I just took Georgia for a walk and trip to the dog park, which she was found fond by a very large German Shepard that wouldn't let another dog play with her, kept biting the fuck out of this old hairy dog that drooled all over my dress and then rammed me while running as fast she could to get the ball I was holding. Shower number 3 of the day. This girl is wild. This has been an interesting week so far. Halfway through! At least I'm not writing a 20 something page report like last week.
Check out this musician that is dedicating his new album to my organization to help rebuild the gulf. There was a shit storm by a young intern who, I believe had never seen a Mardi Indian before or a swamp or art. The storm isn't over, but I only received a few scratches this time.
Check out my new blog about the flooding in LA.
This weekend one of the stop lights near my house fell. It's still there and still working.
My friend Amanda jumped off a bridge in the name of fucking with Chevron.
My friend Emma climbed and then painted a smokestack.
The shareholders at Chevron and ExxonMobil are making these companies take a long hard look into a dangerous extraction practice called fracking.
The Nation published an article about how the fight to lower emissions in the US is in your community. I believe I've been called an idiot by many a climate campaigner for saying this exact thing.
Bush still sucks.
Renee
oh yeah - and 154 environmental, fishing, chemical reform, and community groups sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius demanding public health action in the wake of the BP oil disaster.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Saturday Gumbo
It's still fucking festival season. The humidity has finally landed. The brass bands and electric guitars are still being played on street corners and front porches. The beer is getting colder. The bayou has turned green with algae from the gradual and then sudden onslaught of fresh Mississippi River. And Cajun country is under 15 feet of water.
AlJazeera, one of the only media sources that has appropriately covered the BP oil disaster as it relates to people and consequences, has once again proved that our nation's media is simply passed out cold. Bryan is the President of the LA Oyster Association. His son in-law was recently hired to be Oxfam's Gulf Coast Campaigner. Both are Oystermen who have lost everything in the past six years. 2010 was the year that the oyster beds were coming back. Then the Mississippi River diversions were opened to prevent BP oil from entering the River, killing large portions of Gulf Coast oyster beds. A little over a year later, the mighty overflowing Mississippi killed 100% of Louisiana oyster beds. Bryan traveled to London in early April to attend the BP shareholder meeting. Noone from Louisiana was allowed inside the meeting.
Rosanne Barr is as badass and crazy as ever. "I walked into this woman’s office, held the scissors up to show her I meant business, and said, “Bitch, do you want me to cut you?” We stood there for a second or two, just so I could make sure she was receptive to my POV. I asked why she had told the wardrobe master to not listen to me, and she said, “Because we do not like the way you choose to portray this character.” I said, “This is no fucking character! This is my show, and I created it—not Matt, and not Carsey-Werner, and not ABC. You watch me. I will win this battle if I have to kill every last white bitch in high heels around here.” Mental illness can be pretty terrifying and you have to appreciate someone that can speak about their own in a funny, sad, and compassionate way. The article goes mostly into what fighting to be heard and recognized as a woman in a trade that hates women looks like.
There is no such thing as Katrina Fatigue. My cousin and I went to see 23 Feet in 12 Minutes last night. It's a one woman play about 8 characters who survived Hurricane Katrina. I cried the entire hour. She turned into the characters as they told their stories of trying to escape their drowning and forgotten town.
During the talk back after the short play ended, the moderator asked if the panelists experienced Katrina Fatigue. Both panelists were transplants to New Orleans and said no way, though they noticed when they returned to their hometown of NYC, they were surprised that people thought the city had fully recovered and that no more help was needed. I've had the same conversation with people. I look around my own block and see abandoned houses, Coast Guard spray paint markings, and front porch chats about before the storm everyday. Katrina's spirit continues to restlessly roam.
Even the Pentagon is preparing for an increase in climate change impacts. Time to vote the politicians that allow big oil into bed every night out.
The offbroadway cast of Cry Baby just walked into the cafe where I'm trying to finish a report for Monday. I have yet to determine which gutter punk practices his Iggy Pop character on the neutral ground of Elysian Fields.
Not attending Bayou Boogaloo.
Renee Claire
AlJazeera, one of the only media sources that has appropriately covered the BP oil disaster as it relates to people and consequences, has once again proved that our nation's media is simply passed out cold. Bryan is the President of the LA Oyster Association. His son in-law was recently hired to be Oxfam's Gulf Coast Campaigner. Both are Oystermen who have lost everything in the past six years. 2010 was the year that the oyster beds were coming back. Then the Mississippi River diversions were opened to prevent BP oil from entering the River, killing large portions of Gulf Coast oyster beds. A little over a year later, the mighty overflowing Mississippi killed 100% of Louisiana oyster beds. Bryan traveled to London in early April to attend the BP shareholder meeting. Noone from Louisiana was allowed inside the meeting.
Rosanne Barr is as badass and crazy as ever. "I walked into this woman’s office, held the scissors up to show her I meant business, and said, “Bitch, do you want me to cut you?” We stood there for a second or two, just so I could make sure she was receptive to my POV. I asked why she had told the wardrobe master to not listen to me, and she said, “Because we do not like the way you choose to portray this character.” I said, “This is no fucking character! This is my show, and I created it—not Matt, and not Carsey-Werner, and not ABC. You watch me. I will win this battle if I have to kill every last white bitch in high heels around here.” Mental illness can be pretty terrifying and you have to appreciate someone that can speak about their own in a funny, sad, and compassionate way. The article goes mostly into what fighting to be heard and recognized as a woman in a trade that hates women looks like.
There is no such thing as Katrina Fatigue. My cousin and I went to see 23 Feet in 12 Minutes last night. It's a one woman play about 8 characters who survived Hurricane Katrina. I cried the entire hour. She turned into the characters as they told their stories of trying to escape their drowning and forgotten town.
During the talk back after the short play ended, the moderator asked if the panelists experienced Katrina Fatigue. Both panelists were transplants to New Orleans and said no way, though they noticed when they returned to their hometown of NYC, they were surprised that people thought the city had fully recovered and that no more help was needed. I've had the same conversation with people. I look around my own block and see abandoned houses, Coast Guard spray paint markings, and front porch chats about before the storm everyday. Katrina's spirit continues to restlessly roam.
Even the Pentagon is preparing for an increase in climate change impacts. Time to vote the politicians that allow big oil into bed every night out.
The offbroadway cast of Cry Baby just walked into the cafe where I'm trying to finish a report for Monday. I have yet to determine which gutter punk practices his Iggy Pop character on the neutral ground of Elysian Fields.
Not attending Bayou Boogaloo.
Renee Claire
Monday, May 16, 2011
LA Floods, Georgia, and Treme
Hi All,
So far New Orleans has not flooded. The river is pretty high these days, but the Corps has opened two different spillways in an attempt to keep Baton Rouge and New Orleans dry. Part of Morganza spillway was opened Saturday afternoon at 3pm CST. The impacts include 25,000 people's homes and businesses will be flooded over the next several days. Farm land, wild animals, and people's belongings will be sacrificed so that 2.4 million people won't. The Atchfalaya Basin in a drought right now, which is helpful in mitigating the damage from this rising river.
I live within 1 mile of the industrial canal and the lower 9th ward, which is still at 17% population from Katrina and where you can go many blocks without seeing one home or person. I run my new puppy Georgia on the levee at on Poland St and Burgundy.
It's a strange thing to know that others are being sacrificed so that my neighborhood doesn't flood again. Those being interviewed on the radio from Stephensville and Morgan City seem to say that they understand. That they will return once the water drains.
This has been quite a year for us in the south, especially Louisiana. I've spent a bit of time in Morgan City, the Atchfalaya Basin, and Raceland. All places that are starting to flood. It won't be until tomorrow before we know if they will need to open more bays on Morganza. So far they have opened 9 out of 125 bays.
I watched the latest episode of Treme last night at the Hi Ho Lounge. A new favorite spot. The entire cast of Treme was watching it with me. I'm not sure if that is their spot to watch each show each week, but it was kind of fun watching the show with everyone.
Alright, I'm off to write a new report. Wish me good writing!
Renee
ps. Georgia is a white pitbull with little black patches. I found her on the street licking a tire and thought to myself this is my kind of girl. Scrappy, a free spirit and in need of a real home. She is about 4 months old and weighs 25 pounds. She's super sweet, will end up being a terrible guard dog.
And proof that working at home with a pit puppy is the best
So far New Orleans has not flooded. The river is pretty high these days, but the Corps has opened two different spillways in an attempt to keep Baton Rouge and New Orleans dry. Part of Morganza spillway was opened Saturday afternoon at 3pm CST. The impacts include 25,000 people's homes and businesses will be flooded over the next several days. Farm land, wild animals, and people's belongings will be sacrificed so that 2.4 million people won't. The Atchfalaya Basin in a drought right now, which is helpful in mitigating the damage from this rising river.
I live within 1 mile of the industrial canal and the lower 9th ward, which is still at 17% population from Katrina and where you can go many blocks without seeing one home or person. I run my new puppy Georgia on the levee at on Poland St and Burgundy.
It's a strange thing to know that others are being sacrificed so that my neighborhood doesn't flood again. Those being interviewed on the radio from Stephensville and Morgan City seem to say that they understand. That they will return once the water drains.
This has been quite a year for us in the south, especially Louisiana. I've spent a bit of time in Morgan City, the Atchfalaya Basin, and Raceland. All places that are starting to flood. It won't be until tomorrow before we know if they will need to open more bays on Morganza. So far they have opened 9 out of 125 bays.
I watched the latest episode of Treme last night at the Hi Ho Lounge. A new favorite spot. The entire cast of Treme was watching it with me. I'm not sure if that is their spot to watch each show each week, but it was kind of fun watching the show with everyone.
Alright, I'm off to write a new report. Wish me good writing!
Renee
ps. Georgia is a white pitbull with little black patches. I found her on the street licking a tire and thought to myself this is my kind of girl. Scrappy, a free spirit and in need of a real home. She is about 4 months old and weighs 25 pounds. She's super sweet, will end up being a terrible guard dog.
And proof that working at home with a pit puppy is the best
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