Rebuilding After Katrina
Pagan author and activist Starhawk and the Pagan Cluster are in New Orleans helping with rebuilding efforts.
“Part of the Cluster is helping at the Common Ground Clinic in Algiers and setting up a Recovery Clinic in the 9th District. The rest of the Cluster plans to help the Houma people around Dulac with general clean-up and reconstruction, and perhaps some permaculture-inspired projects. Many Cluster members will be in Louisiana until mid-October, with several staying through the month and possibly later.” – The Pagan Cluster web site
Starhawk’s latest report touches on the racial and class issues that have permeated the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina.
“Racism is like the black mold eating away at the long-submerged houses. It permeates everything, and it spreads, corrupting everything in its path. The police, the slow and neglectful response of officials, the differing values placed on human life according to color and class. So often, it’s below the surface, lurking as spores of privilege, a deeply unconscious sense of entitlement, or lack. But the floods have wet everything down, and now it is visible, and growing. Unchecked, it destroys strong foundations and sturdy structures?and that what we?ve seen happen here, some of the basic structures of government, of simple human decency, collapsing. And that?s why we’re here, really?to try, at least in a few places, to root it out, to save some of the beauty of the old structures and to make it possible to rebuild anew. Mold abatement.”
More reports from New Orleans will be posted at Starhawk’s web site. Meanwhile there are several ongoing efforts by modern Pagans to help those affected by Katrina/Rita. For a partial listing check out the Witchvox homepage.
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