08.29.10 - 5 Years and 2 Tragedies Later

Five years ago today, Hurricane Katrina made landfall and the levees of New Orleans were breached. The Crescent City was submerged and communities across the Gulf Coast braced themselves against the storm and floodwaters. We heard about the displacement, the homes and lives lost, and we watched as men, women, and children struggled, hungry, ill, and left wanting. We learned (or were reminded) what a vital ecological and economic resource the Gulf Coast is for our country, and what a cultural treasure New Orleans is to the world.

Over time, attention and energy in coastal communities eventually turned from rescue and recovery to rebuilding and re-visioning. People began to return, homes were rebuilt, pride restored. And yet five years later much work remains to be done. Rampant homelessness, blight and abandoned neighborhoods, a neglected environment: these are just a few of the obstacles that must still be overcome. Add to that the devastating BP oil spill that ravaged the coast again in early 2010. Here we watched as millions of gallons of crude oil gushed into the ocean - the equivalent of nearly 8 Exxon-Valdez oil spills - as questionable toxic chemical dispersants were likewise spilled into the waters, as fisherpeople and their families struggled to make ends meet without being able to work during one of their busiest seasons, and as birds, turtles and other wildlife were smothered in oil.

Just how much more neglect and how many more risky ventures can the Gulf Coast take? We hope that despite dwindling media coverage, you'll take a moment today to remember the Gulf Coast, to reflect on all that has happened, and to support efforts to rebuild. Here are a few ideas to get you started…

-Watch Gulf Restoration Network's Gulf Tides video series

-Read about how Indigenous Ecuadorean Leaders, who have long been affected by Chevron's oil exploits, met with Gulf Coast Native communities to learn from each other and to share their experiences.
Photo essay
Sharing
Lessons Learned in the Amazon

- Read No "Home Sweet Home"

- Remember that natural and economic disasters affect family pets too

-Purchase and listen to "Dear New Orleans," a benefit compilation supporting NOLA & the Gulf. Indigo Girls contributed their song, "Kid Fears"

A Few Good Resources
By no means is this list exhaustive but the following groups are just a sample of those doing some amazing on-the-ground work on the Gulf Coast. Some we've been following since Hurricane Katrina and others we just learned about from some activist friends organizing around the BP oil spill. We hope you'll take a peek at their websites and consider supporting them in whatever way you are able. The Gulf Coast needs our attention now more than ever as the communities continue to recover, rebuild, and move forward into the future.
Common Ground Relief
Gulf Future
Gulf Restoration Network
Moving Forward Gulf Coast
Search and Rescue Five Years Later: Saving People Still Trapped in Katrina's Ruins
Signs of Life in New Orleans
Sweet Home New Orleans
Unity of Greater New Orleans

© 2010 Indigo Girls. All rights reserved.