Read This
Pearlington Living, September 2005. Bedrooms on the left, kitchen in the middle, living room on the right, bathroom out back, in the woods. That’s my mom kneeling on the right, trying to comfort one of the ladies.
Operation Eden is a blog by Clayton James Cubitt, who bills it as “A personal chronicle of what hurricane Katrina has done to my poor proud people.”
From his bio: ‘Clayton James Cubitt’s mom was a teenage runaway, go-go dancing at a club on bourbon street in new orleans. his dad was a canadian national running pot over the border from mexico. they met, married, and moved to los angeles, conceiving him on the trip in the back of a vw bus at dinosaur national park in utah. now he takes pictures and lives in brooklyn. he grew up in new orleans and the gulf coast, where his family still lives. He is also known as siege, and all of these images originally appeared on his photo journal for Nerve.com’
If you want to know how the Katrina recovery plan is going take a look. It isn’t going at all – an entire region of people has been plunged into poverty, homelesness, ill-health and despair, if they weren’t there already. If they were, then well, they can just go to hell as far as the Bush administration is concerned. Now the winter is coming on : even those in homes face crippling utility bills due to rising oil-prices ( and the new bankruptcy laws will prevent any ordinary individual ever getting out from under crippling fuel debts) .
Many people in Pearlington, Mississippi have been roughing it for 51 days now. 51 days. The first Gulf War was fought and won in less time. We flew men to the moon and returned them to Earth in less time.
Many of the church groups who had been coming through and helping are now gone. Americorps is there. But most of the people who are helping now, they’re just regular individuals, like you and me. They’re helping distribute aid when it comes in. They’re helping people clear trees, in case the mythical FEMA trailers ever show up. Here’s what’s needed in Pearlington right now, as of today, 51 days later: (read more after the jump)
–Food, non-perishable. MREs are still available, but they’re worried that could end soon and want to begin stocking up for the winter. They particularly need hearty meals, like stews. They’re working hard all day, and need a lot of protein.
–Packaged socks and underwear (all sizes)
–Daily toiletries, like deodorant, shaving cream and razors, and soap (including laundry soap)
–Daily staples like coffee, sugar, salt, pepper
–Towels, all sizes
–Trash bags
–Paper towels and toilet paper
–Cleaning supplies
–Work gloves
–Chain saws
–Rakes, shovels, and yard tools
–Volunteers, volunteers, volunteers. They have a big tent set up for you. Don’t go to Disneyland. Go to Katrinaland. It’s the vacation you’ll never forget, I guarantee
“We are amazed but not amused by all the things you say that you’ll do
We’re much concerned but not involved with decsions that are made by you
But we are sick and tired of hearing your song
tellin how you’re gonna change right from wrong
Cause if you really want to hear our views
You haven’t done nothin”
