March 2011

New Threat to Gulf residents: Radioactive wastewater from natural gas industry dumped off Louisiana coast

Secret industry study cites “significant risks” of cancer for people who regularly eat fish from Gulf waters.  By Stuart Smith and Mary Lee Orr. More details at: http://oilspillaction.com/ [...Read more]

Bridge The Gulf's picture
Bridge The Gulf

As Dolphins Die, Gulf Restoration Task Force Takes Heat

In the Gulf, record numbers of dead baby dolphins are washing onto the shores of Mississippi and Alabama, creating frightening spectacles for families and their kids prowling the beaches. Tourists are bewildered by scientists slicing tissue samples from the lifeless baby mammals. [...Read more]

Rocky Kistner's picture
Rocky Kistner

Garden for Life

When Coastal Women for Change first thought about doing a community garden, I was very skeptical. For one thing I have never grown anything before. For another, I have never grown anything before (lol).  But once I thought about it in depth,  I was on board with both feet in.  [...Read more]

Sharon Hanshaw's picture
Sharon Hanshaw

Homelessness and me

My name is Linda Jeffers. At the age of 59 years and 11 months, I became homeless for the second time in five years. My employment ended and I was not able to continue with my financial commitments.  I was forced to move in with a friend. [...Read more]

Linda Jeffers's picture
Linda Jeffers

New health survey: Nearly 3/4 of those exposed to BP oil and dispersants report symptoms

By Shannon Dosemagen, Louisiana Bucket Brigade.  On Monday, February 28th, the National Institute for Environmental Health Services began sending letters to clean-up workers from the BP oil disaster, in anticipation of enrolling people in a multi-year study to examine the effects of exposure on health. [...Read more]

Bridge The Gulf's picture
Bridge The Gulf

Gulf Coast restoration task force hearing showcases residents' distrust

Bridge The Gulf's picture
Bridge The Gulf

Family, supporters rally to bring justice for Billey Joe Johnson Jr.

Last Saturday in Lucedale, Mississippi, supporters and family of Billey Joe Johnson Jr. called for an end to the “Jim Crow ‘justice’” that left this young black man dead in the hands of the local police department. [...Read more]

Ada McMahon's picture
Ada McMahon

Call for letters from the Gulf

There will soon be a series of meetings with congressional leaders by a delegation of Gulf Coast citizens concerning the affects now being experienced in the Gulf of Mexico with regards to the 2010 Gulf Oil Catastrophe.

We ask that all interested and compassionate people, on and beyond the Gulf Coast, please submit a one page letter regarding their personal experiences with this event, as well as possible solutions and/or demands in relation to it.

Please focus one or more of the following issues when writing your letter:

Dispersant Use [...Read more]

Cherri Foytlin's picture
Cherri Foytlin

Death of a Dolphin Sparks Anger in the Gulf

Capt Lori DeAngelis runs a boating business called Dolphin Queen Cruises, which ferries tourists in Orange Beach, AL, to see pods of dolphins at play in the Gulf. Capt Lori reveres dolphins. In fact, she used to be licensed to handle the federally protected mammals.

“They are like kin to us,” she says.

The BP oil disaster put a huge dent in Capt Lori’s dolphin-watching business, but now it’s personal. Recently she watched over a young adult male dolphin that had washed up on the sandy shores of Orange Beach, lying motionless with its mouth agape. [...Read more]

Rocky Kistner's picture
Rocky Kistner

Walk the Walk – to Washington, D.C.

As you know, on March 12, in Westwego, LA at the Farmers Market we will be hosting an event in which we hope to honor those who have been working in the Gulf on behalf of the people and environment, with booths available for people to obtain information and get help with needs surrounding the spill and to join in fellowship surrounding some great music. You will find the link to that event here[...Read more]

Cherri Foytlin's picture
Cherri Foytlin

Resident talks about dispersants sprayed near Coden, Alabama

Bridge The Gulf's picture
Bridge The Gulf

Discussing homelessness at the Ozanam Inn

Last month, I sat down with my friend Clarence Adams Sr. to discuss the current state of homelessness in New Orleans, LA.  Mr. Adams is currently the Administrator at Ozanam Inn, a homeless shelter for men, where he has worked for the past sixteen years. In this video, Mr Adams discusses the definition of "homeless," and the way Ozanam works to make homeless people Whole from a holistic perspective, including programs that go beyond just serving meals. [...Read more]

Linda Jeffers's picture
Linda Jeffers

Gulf spill sickness wrecking lives

Nearly a year after the oil disaster began, Gulf Coast residents are sick, and dying from BP's toxic chemicals. By Dahr Jamail, Al Jazeera. [...Read more]

Bridge The Gulf's picture
Bridge The Gulf

Life and death on Big Oil's fence line

By Sue Sturgis, Facing South. The environmental destruction caused by Louisiana's oil industry did not begin with the BP disaster, and a visit to the town of Norco 25 miles west of New Orleans powerfully illustrates that reality. [...Read more]

Bridge The Gulf's picture
Bridge The Gulf

Gulf Mom Threatened by Oil Disaster Walks the Walk to DC

Cherri Foytlin is a Mom on a mission. She was pained by the 11 men killed on the Deepwater Horizon rig, devastated by the thick globs of Louisiana crude that invaded her shores, and saddened by the heartbreaking stories of fishermen whose livelihoods were put on hold. [...Read more]

Rocky Kistner's picture
Rocky Kistner

Speaking Out Against Louisiana's "Crime Against Nature" Law

Justice Department Report, Released Today, Calls Louisiana's "Crime Against Nature" Law Discriminatory [...Read more]

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Jordan Flaherty

Day Five update from The Road to Washington

Cherri Foytlin's picture
Cherri Foytlin

Oil Spill Reported Near Deepwater Drilling Site in Gulf

Photo update: pictures of the oil slick are now coming in.

The Coast Guard is investigating reports of a potentially large oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico not far from the Deepwater Horizon site. According to a knowledgeable source, the slick was sighted by a helicopter pilot on Friday and is about 100 miles long. A fishing boat captain said he went through the slick yesterday and it was strong enough to make his eyes burn. [...Read more]

Rocky Kistner's picture
Rocky Kistner

Fresh Oil Continues to Wash Ashore in the Bayou

Fresh Louisiana crude washed into the beaches and dock areas near Grand Isle over the weekend, creating a sickening sight for the residents of this oil battered region. [...Read more]

Rocky Kistner's picture
Rocky Kistner

Notes from the Road

Well, the walk is well under way and I have been wanting to write to you all and tell you the wonderful things that have been happening, as well as the discouraging things I have learned. Until now I just have been too pooped to pop.
 
First thing is that I have seen some wonderous and amazing things. We have a beautiful country.
  [...Read more]

Cherri Foytlin's picture
Cherri Foytlin