Live Earth Part I-The Seven Point Pledge: A Panoramic View For Effective Environmental Action?(Revised 7.13.07)

The Live Earth 7 Point Pledge

I PLEDGE:

1. To demand that my country join an international treaty within the next 2 years that cuts global warming pollution by 90% in developed countries and by more than half worldwide in time for the next generation to inherit a healthy earth;
2. To take personal action to help solve the climate crisis by reducing my own CO2 pollution as much as I can and offsetting the rest to become “carbon neutral;”
3. To fight for a moratorium on the construction of any new generating facility that burns coal without the capacity to safely trap and store the CO2;
4. To work for a dramatic increase in the energy efficiency of my home, workplace, school, place of worship, and means of transportation;
5. To fight for laws and policies that expand the use of renewable energy sources and reduce dependence on oil and coal;
6. To plant new trees and to join with others in preserving and protecting forests; and,
7. To buy from businesses and support leaders who share my commitment to solving the climate crisis and building a sustainable, just, and prosperous world for the 21st century.

Today in the afterglow of "Live Earth",I lift up a podcast Reflection dated July 2,2007 which examines the Live Earth Seven Point Pledge.Click here to listen. Today's blog entry is the first in a series of supplements to that.

After careful reflection,I could not help but think that the pledge with all its fine points and high minded principles,still needs further tweaking to develop a fuller or more panoramic view in arriving at truly sustainable solutions to Earth's environmental problems. People from all walks of life have to be included in working out a solution to make it work.

There are still sub-issues of poverty,environmental racism and fair accessibility to resolution of the problem that have not been addressed within the pledge. One of the largest disasters in our country's history--Hurricane Katrina-- was brought on, some scientist speculate, by climate change(more...) as well as the human factors of environmental racism and glaring poverty.People in New Orleans are still reeling from its impact. Some,still can't return home because of the devastation.

That is why this effort in resolving the crisis should be as much of an exercise in participatory democracy as possible. There must be room made at the table for youth,the elderly,the poor and the disenfranchised(Yes. The disenfranchised still exist). Some of the points in the pledge they can not commit to from a practical standpoint because some lack a home to flip a light switch off or the socket from which to change to the use of another brand light bulb.They first need sustainable housing.

It was good that many people who would have otherwise been unable to attend the event were there because they volunteered for the "greening" part of the concert,which I see as a total plus. However, there was still a sector of society that could not experience the concert because they simply could not afford it.Some people just can't afford to "go green". They just don't have the wherewithal.There should be some kind of structure set up to assist those that are marginalized in taking advantage of the opportunities to fully participate in the effort to protect and conserve our environment as well as to be educated about the impact of global warming and other environmental threats. And,If you can't afford to make a sizable donation or pledge to "the cause" where does that leave you? Will your influence still be felt or your favor curried?

The spirit of the times is currently high with music and causes. As most artists shared modern styles and versions of songs of protest,social observation and enlightenment,I thought of the many protest songs of the past and how music has been such a tremendous force for constructive social action for so many years.Music has been used to raise awareness, make cultural and human rights statements during Woodstock,the Civil Rights Movement,the Concert for Bangladesh,Monterey Pop Festival, the Summer of Love,Tsunami Concert of Hope,Katrina Relief,etc.

The concert for Live Earth on Saturday was no different. Perhaps the lyrics by most artists were more subdued than the blaring protest sirens of yesteryear penned by icons such as Dylan,Springsteen,James Brown,Marvin Gaye,Stevie Wonder,Curtis Mayfield, John Lennon,etc. But that result more than likely has to do with the "spirit of the times" than anything else.

Channeling the creative and healing power of music is something that I believe will continue to serve as a catalyst for harmonious community action on the entire spectrum of environmental concerns including global warming.The sets performed by each musician at Live Earth all had their special moments. I can't believe that I actually set through 5 hours of music.From 5:15-10:30,one magnificent act after the other.John Mayer's songs really set the tone for the concert,particularly "Belief" and "waiting On the World to Change". Click here for a link to the play list located in the right profile section of Heavier Octaves.org


I could not help but to think of the "synchronicity" that was taking place. The spirit of cooperation and unity that was being set forth and molded. Although an avid music fan, there is no way I would have under normal circumstances sat through all of the sets,even though I enjoy a broad range of musical genres and many of my playlists reflect that.My initial musical motivation for attending were artists such as John Mayer, Alicia Keys, Kanye West,Ludacris,Akon,the Dave Matthews Band and a few others.I never even felt that "Smashing Pumpkins" would have been the kind of music that I would be exposing my auditory canals to on an extended basis.But this past Saturday,I surprisingly found myself enjoying their music as well as other bands providing further proof that the spirit was indeed high,alive and ripe with positive expectancy.

I would like to find myself in the future once the afterglow of the unifying musical vibrations from this concert event have settled, grooving and jamming the same way towards a workable solution. It is so vital to the outcome of this, that the community and its leaders be sincerely engaged and working with others from all socio-economic and cultural backgrounds in arriving at solutions that are inclusive of all interests. The diversity and sheer number of artists that came together on one day at a set time, date and place was an illustration of the unity we can achieve in the broader community in alleviating the climate change crisis in our neighborhoods,local communities and globally.It was tremendously inspiring.

Live Earth was a wonderful beginning on a journey whose destination is within reach.The 7 Point Pledge is a document that should take on a "living,breathing" context,as any other document used as an instrument of galvanizing,motivating,defining,directing and molding constructive social action.

I think it will work. The engine has been ignited and propels forward with the fuel of positive energy and good will that has been generated by the music and leadership. While I think its safe to say that we can rely on the "spirit generated so far" in guiding us towards the ultimate goal, there is still some traveling and "tweaking" to do yet.

To be Continued...

Peace,

Cynthia

Related Blogs:

Week In Review and Daily Reflection

www.heavieroctaves.org: Poverty,Racism and Katrina-First Stop, Atlanta, Georgia

Protest Songs:Sing Up!

Relationship

Global Warming Notes Inspired by John Mayer

www.heavieroctaves.org: DECLARE Energy Independence on October 19th, 2004 (click here for further details)

Relationship

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With the monumental event "Live Earth" rapidly approaching...tomorrow,July 7 at Giant's stadium and other venues across the globe,including London,Tokyo,Shanghai,Johannesburg,
Hamburg,Sydney and Rio,I thought this blog entry I posted over a year ago on MySpace would be very appropriate.

Connecting with people is what its all about anyway. Yes. Connecting,coming together with others for the good of the globe is really the ultimate "greening vibe" and I feel the positive energy of "linking up" and "hooking up" with others setting the tone and representing the spirit of the event. That's a wonderful thing.

The more inhabitants of planet earth can appreciate and respect each others true value and worth in this "global warming" challenge we all face, the better we can care for our planet... in the same spirit and manner. After all we hold the future of generations to come in our hands by the actions we now take.

With that said,I'd like to dedicate this blog entry,emphasizing the paragrah with bold print, to all the "Global Warming" heroes out there,sung and unsung alike.

And, of course,kudos to Gore,the visionary and Wall,the producer and their staff.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the concert whether you are a headlining musician,an organizer,a visionary,a producer,a "greening" volunteer or a member of the media.

Check out my "Week in Review" and "Reflection for Today" in the GCast widget in the upper right hand column. You can find Heavier Octaves PSA's,videos and links to podcasts at www.heavieroctaves.org.

Peace,

Cynthia

The following was reprinted from MySpace blog -Thursday, March 30, 2006

Relationship Connecting with people is a special thing. I'd like to be able to call you up, call upon you and you have the ability to recognize my voice immediately without the aid of caller ID or feeble introductory remarks. However, I need your number literally and figuratively in order to be able to do that. I might have had it or have it filed away somewhere. But I don't want to call you up and you get pissed off because I'm calling a number you didn't give me. Or, because you don't feel comfortable talking with me over the phone since we don't have relationship--no established track record of relating to one another. No history. Get it? You see my face or hear my voice in a crowded room and you don't know me from Adam or Eve. I'm sure that has actually happened to some on occasion. Attention span is at such a premium these days .There's no substitute for putting in real quality time with people and developing genuine relationship over a period of time. If you can't do the time, then don't expect a good and lasting friendship. It takes years of care,trust building and demonstrated concern to qualify as "friend." Sometimes doing the outlandish, which I've been known to do, to communicate a point can get lost in the translation without accurate interpretation.While I believe in the possibility of the miracle of "love at first sight" and the effectiveness of the "quick fix" internet contact, there is just no substitute for years spent in conversation and dialogue with a person, helping them out of jams, attending concerts and movies together,sharing jokes,etc. Yes. Building up the formidable "relationship" track record has its benefits. For one,it makes it easier for the person to get your cue.We get our most compelling experiences with that relating to family. Fights with siblings over mistaken tooth brush use or a favorite take out eaten up that was left over in the fridge and gone missing in the morning... are the stock from which lasting relationships based on sometimes embarrassing, but decipherable nuanced conversations are made."Excuse my French!" Even better yet, can you imagine the kind of place the world would be, if people really started genuinely reaching out to one another in a real quality fashion? Seriously, if every person in the world were sitting down at their computer right now or on their telephone key pads trying to make contact in some profound and meaningful way with another person in the world, the shooting and other obnoxious forms of mayhem would stop at such an alarming rate that it would cause immediate shock to the global environment. Yes. The climate pattern shifts behind the current global warming crisis would likely permanently reverse their trends as well. Name dropping and other scandalous attempts at trying to be in the loop with someone would probably cease. It would completely eliminate the need for such escapades, because you'd have that person right there on the phone or IM. Do you think I'm being a bit unrealistic or over the top? Well, probably...yet, just give it some thought. If you have years of good memories spent with someone, through the thick and thins of life, you've got a friend in deed. The kind of quality found in friendship that's built over the years shooting marbles, skateboarding, collecting ants, dirt biking, playing with dolls, working out together in the gym is to be treasured. Having lunch and dinner together, sharing stories, attending class together and other real time experiences just don't seem to count as much as they once did. But,that's really where its at eventually. In today's cyber age time spent with others on message boards, in chat rooms and IMing count just as much. Even though it may be quite a difference in the style and form of relationship, it still is relating...just by modern standards. While I love being able to communicate with so many people instantaneously, which is what internet communication affords, there is still no substitute for invested physical touch and interaction. I love sitting around with friends, either shooting the breeze or chewing the fat, giving each other skin when extending a hand, giving high fives i.e., the slapping on the palm kind that used to follow the phrase "Give me five". I also love cuddly bear hugs and hearing someone's breath in my ear during the pauses in our phone conversations. If you can give me that kind of hug or the breathy telephone pause, you're very likely to end up being a very good friend of mine. That is, if everything else checks out and measures up okay over the years. Yes, my friends. Call me, blog me, email me, friend me up, comment me, IM me, write me, parody me, satirize me and delay me... I'm always happy to hear from you. I prefer direct flights. But, in a pinch I'll take a connecting one. Really.

So, What About the Streaming Wars...You Ask Me?

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The current battle raging between the recording industry and internet radio broadcasters seems to be heating up.I've been following developments all along,having once maintained a stream on a major internet radio stream server. I've received and reviewed most,if not all of the emails they've sent out to their customer base, including one --I'm still on the email list--concerning D-Day of recent past where broadcasters claimed a day of silence in protest of the looming increase in royalties which go into effect on July 15,2007.

Today, I stumbled upon some interesting articles summarizing developments in that area.

As an internet stream radio host and enthusiastic proponent of internet radio,I wonder how long it will take for independent internet radio streams to be completely wiped out by what appears to be efforts of larger corporate interests to contain their streams, and indirectly benefit therefrom? While implementation of the policy appears inevitable, my most pressing question is:

What should small internet streamers that were finally starting to "get a taste" of revenue opportunities flowing from internet radio do now in the wake of this new regulation?

The RIAA continues to go about what appears to be a very aggressive agenda to control and keep "revenue streams" from various sources favorably disposed and routed in their direction.

I will weigh in on this topic and others in my "Week in Review" podcast,which is issued every Friday.

In the meantime,enjoy the linked blog articles and find out how you can save internet radio,if that is your wish.

Peace,

Cynthia(Revcoolc)

Recommended Reading:

Internet radio compromise on the way?

Congress Urges Peace Talks in Net Radio Conflict

Royalty Hike Could Mute Internet Radio

Royalty Wars:To Stream or Not to Stream?

Suggested Links:

Save Net Radio

Kurt Hanson.com

Orbit Cast-All Things Satellite Radio

Week in Review and Daily Reflection

Live Earth, Saturday,July 7- Venue-Giants Stadium
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Artists performing include John Mayer,Alicia Keys,
Kanye West,Sheryl Crow,Akon,Ludacris

Hi Friends:

I hope all the "green" and "not so green" folks are gearing up for Saturday's Live Earth Concerts for a Climate in Crisis event. The local concert venue is Giants Stadium in New Jersey. For more info about artists performing there on Saturday and how to get to Giants click here.

For my "Reflection for Today" which includes observations on the Live Earth 7 Point Pledge released by Al Gore and Kevin Wall last Thursday click on that post on my GCast in the far right column above.

Today you not only receive the "Week in Review",which is a summary of important developments last week,but my "Reflection for Today" as well. Call it "Daily Inspiration Meets Word Economy". I've decided to change the format just a bit and lighten the load,so to speak. We all have busy days and schedules with information buzzing in from every medium and angle. And,if not,we're certainly working on it.

I want to be short ,sweet and to the point. That way,you'll be happy to see me coming... I'll still try and sneak a sermon in every now and then.

From henceforth and now on,I will be sending out short daily audios called "Reflections for Today". There will be no more "Daily Inspirations",though I hope you will still be inspired by what you do receive.I will send out a "Weekend Inspiration" every Friday,which will include the "Week in Review" audio summary.

If you stay posted to this blog and the Heavier Octaves blog,you'll
be pretty much up to date anyway. Just subscribe to either or both on the links provided and you'll receive updates automatically. You may also go to the Heavier Octaves Radio site and receive podcast updates as well by clicking on the audio link. And,of course you can add my Gcast to your website by copying in the html code.Just follow the instructions provided on the "Subscribe Free" and "Add to my page" links.Find the GCast widget in the upper right hand column of this page.

I'm still working on the Gospel,Lobluja(Love, blues and jazz) and High Notes playlists. It's still pretty much just me working in all departments(smile). Hope to have them available for your listening pleasure in the near future. In the meantime,feel free to travel over to my Ilike or MySpace page and check out the music of musicians in my Friends List.

Remember,"it takes the entire village to build community".


Peace,

Cynthia(Revcoolc)

John Coltrane's Reflections on Religion

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John Coltrane had to be one of the most profound musicians of his generation. Some of that wisdom has carried over into today. I have definitely enjoyed interviews that I've come across and other treasured source information on this great jazz saxophonist.

I thought I'd top this entry from a blog that I wrote earlier this year, which I maintain over at Myspace.

Monday, January 29, 2007

John Coltrane Reflections/Profile Songs of the Week I happened to come across a John Coltrane Myspace page today in search of the ideal Profile Song of the Week. These reflections on music by the Jazz master himself did just the thing for me. Unfortunately,I can't place any of his music in the Heavier Octaves' profile song player,because this John Coltrane page does not have any music uploaded. I did place a video of his performance of Afro Blue featuring Elvin Jones on drums....in the meantime,if you like,read some profound thoughts by Coltrane posted below,which I also stumbled upon here: "I think the majority of musicians are interested in truth." "I've found you've got to look back at the old things and see them in a new light." "When you begin to see the possibilities of music, you desire to do something really good for people, to help humanity free itself from its hangups. I want to speak to their souls." "My goal is to live the truly religious life, and express it in my music. If you live it, when you play there's no problem because the music is part of the whole thing. To be a musician is really something. It goes very, very deep. My music is the spiritual expression of what I am - my faith, my knowledge, my being." "There is never any end. There are always new sounds to imagine; new feelings to get at. And always, there is the need to keep purifying these feelings and sounds so that we can really see what we've discovered in its pure state. So that we can see more and more clearly what we are. In that way, we can give to those who listen the essence, the best of what we are. But to do that at each stage, we have to keep on cleaning the mirror." "Over all, I think the main thing a musician would like to do is give a picture to the listener of the many wonderful things that he knows of and senses in the universe. That's what I would like to do. I think that's one of the greatest things you can do in life and we all try to do it in some way. The musician's is through his music." John Coltrane Enjoy your day. And if you are a musician,I hope the above in addition to this interview ,conducted in 1960, will provide you with some delicious food for thought. BTW, Coltrane's "Afro Blue" shares the Profile Song of the Week slot with Gospel/R&B legend Sam Cooke's "What A Wonderful World". Peace, Revcoolc

What Do You Do When You Get There?:The Katrina Rebuilding Effort

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The Sunday New York Times ran a special comprehensive spread today on progress in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The much needed full issue dedication is pretty timely,especially in light of the "Weekend Inspiration" emailed out to friends on Friday-- a copy of my sermon ,What Do You Do When You Get There?-A Reflection on the Poverty Initiative's January 2006 Katrina Relief Team Trip to the Gulf Coast. It chronicles last year's mission trip to the Gulf Coast,Ocean Springs,Biloxi and New Orleans while at the same time, wrestles to make some sense of the devastation in the face of slow motion recovery and rebuilding efforts. I am happy to be in such good tune with current events. I hope that edge will inspire healing in the form of timely, equitable and effective rebuilding in the great city of New Orleans.

To date, the move towards progress continues at a snail's pace even for real estate mogul Donald Trump, who has a $400 Million Dollar High Rise project currently at stake and in parked status in New Orleans. Trump is committed to the city and is involved to do whatever he can to help the city out.

However, the overall delay in rebuilding New Orleans seems to be facing ostensibly begs the question,"What seems to be the hold up?" A more probing follow up would inquire what continues to be the underlying problem with unifying people and forging ahead for the good of all the city's residents?

From my experience,usually when there's a delay in major activity on a scale of this magnitude,it usually means one or two things. Either there is strong disagreement among the key players, money is in short supply or there has been a delay in processing it due to cash flow issues or even worse,no one quite knows how to approach the problem.

Based on an assessment of the current situation, there appears to be a web of overlapping issues that continue to contribute to the murky state of rebuilding efforts in New Orleans. First of all, I suspect there may be some tension behind the fact that the levees are still not up to par. The Army Corps of Engineers released a report recently on that issue as reported in the New York Times.

Then,there is theBaker Bill. Grassroots community organizers and membership organization,The Color of Change,has a campaign underway which opposes the bill, claiming it caters to the rich and powerful real estate interest,encouraging gentrification, while sacrificing the poor and placing them in the untenable position of being uprooted from their life long homes and being forced to live elsewhere.

Then there is HR 1227 which is a Bill to allow public housing residents back into the city after being forced out indefinitely after Hurricane Katrina. There is also the Gulf Coast Civic Works Project which is designed to give the citizens of New Orleans the right to return to rebuild their homes themselves without the gentrification threat community leaders feel the Baker Bill poses.

There has been a move afoot to organize the community to support these two pieces of legislation which grassroots organizers feel will better provide pre-Katrina homeowners a fair and fighting chance to come back to New Orleans and rebuild.The bills are important.They also interplay dynamically with the issues of poverty,racism and poor structural support for the levees and would seem to inform any plans by developers and master builders to restore New Orleans.

I suspect that Trump's as well as other real estate developer's projects may have gotten bogged down by the cloud of uncertainty that continues to hover over New Orleans. Further, the Army Corps of Engineers doesn't seem to have much promising news about the ability of the levees to withstand another deluge of water and wind from future hurricanes.There are probably a whole slew of additional "hidden" issues that have not even surfaced yet that contribute significantly to and perpetuate the current inertia.

When the Poverty Initiative's Relief Team first arrived in New Orleans in January of last year we met with a real estate developer(more on that story here), someone who could provide us with a pretty straightforward summary of the rebuilding quagmire."Press", almost a year and one half ago was concerned with the fate of the Baker Bill which he supported as a viable means of proceeding with rebuilding efforts.However,that now seems to be facing grassroots opposition. It seems efforts to spread awareness concerning the need for passage of HR 1227 and the Gulf Coast Civic Works Project continues as a grassroots priority.

The latter gives long time residents of New Orleans who are being permanently displaced due to Hurricane Katrina,the muscle to stand their ground and successfully fight to save and remain in their homes. They can also be gainfully employed in the process by rebuilding New Orleans and receive compensation for their efforts.The former is a provision that would allow residents of public housing to return to the city,because now they are being blocked. Many poor feel New Orleans is being stolen right out from under them and that rich and powerful development in the city will unjustly squeeze them out.

In light of the foregoing,I'd like to offer some suggestions to those in New Orleans making valiant or otherwise efforts to rebuild based on my observations as a member of the Poverty Initiative's Fact Finding Mission Trip last January. The following course of action may get some rebuilding activity going.

If you haven't already,you may want to:

-meet, talk and form alliances with grassroots community,religious and civic leaders

-meet with long time residents,residents of public housing units and other people who will likely be permanently displaced if they are not allowed to return to the city

-Reach out. Become familiar with their stories,their pains,their anguish,their losses

-Take a look at Jonathan Demme's "Right to Return" movie on New Orleans

-View Spike Lee's documentary-"When the Levees Broke"

Other Suggested Resources:

"Katrina":Listening With Our Hearts",as well, found on the Poverty Initiative's website

A sermon reflecting on the trip to New Orleans,which was preached in Union Theological Seminary's James Chapel on February 6,2006. You will find it here, or just scroll down to the blog entry prior to this one.

There are still so many uncertainties. However,if people can come together in the spirit and vein of "Rich and Poor Alike" ,working together in solidarity to rebuild,then,I think you may get some movement on this...

Peace,

Cynthia(Revcoolc)

Related Photos and Blogs:



Above Photos taken by Cynthia D. Wilson from Moving Van(passenger side) upon approach to New Orleans-January 13,2006. The Poverty Initiative of Union Theological Seminary- Hurricane Katrina Relief Team Trip

Related Blogs:

What Do You Do When You Get There?( A Reflection on the Poverty Initiative's January 2006 Katrina Relief Team Trip to the Gulf Coast)

www.heavieroctaves.org: January 11, 2006- Ocean Springs, Mississippi-Rich and Poor Alike-More Photos

www.heavieroctaves.org: Jan 13-New Orleans-Final Stop on Katrina Trip-Part I

www.heavieroctaves.org: Jan. 13-More Pictures of New Orleans Area...5 Months After Katrina- Part II

The photos in the link immediately above and the ones below depict the remains of Lower Ninth Ward Homes in Jan.2006



For further information, email cynthia@cynthiadwilson.com

What Do You Do When You Get There?(A Reflection on the Poverty Initiative’s January 2006 Katrina Relief Team Trip to the Gulf Coast)

The following is a sermon I preached at Union Theological Seminary's (UTS) James Chapel on February 6,2006 during the special "History of the Black Church Series"- Sponsored by the UTS Black Caucus as part of its African American History Month Celebration.

The scripture text which guided this sermon was Isaiah 6:8-11,one of the scriptures selected for the Poverty Initiative's accompanying Bible Study Course resources for the January 2006 Immersion Course trip to the Gulf Coast.

In our scripture today, Isaiah, the 8th Century prophet stands in the presence of God and receives directly from God his commission. He sets forth how the prophet is to bring judgment upon “this” people” through the context of disaster. God commands Isaiah what to say and do, and sets out the purpose of those words and actions.

He is to tell the people to look but not understand; he is to prevent the people from understanding, hearing, or seeing lest they see, listen and comprehend and “turn and be healed.” Isaiah’s mission is clear: He is to prevent repentance and healing. While Isaiah does not expressly object to this commission, he does raise a question.. This question is viewed as his prayer of intercession for the people. He asks God, “How long?"

We all know that the contemporary call to respond prophetically to the social ills of racism, poverty, and other forms of injustice is experienced predominantly in our churches in the context of prayer and worship. Unless, of course, you’re a member of the Union community. You give that prayer and that worship “feet”. Most of us are convicted to raise awareness and demonstrate concern by going directly to the people and the problems they face, taking corrective action.

That’s what we did by traveling as part of the Poverty Initiative’s fact finding trip to the Gulf Coast. We traveled to not only find answers to our questions. But we wanted to provide “hands on” relief and address “head on” the problems of Hurricane Katrina. We wanted to “intercede” on behalf of the people.

Here I am lord send me. I want you to use me in whatever way you see fit. I want to be your instrument of mercy. I want to link up with other people of good will and become a force of one to overcome poverty, racism, hatred and other social evils. But, guess what? A funny thing happened when I got there.

My eyes saw things that I could not comprehend. My ears heard things that I could not filter. I just did not want to listen to them. My heart was overwhelmed by emotions that I could not contain. And, I wondered how a God so good, so merciful, so loving, so kind and so omnipotent could let this kind of devastation occur. I and others witnessed a region of the land fall to such unimaginable ruin. Here I am O Lord. Send me. But what do I do when I get there?

God, there are just so many questions still flashing through my mind. Is this man’s punishment from the hands of an angry and wrath filled God? As in Isaiah’s time? In this day and age is the judgment which Isaiah was to give the people in his times still warranted? Is this repairable? Is the devastation so huge that it can never be repaired? And, if so, what are we doing here? What purpose are we serving? Can we really make some useful sense out of all of this?

I didn’t have the kind of money the people I was there to help needed. I didn’t have enough resources to make a difference. I still think about Carol Burnett from the Union class of 1981 who runs an early childhood development program through the United Methodist’s Moore Community House in Biloxi, Mississippi. Eight of her buildings were essentially wiped out by the hurricane. She had 36 employees that were displaced and the neighborhood surrounding Moore is all but desolate. Except for the newly built mixed income housing project close by, most of the neighborhood is uninhabitable.

What can you do when you sincerely want to help? But, some people and governmental institutions seem to thwart and discourage at every turn? What can you do when you have every good intention? Well, you know what they say about good intentions. People don’t always see eye to eye. In fact, many times they don’t. And when and if they ever come to a consensus, it is the result of a lot of time and effort to get them to arrive at one.

That is one of the main reasons I would venture to say, that rebuilding efforts are taking so long in New Orleans. There are political disagreements on who should do it, how it should be done and who and how much they should be paid. Press, a real estate developer in New Orleans gave us a window into how complex the rebuilding issues can be or become if the necessary legislation is not passed.

I thought about Rev. Patrick Keen, a Lutheran pastor who spoke very candidly to us about his beliefs about the levee malfunction in New Orleans during the storm. He believes that they were intentionally blown up. And that the 9th Ward, a lower income area where most of the blacks live was sacrificed to save the French Quarters. There is nothing I knew that I could say to convince him otherwise. Quite frankly, he made a pretty strong case. He even recommended a book, “Rising Tide”, in support of his position, saying how the book shows how it was done before. What do you do when you get there? Can I get a witness?

Then Ted Quant of Ache Community Center shared with us his view. By then, most of our group was still completely stunned that such a thing could happen or that the belief itself could even exist. He didn’t believe that the levees had been intentionally destroyed. But that there was so much hatred demonstrated against the black community that he could see how it could be perceived by them that something like this could really happen. So, what do you do to allay people’s apprehensions to calm their fears? Many of the residents of the 9th ward are not returning to New Orleans because they simply fear for their safety. God, how long? What do you do when you get there?

The conditions there were the worst of any ruin you could even imagine or experience in your worst nightmares. Yet on the other side of town, the “Garden District” where all the aristocrats live, it was life and business as usual. You would not even know that a hurricane had ever been through the city of New Orleans, ever. Here Am I O’Lord Send me. What Do I do now that I’m here?

Well. We had a chance to make a difference no matter how small or large in the end it may be viewed by others. Here We Are God. Send us! What did we do when we got there?

I tell you. We did not pronounce judgment upon the people. We instead interceded with our loving and caring actions which translated into Isaiah’s prayer of intercession, when he responded to his commission by asking God, How long?

We helped people regain their sense of compassion and confidence that there is a God and that there are people out there who still serve a merciful one.

There was Mr. Edinburgh, an 80 something black man that could not live in his home due to the level of toxic mold remaining on the walls after the flood water receded. When we arrived at his home, the customary “water line” and “recovery team” codes, were outside, indicating whether the house contained a dead body, was covered by insurance or had a pet inside. Mr. Edinburgh was outside his house shoveling scraps and particles of debris out from his curbside when we arrived. He was downcast when we first got there. But, after members of the team helped to strip the molded basement walls in an effort to save his home, he was happier. He told us thanks for coming to see about him.

When the cities lay in ruin and despair is all around?

What do you do?

When suspicion and accusations of hatred are there?

What Do You Do?

When educational institutions are laying crumbled in the dirt before you?

When entire communities have been left to rot and go to the dogs?

When the social structures and signs of civilization like freeways and bridges have been crumpled up like accordion instruments?

You reach out and touch somebody and show you care about their plight. Always ready to step up to the plate with the response that becomes a proclamation.

Here am I. Lord. Send Me!!!


Related Blog Articles:

Raising Katrina Consciousness

Raising Katrina Consciousness: Poverty, Neglect, Hatred and Greed Meet Neighborly Concern and Compassion:The Real Humanitarian Relief

Come See About Me (My Space Blog)

www.heavieroctaves.org: Rosie O'Donnell's- For All Kids Foundation-Help for Katrina Survivors

A Missing O'Donnell Observation

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An audio mp3 of this sermon can be found at the following link(Coming soon!)

The book "Katrina:Listening With Our Hearts,the cover of which starts off the above photo slide show, is a compilation of blogs,sermons,reports,photgraphs and other information which was created or gathered during the trip to Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans and other parts of the Gulf Coast.You may purchase the book at www.povertyinitiative.org