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Covenant of Compassion - Issue No. 20 With an emphasis on justice, long term disaster recovery on the U. S. Gulf Coast continues Dear Disaster Recovery Participant: As our list grows of those wanting to receive these up-dates on the United Church of Christ disaster recovery efforts in New Orleans, we invite others who may not have had the chance to physically participate in rebuilding in New Orleans but who are participating through educating people and inspiring advocacy efforts to send us your name and e-mail address so we can add you to this list. Please send your contact information to Diane Dicken at dickend@ucc.org. Because we have new people now receiving these up-dates, we point you again to a historical piece and call for advocacy written by UCC member, John Pecoul, titled Beyond Katrina: A Call for United Church of Christ Awareness and Action. It was written in September of 2005, soon after the hurricanes. Up-dates on levees, environmental issues and avenues of action are available through the "Gulf Restoration Network" http://www.healthygulf.org. The Gulf Restoration Network is a diverse network of local, regional, and national groups and individuals dedicated to protecting and restoring the valuable resources of the Gulf of Mexico. The GRN has members in the five Gulf states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. The justice issues surrounding rebuilding in New Orleans have long history and many layers. The following bibliography points to resources to better equip ourselves to participate effectively in a LONG and JUST Rebuilding. If you know of other resources that will be helpful in continuing efforts of education on issues in the region, please let me know at blaufusm@ucc.org. Thanks. These resources are part of other materials sent to group leaders by e-mail when your group registered as a disaster recovery work grouping New Orleans. You can find that orientation booklet on-line in printable format: www.ucc.org/volunteer. From Group Leaders' Guide, Orientation Materials for Disaster Recovery in New Orleans, South Central Conference, United Church of Christ: Preparation is More Than Packing Your Suitcase You are a very important part of the recovery effort in New Orleans. You have gifts and skills to share and your physical presence on the Gulf Coast at this time is tremendously important for helping people rebuild their lives and keep hope alive. You will gain more from the experience and you will be empowered to be an even greater help to those affected by this disaster both during and after your trip, with your commitment to prepare beforehand and to spend time in reflection during and after the experience. What follows in this section are materials to assist you in this preparation and reflection. Many of the highlighted issues of justice are interrelated. The background information here offers perspectives on various struggles confronting people of New Orleans before the Hurricanes of 2005; which were intensified by the disaster and now take on new immediacy. a. The Storm (1) Visit http://www.nola.com/katrina/graphics/flashflood.swf for an interactive graphic of the flooding of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. The Times Picayune, the major newspaper of New Orleans provides this resource. (2) Read " New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina, and the Aftermath" by Michael Fermanis. This paper was written in September/October of 2005 and outlines the storm and some of the historical factors that affected the breadth of damage. b. Historical Context (1) Read the book Rising Tide by John M. Barry. This gives important historical context to dynamics of the Mississippi River Valley that affect the 2005 disaster in New Orleans. (John M. Barry, Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How it Changed America, New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997.) (2) Read the book Disaster: Hurricane Katrina and the Failure of Homeland Security by Christopher Cooper and Robert Block. This is a post-Katrina look at circumstances and decisions made at all levels that contributed to the disaster. c. Levees Read the essay on levees written by John Pecoul "Beyond Katrina: A Call for United Church of Christ Awareness and Action." d. Race Pastor, Manuel, Robert D. Bullard, James K. Boyce, Alice Fothergill, Rachel Morello-Frosch, Beverly Wright. "In the Wake of the Storm: Environment, Disaster, and Race After Katrina." New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 2006. Order copies from the Russell Sage Foundation, 112 East 64th Street, New York, NY 10021. e. Environment Visit http://www.leanweb.org for news of the Louisiana Environmental Action Network with which the United Church of Christ is partnering on safety issues for Louisiana residents and volunteers. Visit http://www.healthygulf.org for initiatives on restoring the environment of the Gulf Coast. f. Education Read "Public Education in New Orleans In the Aftermath of Katrina." by Jan Resseger, Minister for Public Education and Witness, UCC. Message on Public Education 2007, United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries. Available at http://www.ucc.org/justice/pdfs/jwm_publiceducation.pdf. For printed copies, contact Jan Resseger, ressegerj@ucc.org Read "New Orleans Pledges to Educate Children on Waiting Lists" by Jan Resseger Minister for Public Education and Witness, UCC, Witness for Justice #307, February 12, 2007. Read Dismantling a Community by the Center for Community Change. This article addresses the reinvention of public education in New Orleans. Several students enrolled in the Students at the Center program at New Orleans' Frederick Douglass High School write about their experience of education, their experience of the public's perception of their high school, their experience of being displaced, and in some cases, their experience of return to community and school. Available at: http://communitychange.org/issues/education/publications/downloads/DismantlingFULL.pdf Rev. Mary Schaller Blaufuss |
• Copyright © 2007 First Congregational Church |
