New Orleans True Video

10.5 min. ~ Download iPod ~ Bandwidth Challenged embedding options here or U2B The 1st Common Ground Relief owned facility in New Orleans has been dedicated to Anita Roddick, recently deceased owner of the Body Shop and Champion of Humanitarian and Civil Rights issues world wide. The dedication ceremony took place next to where the barge landed in the lower 9th ward and features Malik Rahim, CoFounder of Common Ground Collective; Sakura Kone, media relations director of Common Ground Collective; The Rebirth Brass Band, The Revolution 2nd Line and Fiyaya. Related Links ::: Common Ground Relief, Anita Roddick, Angola 3 Discuss PermaLink

19 min. ~ Download iPod ~ Full Screen ~ Bandwidth Challenged ~
embed it from Revver, BlipTV or U2B ~
The Bio Liberty relief / redevelopment camp in Slidell Louisiana is pioneering sustainable, off the grid, weather resistant and affordable housing solutions for the hurricane ravaged Gulf Coast region. The property itself was a landing/launching pad for numerous groups of grassroots hurricane relief workers and is now being developed as a model for Solar, Geothermal and BioDiesel powered communities.

Related Links ::: Bio Liberty, Plenty International, Common Ground Collective, Emergency Communities, H.A.W.C., Cultural Warrior, Mr. Dibbs, About Mobile Broadcast News

Click Image to Download the VIDEO 32 mgs 9 minutes
(please be patient - it may take a minute to download)

New Orleans ~ Post-Katrina Populist Funk
SPECIAL SHOWING: Modern Museum of Art, NYC Documentary Fortnight, February 21, ‘07 at 8PM.

Third World Newsreel is proud to announce that our Katrina Chronicles Series has been invited to MoMA’s prestigious Documentary Fortnight this coming month of February 2007. The Katrina Chronicles Series features short documentaries about the city and people of New Orleans in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
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Katrina Chronicles Series

PEOPLE SAY:
>Disastrous Hurricanes, maritial law & curfews, housing crisis, toxic earth, closed schools and hospitals, abandoned elders, centuries of festering racism, a neo-police state… while the “New” New Orleans struggles to survive and exist outside of the the American illusion of democracy, the most dynamic grass roots efforts in the country claim the streets, deliver food, celebrate, build homes and tell the truth in this visual collage set to the song “People Say” by the legendary Nola band, the funky Meters.

This is no Red Cross special:

Fight For Your Rights & Please Support Self-Determaination and Equality for the Gulf South and all Peoples.

Related Links ::: Common Ground Collective, People’s Hurricane Relief Fund & Oversight Coalition, N.O. H.E.A.T., Resource Action Group, Mary Queen of Vietnam ChurchMississippi Muslim Association, NOAH Coalition, Hip Hop Caucus, People’s Institute for Survival & Beyond

“This insightful video montage embodies the full range of images, sights and emotions which followed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It also depicts the people’s hope, compassion and commitment to the city of New Orleans.
Mary Beth Black, 2005, 5 minutes” ~ Third World Newsreel

N.O. EAST ~ also by M.B.Black
Two months after Hurricane Katrina destroyed their homes and communities, residents of New Orleans East are willing to rebuild their neighborhood with the support of city and federal agencies. But there is no water or electricity in New Orleans East and politicians promoting the rebuilding of the city forget to include this poor neighborhood in their grand plans. In this call for help, black and Vietnamese residents voice their concerns while they also try to return back home with the help of grassroots community organizations.
Mary Beth Black, 2005, 10 minutes

Also showing, more videos about post-Katrina New Orleans:

FINDING COMMON GROUND IN NEW ORLEANS
In this short documentary, activist and poet Walidah Imarisha travels to New Orleans and other neighboring towns shortly after Hurricane Katrina devastated the area. In her path she encounter grassroots organizations like Common Ground and Soul Patrol that were formed in response to the government’s failure to manage evacuation and relief efforts before, during and after the hurricane. She also finds Camp Amtrak, a makeshift jail and court room at an old bus station where inmates are sentenced to community service. Finally, she meets people in neighboring towns that are still waiting for FEMA to pays them a visit. Through interviews with residents, activists and city officials, Imarisha succinctly captures the pain, loss and hope of the people of New Orleans.
Walidah Imarisha, 2006, 23 minutes

I WON’T DROW IN THAT LEVEE AND YOU AIN’T GOING TO BREAK MY BACK
This short documentary began with an invitation to travel to New Orleans as part of a delegation to investigate what actually happened at the Orleans Parish Prison during and after Hurricane Katrina. What came up was not only a botched and deadly evacuation of the prison, but a broader climate of racial tension and brutality throughout the local and Federal response to the disaster, where the population was divided into survivors and looters along lines of race

Mr. Ollie Jackson, 85 year old New Orleans East Senior Citizen who stayed during hurricanes Katrina and Rita with no government aid for 5 months and counting.
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UPDATE: January 18, 2007
SCREENING at the Modern Museum of Art, NYC Documentary Fortnight February 2007 W/ other New Orleans shorts sponsored by Third World Newsreel

UPDATE: February 1, 2006

Mr. Ollie Jackson is living in the same circumstances in New Orleans East, without electricity and drinking water. His health is worsening and he needs heart medication and medical care. He does not have transportation, a telephone, mail delivery and he cannot read or write. He still needs assistance accessing his benefits and the relief due to him as well as finding safe housing in his community. To provide support for Mr. Ollie, please contact: holographicferriswheel@yahoo.com.

New Orleans East: October & November 2005

New Orleans East is a large part of New Orleans and totally flooded and devastated by Hurricane Katrina. This predominantly African-American and Southeast Asian community to this day remains in the shadows of house-high piles of trash and waste. Utities, including water and electricity, are intermittant - if at all, and residents openly ask for recognition and aid. Some community elders, who stayed since the hurricane, remain without governmental aid, including contact with Red Cross or FEMA. Neighbors and community members are the first responders, with relief support from grass roots organizations and the Mary Queen of Vietnam Church, which drew thousands of Versailles community members from Houston and other evacuee areas to its re-opening in October.

This video documents some of these voices and the relief efforts of Resource Action Group

Related Links ::: Resource Action Group

Click Image to Download the VIDEO, please be patient: video is 40 MG, 42 minutes .mov quicktime.

VOICES OF THE EVICTED follow-up information:

Thanks to the Louisburg Square apartment tenants, the hotel residents, and the housing rights activists who support displaced residents and human rights. Thanks also to the Peoples Video Network & Glass Bead Collective for supporting this video.

LOUISBURG SQUARE APARTMENT EVICTIONS:

The tenants still residing at Louisburg Square Apartment were ordered to vacate by court order of Jefferson Parish Civil Court Justice of Peace Wiltie, final exit date the end of December 2005. Tenants Rights activist Jeremy Prickett reports that protest actions by the Boston Tenants Coalition against Trustee of LES Realty Trust, Inc., which owns Louisburg Square Apartments, Leonard J. Samia in Boston prompted him to agree to offer displaced tenants their old apartments after remodeling at the old price. No agreement has been made to compensate tenants whose belongings were thrown in the streets.

HOTEL EVICTIONS, NEW ORLEANS:

92 Hotels in the greater new Orleans area have contracts to accept residents displaced from their homes who have been issued hotel vouchers paid for by FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency). Housing Rights advocates are in negotiations with the Decatur Hotel Group, which owns the Cotton Exchange Hotel and others, to allow tenants to stay until the FEMA deadline of February 6, 2006. The Decatur Hotel Group receives payment from FEMA for 1800 rooms in 11 hotels which have been dedicated to receive payment for FEMA voucher hotel rooms for displaced New Orleans residents; although definite numbers of displaced residents with vouchers or of total area hotel rooms paid for by FEMA are not available, activists estimate that the Decatur Hotel Group statistics to be representative of the other 81 hotels.

After pickets and court injunctions by eviction defense activists, Decatur Hotel Group owner Frank Quinn voluntarily agreed to maintain housing for people with FEMA hotel vouchers until February 7th; however, as of January 28th, 2006, the Decatur Group and Frank Quinn have not returned phone calls to attorney Tracey Washington. Tracey Washington is a leading attorney who advocates on behalf of tenants and migrant workers and represents the displaced residents in hotel issues in the federal case McWaters vs. FEMA.
LAWSUIT STATS:
McWaters vs. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
McWaters v. Federal Emergency Management Agency , No. 2:05-cv-5488 (E.D. La. January 12, 2005) [Clearinghouse Number 55,992]
www.povertylaw.org/legalresearch/cases/

When grass roots housing rights advocates from Common Ground were asked if they were in negotiations with FEMA representatives as well about housing for the displaced residents, they reported that they did not have access to decision makers within the agency about the issues of evictions.

These Housing Rights activists also report that hotels are turning away people w/ FEMA vouchers. As more people return to the region, the residents in need of housing with vouchers are estimated to outnumber of rooms available. And as Mardi Gras approaches, an influx of tourists puts greater demands on the economically powerful Hotel industry, which journalist Rebecca Mowbray describes as a “logistical nightmare” which could make thousands homeless in days in an article for the Times Picayune posted at nola.com:
nola.com Rebecca Mowery Times Picayune article
“But for hotels in Orleans and Jefferson parishes, which, according to FEMA, have evacuees staying in about 4,900 of their 22,000 rooms, the ruling could be a disaster”. “Court is scheduled to resume Feb. 23. The case is Beatrice B. McWaters et al v. Federal Emergency Management Agency”
(”Storm victims can stay put in hotels: Inns put in bind as Carnival nears” Friday, January 13, 2006 by Rebecca Mowbray, business writer: rmowbray@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3417).

In New York City, the final date given for FEMA vouchered hotel rooms for evacuees of hurricanes Katrina and Rita is March 6, 2006. Tens of thousands of displaced residents of the Gulf South who cannot return home, have not been supported in returning home, or have no more home to return to, stay in hotel rooms paid for by FEMA around the country. Uncertain futures and another circumstance of homelessness face thousands of hurricane survivors.

SCOUT ISLAND, CITY PARK, NEW ORLEANS:

Peoples Hurricane Relief Fund has been supporting Scout Island migrant workers in advocating on behalf of migrant worker rights and better living conditions and placing the camp’s tenants’ demands before City Park officials and contracted management. PHRF Scout Island report

The Apaches paid “a white woman” who had come to the White Mountain Reservation to solicit labor, money to bring them to New Orleans with a promise of work and housing. She kept their money and left them at City Park without paying the rent for their camp site or returning to arrange work. Peoples Hurricane Relief Fund helped negotiate rent and conditions for the Apaches with City Park officials.

Vie Kessay spoke with Tiokasin Ghosthorse about the Apache camp in New Orleans, how the Apache Nation members came to work in New Orleans and what their living and working conditions are like on WBAI’s “Wake-up Call” in New York on Friday, January 27th, 2006. She also said that many of the Apache Nation members camped at City Park are returning to the reservation. In January (19th or 20th), Storm Force Inc., the contracted Scout Island camp management tried to break up a meeting between tenants and organziers and stop press recording. Over the weekend, the Apache Nation camp was relocated to another part of City Park, “under an overpass”, reported Vie Kessay of the Apache nation. Apache Elmer Rolland Jr. was reported arrested on Thursday January 12th by members of his family. Family and legal assistance have not been able to locate him in the prison system, and he has not been heard from since.

HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT:
Self-determination and collective and social well-being is essential to democracy. Please support the housing rights of all people, all peoples’ right to return home, and the re-opening of public schools in New Orleans.

CONTACT HOUSING RIGHTS ACTIVISTS IN NEW ORLEANS:

To reach Housing Rights activists in New Orleans regarding public housing defense, housing rights advocates and eviction defense, please contact: Loyola Law Clinic Katrina Help
additionally, Attorney Tracey Washington represents many tenants rights in these issues and the Mississippi Workers Rights Alliance provides support of eviction defense as well. Jennifer Lai of the Peoples Hurricane Relief Fund and other volunteer law students are also involved in supporting migrant worker and tenants rights. The Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance (MIRA) works on behalf of immigrant workers rights throughout the Gulf South Region. about Mississippi Rights Alliance

Related Links ::: Common Ground Collective, N.O. H.E.A.T., People’s Hurricane Relief Fund & Oversight Coalition

Click Image to Download the VIDEO 41 mgs 25 minutes
Here’s a Bandwidth Challenged Version 7.5 mgs

The Four Directions Relief Project was started in early October in recognition that the Native American communities of storm ravaged southern Louisiana remained under-served and in urgent need of relief efforts. Despite the immense pride and independence of these communities, Katrina and Rita created an intense burden on the people, and storm assistance was requested.

Four Directions was organized to help gain both short and long term storm relief, working in solidarity and respect for the pride of local communities, and the preservation of their cultures. Working in solidarity with tribal leaders, Four Directions was formed by community organizer/spiritual activist Naomi Archer and medic Dave Pike who had been working on the ground in southern Louisiana building the innovative mutual-aid relief work of Common Ground in Algiers.

Between October 2005 and January 2006, Four Directions, in collaboration with our tribal partners, NGO partners, and a very limited number of volunteers facilitated: * 27 tons of food and material aid collected and distributed * 1600+ volunteer hours in the community * 8 home repair projects including 2 emergency housing projects for homeless families * 30 classroom teaching kits to the most damaged elementary schools * 26 large and small appliances bought and distributed * 2 tons + of trash collected * 1200+ holiday meals distributed * Stories, interviews or links in 20+ native, commercial, and independent media outlets

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I spent a great deal of time doun de bayou in Chauvin the last couple of months in Louisiana. Much love & respect to the Courteaux’s for allowing me to hang around , mostly working on other projects from the Wonder Pod Satelite internet hook up, camping at the Volunteer Center. It was magical … as long as you had bug spray. The locals have systematically developed their natural defense to the mosquitos by feeding children increasing doses of a local berry… Unprepared volunteers however, often ran, flapping & screaming across the yard.

During the first weeks after Hurricane Katrina I followed my friend Naomi’s blog and wished I could be there, she kept me interested in coming to New Orleans.. even though I was sure I’d missed it all. How ridiculus to think it was all over in November. 6 months later and New Orleans is truely a thing of the past, most of the coastal communities are STILL completely wiped out and some have just begun to return … it’s STILL long from “over”.

Related Links ::: Four Directions Solidarity Network, Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw of Louisiana, Sustainability Research & Education Project, Plenty International, Islamic Relief, Hurricane Autonomous Workers Collective, Seventh Generation, National Relief Charities, New Orleans Voices for Peace

technorati tags ~ four directions solidarity network, FEMA, Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, Red Cross

Watch the video 27 minutes - 70 mgs - QuickTime
Here’s a super Big Phat Version 207 mgs
Here’s a Crappy Bandwidth Challenged Version 8 mgs RealPlayer

When considering the rebuilding of New Orleans, every issue eventually boils down to housing. Housing for those who’ve evacuated, housing for those who’ve returned, housing for contractors …

Evacuees are growing weary of getting jerked around with no real long term solutions being offered. Meanwhile the city is attempting to close down most of the Public Housing Developments in New Orleans even though they recieved VERY LITTLE damage. Landlords have been getting in on the act by throwing tenants property into the street, breaking leases and jacking the rent up on the profiteers that are dividing up New Orleans like Haliburton is dividing up Baghdad. This is a fine example of how perverse it is to put Profit over People.

This video includes interviews from evacuees in NY and those who’ve returned to New Orleans. This issue is currently effecting the lives of thousands of people and it’s still not too late to help put pressure where it needs to be put to force the goverenment to deal with these people properly.

Related Links ::: Katrina Action, N.O. H.E.A.T., On the Ground, Common Ground Collective, Community Labor United, Kahvi, Ben Frank, The Katrina Files

What You Need To Know About Your Government in Times of Crisis

Click Image to Download the VIDEO 61 mgs 15 minutes
Here’s a Big Phat Version 121 mgs
Here’s a Crappy Bandwidth Challenged Version 5 mgs RealPlayerThis video started out as a simple little “let’s show this guy’s story” kinda piece and turned into a scathing expose of what people can expect from government endorsed relief efforts in time of crisis. Arrested for art, threatened with arrest for helping people, spending all your own money to help others because Red Cross was Not Allowed, lying to retain rights that are inalienable to Free People, government corruption and inexplainable lack of competence from those who are suppose to be helping the survivors. Please stop giving your “cash contributions” to organizations that will waste your money. Donate to grass roots relief efforts where the money will be used to help people.

Related Links ::: Toxic Art, l’art noir new orleans, Get Your Act On!, Karmagrrrl, David Leeson, Storm Chaser Video, Remote Area Medical, DONATE HERE

Click Image to Download the IPOD Friendly VIDEO 28 mgs 6 minutes
Here’s a Regular QuickTime 22 megs &
Here’s a Big Phat Version 46 mgs

One day I was hanging around taking it easy in my sandals when I was abruptly taken on a moldy house tour with a couple of Volunteer Animal Rescue Workers. That was the last day I wore sandals in New Orleans.

This is my first attempt to satisfy the IPOD. I don’t have one and all I get with that format is digital gibberish. So somebody, please tell me if the ipod encoding is working.

Common Ground Volunteers Gut Newest Free Clinic in the 9th Ward
Click Image to Download the VIDEO 24 mgs 13 minutes

Please Support Free Health Clinics in New Orleans
& the development of a Women’s Health Center

With the closing of New Orleans famous public Charity Hospital and numerous small neighborhood clinics and public health care facilities, and with the displacement of thousands of workers who made city health services run on a day to day, bedpan to bedpan basis, many of the residents who found their way back to post-Hurricane New Orleans also found themselves without access to any health care whatsoever; in particular, services for women, like battered women’s shelters, birthcontrol, abortion access and prenatal care are inaccessible to many. However, Common Ground Free Clinics are growing in a local and national combined effort of volunteerism to serve the under and unserved residents whose health needs have increased while services have disappeared.

“After Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans, the humanitarian disaster followed exacerbated by existing poverty, racism and the scandalous emergency response and relief operations. Malik Rahima and Sharon Johnson - community activists in Algiers put a call out for a progressive response and for emergency medics to run a first aid station and help develop a permanent health clinic.” (commongroundrelief.org) And so began Common Ground’s Free Health Clinic in the space of a donated mosque in the Algiers neighborhood of Orleans Parish, just across the river from downtown New Orleans.

This week (and ongoing), teams of volunteers from around the country converge to gut a donated house in the flood-devastated 9th Ward area of New Orleans and build another free clinic while simultaneously, the city of New Orleans responds to the devastion by claiming eminent domain over thousands of homes in the Lower 9th Ward and prepares to bulldoze these homes without proper notification or participation from residents. Hundreds of volunteers from around the country and from within the local community have come together in New Orleans to spend time gutting and building clinics from the ground up, serving patients and organizing to make these clinics happen.

Here is an update on the common ground free clinics with Ellen Catalinotto, volunteer nurse mid-wife at the Algiers Health Clinic. A special needs request to build the Women’s Health Centers is included. For extensive information regarding donating resources, volunteering and credentialling, and for more about the context and history of the clinic and common ground relief, please go to: http://www.commongroundrelief.org/2005/10/info_for_volunteers_at_common.html

Women’s Center Needs Request:
-gynocological exam tables
-autoclaves
-teaching and educational aids for breast exams, gyn, pregnancy, abortion etc.
-medication samples
-bcps, iuds, cervical caps, diaphragms
-lights
-basic examining room equipment
-safe place for battered and at risk women
-monetary donations
-microscope & lab equipment for testing
-pregnancy tests, pap tests, std tests
-speculums and other gyn instruments
-volunteer staff

www.commongroundrelief.org
contact: healthalgiers@yahoo.com
(504)717-6561
P.O. Box 741801
New Orleans, LA 70174-1801

Related Links ::: Common Ground Collective

Click Image to Download the VIDEO 36 mgs 10 minutes
Here’s a Big Phat Version 73 mgs

Skeleton Chief Al Morris was illegally evicted from his New Orleans home by Igor Margan. Igor and his employee’s are in possession of Chief Al’s personal property and tools, severely limiting his ability to earn a living. This is not an isolated incident; many more are being illegally evicted in their absence. In this case, Chief Al never left and helped many survive.
This is a direct action case video.

Boycott Igor Margan’s businesses.
Check Point Charlie’s and adjoining tattoo Shop,
Igor’s, Garlic Clove, Buddha Belly & Lucky’s

Related Links ::: What’s a Skeleton Chief?,
Common Ground Relief, N.O. H.E.A.T., On the Ground