio8 - Uniting the Arts

Most of you here probably already know about this but just in case there are some who aren't aware... ~deb

http://www.michaelmoore.com/mustread/co ... .php?id=17
Tuesday, September 13th, 2005
Cindy Sheehan Arrives

The supplies keep rolling in at Camp Casey III in Covington, Louisiana.

Cars, trucks, buses are loaded up in the morning and sent off in different directions. They are told not to come back until everything is gone, and they don't come back until everything is gone.

You, dear reader, can help their efforts by sending supplies, housing volunteers, or volunteering yourself. Check VFPRoadTrips.org and the message board there to get involved.

Cindy Sheehan arrives at Camp Casey III in about half an hour.

“My efforts for these last weeks since we left Camp Casey, in Crawford have been about standing up against the inept policies of the Bush Admin and about helping people who are suffering because of those policies,“ Sheehan said. “The good citizens of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are certainly among this group, and I want to do whatever I can to be of assistance to them,”

Volunteers at Camp Casey III have already delivered over 100 tons of food and supplies to communities in Louisiana and Mississippi that had seen no relief until they arrived.

They are working with community leaders in some areas; in other areas, they are simply delivering food, water, and other supplies to individuals. Yesterday they delivered 20 tons of supplies to the neighborhoods of West Bank, Algiers, lower gardens and French Quarter in New Orleans and Bay St. Louis and Kiln, Mississippi.

Cindy will spend the day with the Veterans for Peace and the volunteers at Camp Casey III delivering supplies.

More to come... (MM)

~~~~~
http://www.vfproadtrips.org/
http://www.vfproadtrips.org/katrina/
Veterans For Peace Hurricane Relief Message Board

On September 2, 2005 the Veterans for Peace Bus from Mendocino County, CA took a detour to help the victims of hurricane Katrina. We arrived in Covington, LA with food and supplies that Camp Casey had sent from Crawford, Texas.

We are moving some of the Camp Casey operations from the Pine View Middle School to The Green Room at 521 Boston Street in Covington - More information coming ASAP.

Please see drop off and volunteer info below as that is accruate as of September 9th.

We are using the school to support Veterans For Peace hurricane relief efforts for the people of the region. We are supporting The Red Cross with power, medical supplies, kitchen service, food bank and distribution, internet communications and trained medical personnel.
LINK> GOOGLE MAP


We Urgently Need Your Help!

Right now we can use your dollars, trained volunteers & specific donations (This list will change!)
Please see our message board for the latest needs.

We Do NOT need clothes at this time
Water
Canned Goods
Baby Supplies - Baby Food Formula, diapers #4, #5, Wipes, Pedialyte
Hygene Supplies
Adult Depends
Steril Gloves
Electrolites
Food bank & delivery volunteers with trucks, vans or cars
Self contained kitchens with generators, utensils, workers
Office & media equipment

At this time we do not need additional medical professionals - PLEASE CONTACT THE RED CROSS

Our Mobile Media Center is on the bus with wireless Internet via Satellite. We are using our computer to communicate needs and direct displaced people to services and document damage in the poorest effected areas.

Donations for our multi media equipment will support the displaced people volunteers, Red Cross, staff, press as we halp everyone keep in touch through via email, web, blogs, and teleconferencing.

DROP OFFS - THIS INFORMATION HAS CHANGED
Omni Mini Storage
74145 HYW 25
Covington, LA.
LINK> GOOGLE MAP

About 4 miles north of Covington - for specific directions stop at:
The Green Room
521 Boston Street
Covington, LA 70433
LINK> GOOGLE MAP

VOLUNTEER LOGISTICS
The Green Room
521 Boston Street
Covington, LA 70433
LINK> GOOGLE MAP

VOLUNTEER CAMPING
North of Covington on HWY 25
More specific information coming soon.

UPS & FEDEX (U.S. Postal Service Not Yet Deliverable)
Veterans For Peace Chapter 116 C/O
645 Kimbro Drive, Baton Rouge, LA. 70808

Online Donations Via PayPal

Thx, Deb. I gave.

Thank you, Deb, for this news:

Keep up the struggle against the oppression, ineptitude, murderous and pointless wars and the looting of the public treasury by DUB II and his billionaire buddies!


--Z

mtmynd/cecil --- ditto for us as well. I'm partial to animals and their needs so... we gave (are still giving) in a couple of different ways.

~~~~

Z -- (luv ya!)

Hey: best of the todays news (imo) from my local paper ...

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cct ... 651281.htm

Posted on Thu, Sep. 15, 2005
MOLLY IVINS: SYNDICATED COLUMNIST
Next time I tell you a guy from Texas is not qualified, listen

HERE'S A GOOD idea: Consumer groups and progressive congressfolks have joined in an effort to stop hundreds of thousands of victims of Hurricane Katrina from being further harmed by the new Bankruptcy Act, scheduled to take effect Oct. 17. This law was notoriously written of, by and for the consumer credit industry, and is particularly onerous for the poor.

The bill was passed with massive support from the Republican leadership in Congress and from a disgusting number of sellout Democrats. While it was being considered in committee earlier this year, Texas Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee offered an amendment to protect victims of natural disasters. It was defeated, without debate, on a party-line vote.

Now, Congress has a chance to rethink some of the most punitive parts of the bill.

and ...

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cct ... 651355.htm

Posted on Thu, Sep. 15, 2005
Red Cross estimates about 500,000 homes damaged
Scott Dodd
KNIGHT RIDDER

• The independent 9/11 Commission's leaders, one Republican and one Democrat, jointly blasted the Bush administration, saying officials should have realized that Hurricane Katrina was a catastrophe of national proportions even before the storm struck and not waited for mayors and governors to ask for help.

"Anyone watching that storm knew it was going to affect Florida, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana," said Lee Hamilton, a former Democratic congressman from Indiana. "This is not a disaster for the mayor of New Orleans to deal with."

Thomas Kean, a former Republican governor of New Jersey, called it "a disappointing response. ... It was obvious nobody knew who was in charge."

If the commission's recommendations had been followed, they said, fewer lives would have been lost.

• Two Republican senators, along with former New Orleans Democratic mayor and current Urban League president Marc Morial, urged the president to appoint a "recovery czar" to oversee federal hurricane relief and rebuilding.

Reconstruction will take several years, said Sens. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., and Pete Domenici, R-N.M., adding that an independent manager is needed to create a recovery plan, track the money and report directly to the president.

"When this much money gets put out this fast," Sessions said, "there's a real danger of waste, fraud and abuse."

~~~~
we can't stop an idiot from being an idiot; but we can take away his 'keys to drive!'

stopping & rethinking
that's what's needed
and what's happening
that's where I'm keeping my focus and support

like what my friend renee (social worker/St. Louis MO) hands out to her female clients in crisis ...



The written Japanese kanji expression for ‘crisis’ is composed of two characters. Taken separately, one means 'opportunity,' the other means 'danger.' Crisis can thus be a time of danger or vulnerability that offers an opportunity for change and growth.

(above from: A GUIDE TO WORKING WITH WOMEN IN CRISIS
http://www.planetdeb.net/relationships/crisis.htm)

my 2 cents worth ... maybe that's what this is all about ... our nation's kanji [karma]

something had to give, cuz something had to change, cuz it couldn't stay the way it was ...

so Katrina came, in a fury, smashing the town and levees; cuz she just couldn't take the abuse anymore ...

-- giving us a crisis
an opportunity
to face our dangers
to embrace our growth.

whatever; (i ramble...)

Deb:

You must live in the East Bay, if that's your local newspaper.

No wonder you're so enlightened.

Good old Berkeley-- alma mater.

I lived in Chico for years, and now I'm down in the southern half.

Good Old Cal-- we'll survive Arnold yet!

( not as bad as Katrina, but a real disaster-- with his Pete Wilson Redux viewpoint).

Say, Isn't that white, balding man behind that muscular ventiloquist's dummy Pete Wilson? And doesn't he have a little carved Arnold on his knee? And does Pete have a string around his finger leading to the big, shining repaired Austrian set of teeth?

Dummy, dummy-- who's got the the dummy now?


God bless you for the animals. They are nearly all my love, except for a few personal/ family friends and members of the inner circle.



--Z

( not really in LA-- but almost)

jokes aside,
well, yeah

maybe a disaster is a reasonable opportunity to wake up and cut those puppet strings.

i don't live in the cesspool, so it's hard for me to be snide or self-righteous - hell, i didn't even exercise my right to vote in the last presidential election

but here in the land of milk and honey, we've got palestinian sewage lines almost on the line of our de-salination plant. Life in the co-existence lane is going to be frightening. (i'll link but not in the interest of hijacking the thread - merely sideline)


http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/625808.html

(BAD debby! BAD!)
~sorry J -- couldn't resist

(from the article...)
Five donor states, including the United States and the European Union, were ready to assist with sewage removal projects in the Gaza Strip. However, they all stopped working on these plans during the conflict years, and only the Swedes have recently returned to the region.

Sources in the Water Commission say that one way to pressure the Palestinians to avoid laying the sewage pipe is by means of the donor states.

May calmer heads prevail and a sewage treatment plant be donated and accepted soon.

And ~ you didn't hijack the conversation ... the subject of ecoli fits with nola as well;

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cct ... 650896.htm
Posted on Thu, Sep. 15, 2005
Oil spills only add to toxic hazards
By Randy Lee Loftis
DALLAS MORNING NEWS

... The magnitude of the oil spills came into focus with word that laboratories trying to test sediment from newly drained areas were having a problem: There was so much petroleum in the dirt that they couldn't test for anything else.

The Exxon Valdez became the benchmark for U.S. oil spills by leaking North Slope crude into Alaska's cold isolation.

This time, the danger includes untreated sewage, cancer-causing compounds, nameless black gunk from rail yards, chemicals used to kill plants or insects, substances that are poisonous even in the tiniest amounts, and decomposing remains.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson acknowledged the scope of the problem during a Washington press conference. He wouldn't speculate on when residents could return or on whether the EPA might sanction lesser cleanups in some residential areas, in effect turning them into industrial zones. But he said the agency had learned from its post-Sept. 11, 2001 experiences in Manhattan not to downplay risks or declare an area safe too soon.

"All of us ... want New Orleans to return to the thriving city that it was before Katrina," he said, but only if the job is "done right and (is) proactive of public health." -- end excerpt

Yes, we are learning ... learning 'the hard way' ~ but learning none the less. "The Big Easy" isn't easy any more.

~~~~~

Z ~ yes we are california neighbors; and don’t get me started on “The Governator” … I don’t know what’s going to happen with that. He’s pissed a lot of groups off (nurses, police, firefighters, teachers…) but; is it enough? I don’t know. He’s always been for big business, and has never hidden that fact … but I don’t think many of the people who first voted for him really understood what ‘being for big business’ actually meant; in terms of what & how it would effect so many others, and things, that touch our lives. Now; they have a better picture … it remains to be seen as to whether or not the majority will want to continue with ‘being for big business’ and him, or not.

“Greed’s a powerful ally.” – Qui-Gon Jinn; Star Wars Episode I

I've learned that going, living, working towards what you want; what your passion is; that the flip side of those actions are the best, most effective ways of being against what you don't want.

When my energy, time, money and attention are focused on my work with my animals (I do wildlife rehabilitation with the Lindsay Wildlife Hospital) – I’m supporting animals (nature/environment/wildlife) and all things, companies, groups and people associated with them. Consequently on the flip side; my energy is NOT with, NOT supporting, those whose minds, thoughts & deed would be against animals, the environment, and the people and companies associated with their upkeep, whatever form or shape or area it would take.

In this way, it’s easy (effortless) to stand against something… because when I “Spend” my focus, time, money and energy being “For” what I love, I have no time, energy, money left to "Spend" on that/those things which I don’t … and this makes life much more rewarding, satisfying then constantly ‘fighting' does. Easier to flow with the stresses and challenges that comes into my life, than against, because I’m coming from my heart … instead of my mind, or ego, or anger, or some misplaced sense of obligation derived from fears, or guilt, or shame.

Will all this help remove “The Governator” (or Bush, or anyone else)? I don't know. It could, but perhaps not. Working this way, going through life this way doesn't guarantee a certain type of outcome; it only promotes our abilities to handle whatever outcomes come our way. This way, if “The Governator” does ends up staying … it won't ruin my life.

As Mother Teresa said, Deb:

"One, one, one . . ."

deal with the misery that's in front of you.

and:

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quote ... 05701.html


A fine philosophy.

My personal take would include making art to help deal with the misery and supply some beauty and mystery to the balance.

Thanks for replying,


--Z

...deal with the misery that's in front of you.

yep, yep, yep
it works, too

...My personal take would include making art to help deal with the misery and supply some beauty and mystery to the balance.


your personal touch - your
posts/your comments/thoughts/additional links and replies ... they do balance; are another beautiful form/expression of your art/talent ... lifting beyond the misery

you thank me (you're welcome)
and i

thank you Z
thank you

Thank you for these posts, Deb!

Good to see you here... we don't see you much any more.

... we don't see you much any more.

And that just might be a very good thing!

Back to your comment … Hi! And depending upon how things go, you might be seeing more of 'me' or at least my postings in the "Eyewitness News" section.

I was talking with a long time friend Nadia this morning. She's now become a full time activist, working with "Veterans for Peace" "Gold Star Families for Peace" and “Global Exchange Org” doing whatever she can, where she can and giving (not for profit) speeches about her experiences. She's also an NDE'er (near death experiencer); and worked with both IANDS (International Association of Near Death Studies) and Compassion In Action (hospice work) where I first meet her. She was my hospice trainer.

Nadia’s most famous for defying the USGov concerning photos of loved ones remains returning home in their coffins. She's just come back from being with Cindy Sheenan in Texas, and helping with the Katrina relief. She's heading out on the road again today. I asked her if she’d be interested in writing out her thoughts and experiences a bit more and sending them via email to me to post in the “Eyewitness News” section and she said yes. So as they come … I’ll post; but my experience with Nadia is that she gets very busy and doesn’t always write. However if she does … I’ll be posting more.

Nadia’s website is …
http://www.angelstaff.org/

http://www.globalexchange.org/getInvolv ... s/121.html

Nadia McCaffrey resides in Tracy, California and is the founder of Angelstaff.org, a group of volunteers who bring a caring presence to terminally ill patients and their families. When her son, Sergeant Patrick McCaffrey, died on June 22, 2004 in Iraq, Nadia began to focus much of her work on promoting peace and justice and reaching out to parents that have lost loved ones in the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq. Nadia McCaffrey went on Global Exchange's trip to the Jordan and Iraq border at the start of 2005 with the Families for Peace delegation which delivered over $650,000 of medical and humanitarian aid for the thousands of refugees, mostly women and children, made homeless by the U.S. attack on Falluja. Nadia received international attention as the "mother who defied the Bush Administration" when she asked the media to be present at the airport to photograph her son's flag-draped coffin.

Sergeant Patrick McCaffrey was 34 years old. He was the proud father of 2 young children: Janessa, 3, and Patrick Jr. 9. Patrick enlisted on September 12, 2004 to help out in case of another national emergency. He became a weekend soldier with the National Guard, and never thought that he would be deployed to combat. He became death No. 848 and the first combat death in the 58 years history of the California National Guard's 579th Engineer Battalion, based in Petaluma, CA

deb, Nadia's loss has opened a flash flood of compassion. Thank you for bringing her work here. For up there in Sound Off, Michael writes of a loss of civility in civilization, and here you're balancing that observation with grass roots effort to bring kindness back to those who need it most.

i hope Nadia gets a chance to write. Now - i'm off to check out her blog.

judih (hugs)

Deal with reality or it will deal with you.

Next week or the week after another F5 storm could hit New Orleans again. Everyone talks about the F3 levees, no one mentions the barrier islands and millions of acres of fresh water and salt water marshes that have disapeared. The buffer zones are gone. No one mentions that at one time New Orleans was above sea level and that it has been sinking for a hundred years. No one mentions the fact that the tropical oceans are one degree warmer because of green house gases, no body mentions that the numer of the really big storms has doubled in the last ten years.

Oh well, at least the war in Iraq seems like something we deal with.

thanks for posting

... we don't see you much any more.

And that just might be a very good thing!

I can't see how that would be a good thing.

Maybe good for you, but not good for us! lol

I forgot to put this notice up when posting that post last night: this is a quote from Nadia's website:

This site who is dedicated to Charity, Spirituality, and Humanitarian Aid; this site is under attack by HACKERS. It is a sad discovery for me to realize that some people's values are that LOW. Our domaine name has been stolen from us, and $ 600.00 are demanded to get it back. That is not all! some of our links have been infected with questionable material. I apologize for the inconvenience, my webmaster and I are working on this unbelievable, despicable and offending attack. A complaint has been filed. InService of the Light, Nadia McCaffrey

If you don't have spyware removal software on your computer; get it; it's free -- and I suggest:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/


~~~~

st wrote ...

Everyone talks about the F3 levees, no one mentions the barrier islands and millions of acres of fresh water and salt water marshes that have disapeared. The buffer zones are gone. No one mentions that at one time New Orleans was above sea level and that it has been sinking for a hundred years. No one mentions the fact that the tropical oceans are one degree warmer because of green house gases, no body mentions that the numer of the really big storms has doubled in the last ten years.


ST -- cut the crap. That's not true. It’s not true that people are NOT mentioning these issues – they are. People are knowledgeable and addressing these issues, and have been all along. It's not that this information isn't being discussed; it's that you're are looking for it to be so in the wrong people.

Now, if you meant that “W” and gang, and certain other groups as well, are not aware or didn't/don't care or know; that's true. But that's not what you are saying. You're saying NO one ... and that's a lie, and I don't like lies or being like to. I don't like when facts are twisted whether the twisting is being done by Bush and company; or you.

Now ... I'm only going to say this to you once, and that's it.

It's a waste of time and energy expecting people/any one (or group) to be 'different' then what they are, and it's a waste of time waiting around for people and groups to 'change' when they clearly think they don't need to. So stop. People/things are what they are. Apples are not oranges (or however you'd want to put it).

Facts are: one of the things that's happening (locally in nola and internationally) is that those already in the know are checking out the acquired knowledge and experience of the those in the Netherlands whose entire country is below sea level! A brief highlight of this was mentioned in my local paper yesterday. Plus others have been aware of and working with the concerns of the evironmental damages all along.

This situation has brought opportunities to the surface that perhaps would not have been so readily looked at or accepted before; without this happening. Now, for many people; it’s ‘okay’ to look at/for new ways/alternatives of facing these issues. And some are being implemented; and some aren't. And, like Z says .. it's happening person to person, one at time, one by one by one ~ and that means most of this "good" stuff isn't even getting into the papers.

If one door is closed (Bush & Company); than another IS (or will be) open some place else - and that's a fact!; but it's up to you (all of us) to go and find it -- or open it yourself if necessary. Like what Cindy & Nadia are doing.

But in the mean time ... stop twisting facts; that's what they do - and enough is enough. Okay?

btw ... If you want to get more involved with those who already know what you know; and think as you think about the barrier islands, water temperature changes and all the rest .. then I suggest ENN (Environmental News Network) as a good place to start. http://www.enn.com/

~~~~

Doreen ~ J ... I don't have anything to say/add to your posts.

~~~

To all ~ thanks for your replies.