Oscar Winner Demme Sees Extended Katrina Project

Jonathan Demme
(More...)

Hurricane Katrina.The memories of our trip to the Gulf Coast early last year on a trip sponsored by Union Theological Seminary's Poverty Initiative are not pretty. The wreckage and debris I would suspect still remains even today in some places.At least that is what I've heard from some reliable sources, some who have traveled as recently as last month on mission trips to the New Orleans area.

I still have plenty of video footage and photographs that were taken from a journey that spanned from Atlanta,Georgia to Biloxi,Mississippi.I also have plenty of information still floating around in my memory bank about the terror people experienced when the flood waters and winds came swirling through the town and the levees gave way.

I am glad to see that Oscar winning producer and director Jonathan Demme is going to do some follow up. I am interested in keeping an eye on his efforts and seeing what the results yield.

If you're interested in reviewing some of the photos that were taken by myself and other seminarians on our Katrina mission,follow the links below. In addition, a very thorough and enlightening account of the 'Katrina Aftermath' can be found in the book to which I contributed two articles,as a blogger and member of the Katrina Relief Team-"Katrina :Listening With Our Hearts".

Purchase Link

This development is very encouraging. It is very inspiring indeed. It's good to know that Demme and Spike Lee and other film makers of their caliber maintain an interest in capturing this experience on camera. The cathartic process of telling and sharing the stories of Katrina victims can only contribute to the healing and physical rebuilding that must take place.

Peace and hope,

Cynthia

Some of My Photos from Katrina Mission last January:






Here are related links to the Heavier Octaves Photo Blog:

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

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

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

....Is Peace Possible?

Photo Source

The following is an excerpt from a sermon I delivered at the Jan Hus Church on Sunday,April 15,2007 on the subject of war,entitled "Same Tray,Different Waiter: Is Peace Possible?" The guiding scripture text was Matthew 24:6-8 concerning Jesus' reference to "War and rumors of war..." I address the subject from the standpoint that it seems as though our world has always been full of war,violence and fighting. It appears to have remained a constant from Jesus' time until today. What can we do to bring about peace? Is peace really possible?

The contemporary musical selections chosen for the service because of their thought-provoking lyrics and related peace themes were John Lennon's Imagine and John Mayer's Belief,which was performed(covered) by me as the pre-sermon music with accompaniment provided by the Church's musicians.The balance of the music consisted of traditional songs and hymns including "When Will People Cease Their Fighting?","This Little Light of Mine" and "Let There Be Peace On Earth".

Dr. Martin Luther King's speech "Beyond Vietnam-A Time to Break Silence"delivered at the Riverside Church in April 1967 opposing the Vietnam War is also referenced in my sermon.

Here is an excerpt:

War is pervasive. It is almost a force all its own. Can I get a witness? Can you recall a period in your lives when there were no wars or rumors of war? When there were no television or radio broadcasts giving the recent updates on the bombings or the death toll?

It seems no matter how often or how tremendous anti-war and pacifist efforts are, a war manages to pop up eventually on the global scene. Let’s face it, war is a stark cold reality of life that we all face daily. Those engaged in direct combat and its fall out experience it to a greater extent than others.

Every one of us has probably lost a close friend or relative to one World War or a Vietnam War, a Desert Storm, an Iraqi War, the war in Afghanistan, various and sundry other ethnic wars that go on around the world marginally reported. The conflict in the Middle East, the genocide in the Sudan, the Congo--you name it. Do any of these hit close to home? Have you lost a relative? Do you know of someone in your neighborhood, your community that has suffered human loss?

The human cost of war in Iraq continues to mount. Not only are soldiers loosing their lives, but civilian losses continue to climb as well. The American body count in Iraq now stands at 3,299 with 24,476 wounded and/or disabled. A report was just released by the ACLU on April 12,2007 which lists civilian death claims filed by Iraqis and Afghan civilians with the US government for the non-combat loss of the lives of relatives...The Iraqi civilian body count is 67,364 (Anti-war.com).

Do the Math.The cost in terms of dollars and cents soars into the billions. According to the National Priorities Project, which is an online database, our government to date has spent $456 billion dollars on the war in Iraq(as of 4/15/07). The following is how the cost of war breaks down for each taxpayer:

• $4,100 for every American household;
• $1,500 for every American;
• $11 million per hour and;
• $275 million per day.

Even in light of this exorbitant budget, the President is scheduled to submit an additional request before congress of $100 billion more. The same money could have been used to provide: (these are rounded figures)

-55 million children a year of Head start
-249 million children health care for one year
-7 million public school teachers for one year
-To build 4 million additional housing units
- 20,230,681 students four-year scholarships at public universities

...Even with all that to consider, the case for peace can and still must be made. It is our responsibility and calling as Christians, even though evidence may substantiate the opposite...

A full transcript of the sermon can be downloaded here (Link coming soon).


Peace,

Cynthia

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*An mp3 recording of the sermon and music was made,but is not entirely audible.Once the necessary technical adjustments have been made,it will be made available.In the meantime,enjoy the reading.

Heavier Octaves Radio Program Update

This is Friday and it is time for the weekend inspiration.Today's blog is short,sweet and to the point.

I'm thinking about beginning each weekend with a Radio Program Update and Summary,which will provide a brief rundown on important issues and developments in the world of pop culture which includes social and humanitarian action.You are probably already aware of some of the developments, if you've read the emails I've sent out earlier this week.

I hope this audio provides reassurance that I am not out to wear your vision down with long blogs. In celebration of the weekend,just click on the link provided below and get the latest news prepared especially for you. After all,I have to provide some evidence that I "speak" to stay in line with the title of this blog(smile). Here you go:

Heavier Octaves Radio Program Update

If you care to subscribe to the podcast,go here and click on one or more of the feeds of your choice on our podcast page.


Talk to you on Monday.

Peace,

Cynthia

"Instant Karma":The Campaign to Save Darfur

Today,I lift up the subject of Darfur. I just received an email from Rock the Vote. I've been a long time supporter of their activities. As station host of the Heavier Octaves internet radio broadcast, I promoted a fair amount of their PSA's by celebrities encouraging young people to vote.They've sent out information regarding the release of the new "Instant Karma"benefit CD, a compilation of John Lennon songs covered by some of today's top established and emerging artists.

Lennon's widow Yoko Ono will donate the publishing royalties associated with the album to the cause.In a statement associated with the announcement of the CD project earlier this year,Ono stated:

"It's wonderful that, through this campaign, music that is so familiar to many people of my era will now be embraced by a whole new generation," Ono said in a statement. "John's music set out to inspire change, and in standing up for human rights, we really can make the world a better place."

Needless to say,I agree with Yoko.

I have been involved in an effort to keep the Darfur issue before a portion of the intelligentsia, as well as the popular culture through various blogs and an online publication on which I served as Senior Editor while a seminary student,Heavier Octaves High Notes,a blog which was more like a "blogzine"(my word for it anyway). An article on the Sudan genocide was written and contributed to that publication by Dr. Colleen Birchett,a colleague and friend who is also an author and educator. She travels to various churches and informs them how they can get involved. Click on the link below to review it:

Update On Sudan

And,for a short blurb about the CD project,click on the following link:

Instant Karma:The Campaign to Save Darfur

Darfur is a place and subject which is either in the forefront of your mind or placed in the far recesses of it out of sheer determination to preserve your sanity. The unfathomable atrocities that are being committed by humans against their fellow beings is something that you don't want to stay fixed in your mind's eye for too long. Unfortunately,however,it must be acknowledged in order to be resolved and an end put to it.

This is a "Daily Inspiration" column where I attempt to report on events and developments with an eye towards making us all feel better. After all, what more powerful tool can be used to channel effectively constructive energies from the masses? By making us hopeful, inspiration certainly goes a long way towards putting an end to the sense of hopelessness which usually envelopes these kinds of issues.

I mean what could I or you possibly do to save a life way over there? If a janjaweed militiaman came in either of our directions,we'd probably be at a loss. I don't even know how to shoot a gun less alone defend another against an assault by one.You probably don't either. And,hopefully,you nor I will ever have to come up against such a choice in order to make a qualitative difference.

I am happy to see the issue being stirred up, the information being circulated and the music getting out there. I have not had a chance to listen to the tracks in their entirety. As soon as I do I'll send you a review as a follow up along with an update on the crisis.

I just hope the Sudanese leaders and those doing the actual killing will call "time out" and really listen to the music and the message of each song.Let's keep singing the chorus in our hearts as we go through the day.

Spinning the music to inspire and generate activism is a step in the right direction. A prayer or two would also help... In fact, global prayer coupled with musical harmony and the world singing the finale in unison, may be the only action powerful enough to galvanize the forces needed to counteract this madness.

Peace,

Cynthia

Darfur

Darfur is a place and subject which is either in the forefront of your mind or placed in the far recesses of it out of sheer choice to preserve your sanity. The unfathomable atrocities that are being committed by humans against their fellow beings is something that you don't want to stay fixed in your mind's eye for too long. Unfortunately,it must be acknowledged in order to be resolved and an end put to it.

Protest Songs:Sing Up!

"A Wish for Peace" by Peppita Selles As today's inspiration,I thought it would be great to make a joyful noise in celebration and praise of the freedom to vote,to speak our minds and to protest. While at it,you might want to check up on the Voting Rights Amendment news or register to vote yourself,if you have not done so already. The right to vote did not come easily.It was hard fought.So was the right to speak freely and responsibly.Often,people have given their lives so that we could have the freedom to express ourselves without fear of reprisal,retaliation or execution. Follow the link below to an article on a MySpace blog originally copied from the archives of the "Heavier Octaves High Notes" Blogzine which was published on April 24,2006.It contains Heavier Octaves' top pics from Mojo Magazine's Top 100 Protest Song List of all time.Find it at the Heavier Octaves MySpace blog here.Some new songs have been added as well from recent times,including Alicia Keys and Bono "Don't Give Up Africa",Stevie Wonder and India Irie's "Time To Love" and John Mayer's "Belief". In addition,a link has been provided to a sample of each song listed.You can find complete versions of most songs at the itunes music store.Just click on the link. Now go ahead and pump up the volume. As you sing and/or dance to the music,send out good vibrations and prayers to those areas of society or the globe for that matter,that you feel need to be lifted up for positive change. Enjoy. Peace, Cynthia

www.heavieroctaves.org: Radio Program Update

http://heavieroctaves.blogspot.com/2004/09/radio-program-update.html