THE DEBRIS IS ON EVERY BEACH

in Alaska. The environmental disaster on the Alaskan coastline is probably one the least reported stories.
This from NPR:




"Last summer, the state paid for an aerial survey to inspect 2,500 miles of Alaska's coastline. Elaine Busse Floyd, who's with the state's Department of Environmental Conservation, says there was tsunami debris on every beach photographed.
"They took over 8,000 pictures, and it was more widespread and in greater quantities than we even expected," Floyd says."
"In a lot of ways, it's a lot worse than the oil spill," Pallister says, "both in the geographic scope of it and the chemicals that are coming with it. And who knows what the impacts are going to be?"

 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/06/170858057/refrigerators-bottles-foams-tsunami-debris-lands-in-alaska?ft=1&f=1007

 http://youtu.be/QtpGmuBtKMU





Last May, we reported that on 40 tons of debris from the 2011 Tsunami that devastated coastal regions of Japan had washed up on Montague Island in Alaska’s Prince William Sound. Since then, trash has continued to land on Alaska’s beaches, and cleanup efforts have been sluggish at best. The trash could have a serious long-term effects on the environment, but the federal government has been slow to act, and little money has been devoted to cleaning up the beaches so far.

Read more: Debris from 2011 Japanese Tsunami Continues to Threaten Alaskan Environment | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building 

 

Once again, we must ask, why are stories like this not making the news? Is it because it might hurt the tourist industry? Is all about dollars and not about protecting the environment? How many more disasters are not being reported or greatly under reported?

 

Many groups, organizations and individuals are trying to inform us all about these kinds of stories. Of course, mainstream media paints these people as fringe idiots. Occasionally someone like NPR catches on. It is clear that if you want to know what is happening, what really matters to the planet, you'll need to look elsewhere for the truth. The planet is in trouble and only knowing what is going on will give us a chance to help save it---from us!

HOW CAN THIS BE?

How is it possible that climate change did not become a major topic in the presidential debate? 

With droughts and floods threatening the world's food supply; the death of the oceans from acidification; the; the 6th great extinction in progress due largely to human destruction of the environment; hundreds of birds falling from the skies and fish washing up on our shores; lakes turning toxic and into death chambers for fish and animals; diseases resulting from air pollution that add to temperature rise; the shifting of the Jet Stream and Pacific Westerlies; the polar meltdown; just to name a few, how can this not be the topic of the day?

Over the next few years, if we last that long, climate change will be the defining topic regarding national security. It will require massive investments to aid climate refugees; massive expenditures to save or even relocate major cities; could result in wars over things like water and agricultural lands; will and has required massive public resources to help those who have suffered from droughts, floods, and sever weather.

THIS IS A MAJOR POLITICAL FAIL.

Our politicians have failed to help save humanity from the current extinction trends. We are out of time and will reap what we have sown. The best we can hope for, as recommended in several major studies, is to plan for coping with effects. But, if our leaders won't talk about the issue, perhaps they have thrown the sheep to the wolves. Why are they silent? Do they know something that we don't? Are they afraid of mass panic?

The Henry Waxman and Edward Markey Report

How much time do you really think we have?

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/09/25/907371/markeywaxman-report-carbon-pollution-creating-a-cocktail-of-heat-and-extreme-weather/

Extreme temperatures

• July was the hottest month ever recorded in the continental U.S.  Some areas were 8 degrees warmer than average, with the average temperature in the lower 48 states at 77.6 degrees Fahrenheit, 3.3 degrees above the 20^th century average.
• Spring 2012 saw the warmest march, third-warmest April and second-warmest May in history, and was approximately 5.2 degrees Fahrenheit above average overall.
• Through late June 2011, daily record highs were outnumbering daily record lows by 9-to-1.

Drought

• As of September, 64 percent of the continental U.S. is experiencing drought, with August and September 2012 comparable to the worst months of the 1930s Dust Bowl.
• By the beginning of August, more than half the counties in the U.S. had been designated disaster zones because of drought.
• As of August, 51 percent of corn and 38 percent of soybeans grown in the U.S. were rated as poor or very poor by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Some states’ corn fared worse – Indiana had 70 percent of its corn rated as poor or very poor, and Missouri had 84 percent.

Wildfires

• This fire season 8.6 million acres – roughly the size of Connecticut and New Jersey combined – have burned in the U.S., with fires still burning in parts of the West.
• Wildfires in Colorado have killed six people, destroyed 600 homes and caused about $500 million in property damage.
• There has been nearly a four-fold increase in large wildfires in the West in recent decades, with fires burning longer and more intensely and wildfire seasons lasting longer.

Storms

• Tropical Storm Debby caused Florida to have its wettest June on record. The storm killed at least seven people and also damaged more than 7,500 homes and businesses.
• In July, the “derecho” storm system killed at least 23 people and left more than 3.7 million people without power.
• In August, Hurricane Isaac caused storm surges of up to 15 feet in some places and contributed to Louisiana and Mississippi experiencing their second-wettest August on record and to Florida experiencing its wettest summer on record.

Extreme water levels and water temperatures

• In July, water in the Great Lakes reached temperatures of 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit – more than 10 degrees warmer than the same time last year.
• In August, water temperatures of up to 97 degrees and low water levels caused tens of thousands of fish to die in Midwestern lakes and rivers.
• Low water levels in the Mississippi watershed have caused some barge companies to reduce their loads by 25 percent and have caused harbor closures in Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas and Mississippi.

June 13, 2012: Disaster Report, Spaceweather Update

May30: Disaster Update, Massive Coronal Hole

2MIN News Apr12

2011 DISASTERS: A PRELUDE?

AN INTERESTING LIST FROM"

http://www.jesusblogspot.com/2011/01/natural-disasters-2011-recap-of-first.html

 

 

• Earthquake magnitude 6.9 Argentina-January 1

• Earthquake magnitude 5.2 - Southern XinJiang, China-January 1

• Earthquake 7.1 magnitude Chile-January 2

• More Than 1,000 Dead Birds Fall From Sky in Arkansas-January 2

• Dead fish cover 20-mile section of Arkansas River-January 2

• Uganda yellow fever outbreak kills more than 40-January 3

• Earthquake Near Japan Triggers Tsunami Warning-January 3

• Powerful earthquake hits south-east Iran-January 3

• Earthquake 7.0 magnitude hits northern Argentina-January 3

• Hundreds of dead blackbirds found in Louisiana-January 3

• 10,000s of Birds found dead in Manitoba-January 3

• Thousands of Birds fall from the sky in South America-January 3

• Major Flood in Rockhampto,Australia-January 3

• Dead Birds Found In Kentucky-January 4

• 100 tons of dead fish wash up on Brazil's shores-January 4

• Hundreds of dead birds found in East Texas-January 5

• Dead birds in Sweden, millions of dead fish in Maryland, Brazil and New Zealand-January 5

• Shift of Earth's magnetic north pole affects Tampa airport-January 5

• 40,000 crabs found dead on England beaches-January 6

• Heavy floods leave at least 35 dead in Brazil-January 6

• Earthquake 4.5 magnitude in California-January 12

• Huge Waves Destroy Homes in E. Indonesia-January 12

• Thousands of marine animals found dead  in MATO GROSSO DO SUL/AMAZON Region-Febuary 4

• Magnitude 6.3 earthquake- SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND-Febuary 21

• Thousands of dead fish have washed up at Sebastian Inlet State Park Florida-Febuary

  
  
• Millions of small fish including anchovies, sardines and mackerel were found dead at King Harbour area at Redondo Beach, California-March

• Magnitude 8.9 earthquake and tsunami devastating Japan-March 11

• 40ft section of California Highway falls into Pacific Ocean-March 16
  
  

• Magnitude 3.5 earthquake - OFFSHORE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA-March 17

• Magnitude 6.5 earthquake- Vanuatu- March 17

• Magnitude 7.0 earthquake strikes northeastern Burma-March 23

• Magnitude 6.8 earthquake hits Myanmar, Thailand-March 23

• Magnitude 6.4 earthquake off the coast of Japan-March 25

• Thousands of dead fish wash up in Florida-March 25

• Hundreds of dead fish found in Midland,Texas-March 26

• Hundreds of dead fish and frogs in Marquette Lagoon-April 1

• Magnitude 5.4 earthquake in South Sandwich Islands Region-April 1

• Magnitude 6.4 earthquake Fiji-April 3

• Magnitude 6.7 earthquake in South of Java,Indonesia-April 3

• Magnitude 6.5 earthquake hits Veracruz,Mexico-April 7

• Dead birds fall into Kansas yard-April 8

• Magnitude 7.4 earthquake hits shore of Japan-April 7

• Dead fish found in Cedar Creek, Texas-April 10

• Magnitude 6.5 and 6.2 earthquakes hit eastern Japan-April 11

• Dead fish float up in 36 lakes in the state of Connecticut-April 

• Deadly Tornadoes hit N. Carolina and Virginia, at least 47 dead-April 16

• Thousands of dead fish are hauled away in Lakeside,NY-April 27

• A massive thunderstorm front spawned 137 tornadoes, killed at least 180 people, and mangled sections of Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and Huntsville, Alabama-April

   
• Dead fish wash up in San Tan Heights pond-May

• Deadly Tornado hits Albany, New Zealand, at least 1 death-May 3

• Major Mississippi flooding, destroys many homes-May

• Dead fish found in Valsad district of south Gujarat-May 3,4

• 6.5 Magnitude Earthquake hits Papua New Guinea, Tsunami warning-May 15

• Iceland's Grimsvotn Volcano erupts,followed by small earthquakes-May 21

• Deadly Tornadoes hit Minneapolis and Missouri-May 22

• Deadly Tornadoes hits Oklahoma City-May 24

• Chedeng exits Philippines, leaves 3 dead-May 28

• 800 tons of dead fish float ashore in Philippine fish farms-May 29

• At least 10,000 metric tons of fish dead in Bolinao and Anda waters in Pangasinan-May 31

• Deadly tornado hits Springfield, Massachusetts-June 1

• Dead fish found in Ogeechee River-June 3

• Dead fish wash up in Bulacan and Ilocos Sur-June 4

• Volcano erupts in Chile for the first time in 50 years-June 6

• Massive wildfires in Arizona,claimed more than 30 homes-June 8

• 6.0, 5.5 and 4.4 Magnitude Earthquakes hit Christchurch,NZ-June 11,12

• Hundreds of dead fish float up in Delco Lake,Creek-June 15

• Buildings,trees and mountains miraculously appear in a China lake (no explanation)-June 17

• 40 Tornadoes rip through Nebraska,Kansas-June 21

• 7.2 Magnitude Earthquake hits Fox Islands,Aleutian Islands,Alaska-June 24

• Massive dust storm hits Pheonix-July 5 

• 7.8 Magnitude Earthquake hits New Zealand-July 7

• 7.3 Magnitude Earthquake hits northeastern Japan-July 9

• 6.2 Magnitude Earthquake hits Philippines-July 11

• Hundreds of fish found dead in lake in Kuantan-August 9

• A ton of dead fish found in River Segura-August 9

• Large number of fish found dead in Central China River-August 12

• 5.3 earthquake hits Colorado-August 22

• 5.9 earthquake hits Virgina, jolts NY and Carolinas-August 23

• Hurricane Irene hits SC,NC,VA-August 26,27

• Deadly Typhoon hits Taiwan and China-August 29

• 6.8 Magnitude Earthquake hits Alaska-September 2

• 6.7 Magnitude Earthquake hits Argentina-September 2

• 7.0 Magnitude Earthquake hits Vanuatu-September 3

• 6.6 Magnitude Earthquake hits Northern Sumatra, Indonesia-September 5

• 6.4 Magnitude Earthquake hits Vancouver-September 9

• Floods in Pennsylvania-September 10

• Texas Fire destroys 1,554 homes, 17 people missing-September 11

• Magnitude 6.8 Earthquake hits Northeastern India-September 18

• Tornado hits Siloam Springs, AR-September 18

• Deadly Typhoon hits Philippines-September 27

• Magnitude 5.0 Earthquake hits Aisen, Chile-October 7

• Magnitude 4.0 Earthquake hits Death Valley-October 7

• Magnitude 6.7 Earthquake hits Papua New Guinea-October 14

• Magnitude 5.9 Earthquake hits Amurskaya Oblast, Russia-October 14

• Magnitude 5.4 Earthquake hits Simeulue, Indonesia-October 16

• Heavy rains kill at least 84 in Central America-October 18

• Magnitude 5.3 Earthquake hits north of Tristan da Cuhna-October 19

• Magnitude 5.3 Earthquake hits Palau Region-October 23

• Magnitude 5.1, 5.6, 6.0, 4.9, 7.2 Earthquake's hit Eastern Turkey (what a hit they took!)-October 23

• Magnitude 6.0 Earthquake hits Fiji Region-October 27

• Massive Flood hits Bangkok-October 27

• Magnitude 6.9 Earthquake hits Peru-October 28

• Tornadoes spawned from severe storms touch down in Oklahoma (after a 3.8 magnitude earthquake the same week)-November 8

• Africa's most active Volcano Erupts-November 9

• Deadly Tycoon hits the Philippines-650+ killed-December 18

WHY DON'T WE BELIEVE YOU?

Why do we not trust governments? Could it be because they lie?
When 3Mile Island happened, we were lied to in the early days. The same for Chernobyl. The Japanese government has lied to its people about the extent of their crisis.

Why do they do this? Does economics olay a role? There are reports that governments in Alabama have demanded that oil spill clean up workers NOT wear any protective gear becase it may scare tourists. We are being told that there is no danger to Hawaii because the mainland accounts for 2/3 of the tourist revenue. We are frequently told that "the economy is rcovering" when everyone damn well knows that is total bs.

What governments needs to understand is that sudden revelations of danger or collapse or problems create more panic than letting people know what the hell is going on.

This whole idea about transparency has been a bunch of crap as politiciansnew and old, feel they must hide what they are doing from the public. Maybe they all need a burn notice.

EARTHQUAKE WARNING FROM RUSSIAN INSTITUTE of PHYSICS of the EARTH

I would not normally pass along these kinds of reports, but times are not normal. Clearly, much has been happening in the planet which may be aided and abetted by forces beyond our planet. There have been major solar flares, geomagnetic storms and we will see the SUPER FULL MOON on the 19th. Further, there can be little doubt that Earth Mother has been very active. So stop. look and take a listen as we are in interesting times.

A new report released today in the Kremlin prepared for Prime Minister Putin by the Institute of Physics of the Earth, in Moscow, is warning that the Americas are in danger of suffering a mega-quake of catastrophic proportions during the next fortnight (14 days) with a specific emphasis being placed on the United States, Mexico, Central America and South American west coast regions along with the New Madrid Fault Zone region.
This report further warns that catastrophic earthquakes in Asia and the sub-continent are, also, more than likely to occur with the 7.3 magnitude quake in Japan today being one of at least 4 of this intensity to occur during this same time period.
Raising the concerns of a mega-quake occurring, this report says, are the increasing subtle electromagnetic signals that are being detected in the Earths upper atmosphere over many regions of the World, with the most intense being over the US Western coastal and Midwest regions.
Important to note are that Russian and British scientists are at the forefront of predicting earthquakes based on these subtle electromagnetic signals and have joined in an effort to put satellites in space to detect more of them.
More ominously in this report are Russian scientists confirming the independent analysis of New Zealand mathematician and long-range weather forecaster, Ken Ring, who predicted the deadly Christchurch quake and this week issued another warning of a quake to hit on or about March 20th.

Ring explains his methodology for predicting earthquakes as follows:
The planets very much affect the earth, indirectly, by having an effect on the Sun. Some planets are very large. If the Sun was a basketball the gas giants Jupiter and Saturn would be the size of grapefruits, and the Earth would be, on that scale, the size of a peppercorn.
Jupiter and Saturn cause extra tides on the Sun when they get on either side of the Sun (as with Moon Earth-Sun when the moon is full) and when these gas giants get on the same side as the Sun, (as with Earth -Moon Sun when the moon is new). These greater solar tides become sunspot activity and solar flares and can be understood as akin to the increase in tides caused by the Moon when it too gets alongside Earth or opposite Earth.
At the moment we have Jupiter and Saturn on either side of the Sun and creating a tug of war with Earth in the middle. That started last September and will continue until about May. In September the Earth was right in line with Jupiter, Saturn and the Sun too.
Thats why there were several 7+ earthquakes around, it wasnt just us. For instance there was one in Pakistan on the same day as Christchurch. This Jupiter/Saturn alignment continues until about May, and the Earth comes back into line as well in March. It is why there may be an extreme event, perhaps a large earthquake, around 20 March, which is when the Moon may be again in a trigger position.
According to this report, however, where Ring is correct in assessing blame for our Earths earthquakes on the Sun and Planets, his substituting of Perigean Spring Tides (also known as King Tides) for the low pressure systems associated with them may be incorrect.
The mention in this report of massive low pressure systems being associated with catastrophic earthquakes is especially dire to the United States Midwestern region, which even today is continuing to be pounded by horrific rainfall amounts, and most especially impacting the New Madrid Fault Zone State of Arkansas which has suffered over 800 earthquakes in the past 6 months alone.
Equally in danger, this report continues, is the South American Nation of Bolivia which has, likewise, suffered catastrophic low pressure system storms that in the past week have killed over 52 people.
Most ominous in this report, though, is its warning that the fault-riddled State of California may be about to suffer its most catastrophic earthquake in decades as new reports for this region show the mass death of millions of fish is now occurring, and just like the mass stranding of whales on New Zealand beaches days prior to the February 22nd destruction of Christchurch.
Making the situation for our Planet even grimmer are the reports that our Sun is continuing to spew forth massive solar flares, the latest warned to hit our Earth today or tomorrow thus prompting the Hermanus Space Weather Warning Centre (SWWC) to issue a Solar Flare warning for the Southern Hemisphere.
Posted by Real News Reporter on March 12th, 2011
http://www.spaceweather.com/

ECONOMIC FACT AND FICTION

On the one hand we keep hearing that the economy is getting better, while on the other hand we are told we are on the brink of disaster. Politicians and economists know that consumer perception is THE driving force. If consumers are worried they don't spend. It seems to me that lately, politicians have been trying to put a positive spin on what is a very negative situation. Basically, we are being lied to. One cannot help but think about the prophecies regarding 2012. Economies are collapsing. The environment is collapsing. Religion is collapsing and/or going mad.

Are the worst of the Nostradamus, Hopi, Mayan prophecies about to hit us in the face? While they all implied that we have a choice at to what the future may hold, has humanity chosen wisely? Is there no hope? Is there noting we can do?

Yes, there is.

Disasters Create Losses Of $222 Billion

From the devastating Haiti earthquake to the ongoing aftermath of the BP oil spill, man-made and natural disasters lead to a loss of $222 billion in 2010, more than three times last year's figure, the AFP is reporting.

Read more at this link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/01/disasters-losses-billions_n_789993.html#s194966

A list of the major disasters follows. Does 2012 ring a bell???

2010

Venezuela: Floods and Landslides - Nov 2010

Philippines: Mt. Bulusan Volcano - Nov 2010

Philippines: Floods and Landslides - Nov 2010

Serbia: Earthquake - Nov 2010

Hurricane Tomas - Oct 2010

Indonesia: Mt. Merapi Volcano - Oct 2010

Indonesia: Sumatra Earthquakes and Tsunami - Oct 2010

Russian Federation: Floods - Oct 2010

Hurricane Richard - Oct 2010

Haiti: Cholera Outbreak - Oct 2010

Myanmar: Tropical Cyclone Giri - Oct 2010

Typhoon Megi - Oct 2010

Saint Lucia: Flash Floods - Oct 2010

Hungary: Toxic Spill - Oct 2010

Sri Lanka: Floods - Oct 2010

Viet Nam: Floods - Oct 2010

Tropical Storm Nicole - Sep 2010

Colombia: Floods and Landslides - Sep 2010

Haiti: Storm - Sep 2010

Tropical Storm Matthew - Sep 2010

Mexico: Hurricane Karl - Sep 2010

Mauritania: Floods - Aug 2010

Kenya: Floods - Aug 2010

Hurricane Earl - Aug 2010

Indonesia: Sinabung Volcano - Aug 2010

Typhoon Mindulle - Aug 2010

Chad: Cholera Outbreak - Aug 2010

Bolivia: Wild Fires - Aug 2010

DPR Korea: Floods - Aug 2010

Thailand: Floods - Aug 2010

DR Congo: Floods - Jul 2010

Russian Federation: Wild Fires - Jul 2010

Central America: Floods and Landslides - Jul 2010

Mexico: Floods and Landslides - Jul 2010

Peru: Cold Wave - Jul 2010

Nigeria: Cholera Outbreak - Jul 2010

Pakistan: Floods - Jul 2010

Ethiopia: Floods - Jul 2010

Yemen: Floods - Jul 2010

Sudan: Floods - Jul 2010

Typhoon Conson - Jul 2010

India: Floods - Jul 2010

Nepal: Floods and Landslides - Jun 2010

Hurricane Alex - Jun 2010

Brazil: Floods - Jun 2010

Panama: Floods - Jun 2010

West/Central Africa: Floods - Jun 2010

Myanmar: Floods and Landslides - Jun 2010

Bangladesh: Floods and Landslides - Jun 2010

Cameroon: Cholera Outbreak - Jun 2010

Kyrgyzstan: Mudslides - Jun 2010

Afghanistan: Floods - Jun 2010

Tropical Cyclone Phet - Jun 2010

Ecuador: Tungurahua Volcano - May 2010

Philippines: Floods and Landslides - May 2010

Central America: Tropical Storm Agatha - May 2010

Guatemala: Pacaya Volcano - May 2010

DR Congo: Landslide - May 2010

India: Cyclone Laila - May 2010

Central Europe: Floods - May 2010

Sri Lanka: Floods - May 2010

Azerbaijan: Floods - May 2010

China: Floods - May 2010

Gabon: Severe Local Storm - Apr 2010

Afghanistan: Earthquakes - Apr 2010

China: Earthquakes in Qinghai Province - Apr 2010

Colombia: Floods - Apr 2010

India/Bangladesh: Severe Local Storm - Apr 2010

Tajikistan: Floods - Apr 2010

Indonesia: Floods - Apr 2010

Brazil: Floods and Landslides - Apr 2010

Mexico: Earthquakes - Apr 2010

Peru: Floods and Landslides - Apr 2010

Russian Federation: Floods - Mar 2010

Solomon Islands: Cyclone Ului - Mar 2010

DR Congo: Floods - Mar 2010

East Africa: Floods - Mar 2010

Latin America: Dengue Outbreak - Mar 2010

Fiji: Cyclone Tomas - Mar 2010

Kazakhstan: Floods - Mar 2010

Madagascar: Cyclone Hubert - Mar 2010

Southern Africa: Floods - Mar 2010

Serbia: Floods - Mar 2010

Haiti: Floods and Mudslides - Mar 2010

Chile: Earthquake - Feb 2010

Madeira: Floods and Mudslides - Feb 2010

Caribbean: Drought - Feb 2010

Pakistan: Avalanche - Feb 2010

Cook Islands: Tropical Cyclone Pat - Feb 2010

Ecuador: Floods - Feb 2010

Afghanistan: Floods and Avalanches - Feb 2010

Mexico: Floods and Landslides - Feb 2010

French Polynesia: Cyclone Oli - Feb 2010

Solomon Islands: Floods - Jan 2010

Egypt: Floods - Jan 2010

occupied Palestinian territory: Floods - Jan 2010

Haiti: Earthquakes - Jan 2010

Mongolia: Dzud - Jan 2010

Montenegro: Floods - Jan 2010

Bolivia: Floods - Jan 2010

India/Nepal/Bangladesh: Cold Wave - Jan 2010

Pakistan: Landslides and Floods - Jan 2010

Solomon Islands: Earthquake - Jan 2010

Tajikistan: Earthquake - Jan 2010

Louisiana: Raped Again and Left For Dead

The following is a review of my book, RAPING LOUISIANA: A DIARY OF DECEIT. While it is about the aftermath of Katrina, its words of warning are appropriate still. With the nation's worst environmental disaster looming heavy over the Gulf Coast, one cannot help but wonder what will become of this oil ravaged region. Already, BP is being slow to pay local governments and fishermen, businesses are on the verge of collapse, the people disheartened. This disaster has environmental/economic implications that have yet to even surface. How will the government respond? Can the government respond? Is there money to continue to pay for all of those things that are needed in light of what seems to be priorities elsewhere? When disasters strike foreign lands, we are quick to send aid. Why is it that when disaster strikes at home, we sit on our asses? Why is it that no foreign government offers to send us help? Maybe it is time to re-think this one way street. Maybe its time we stopped leaving our for dead and actually live our own creed-no one left behind!


Hurricane Katrina, a disaster of Biblical proportions, is no longer in the news but the devastation of the land and the victimization of the residents of the Gulf Coast continue. Philip Harris's Raping Louisiana - A Diary of Deceit addresses the aftermath of the storm through the eyes of Steve Burgoyne, a middle aged truck driver from upstate New York. The bluntly honest depiction of his yearlong odyssey working in the Katrina cleanup efforts reveals the corruption, the despair, and the government waste in detailed diary entries.

Burgoyne's descriptions, presented with the minutia of a daily journal, illustrate the three types of people who came to the Gulf in the aftermath of the storm: crooks, victims trying to survive, and the people who came because they genuinely care. Burgoyne met plenty of all, the faceless contractors came down to make a quick fortune off the government and the unfortunate; the victims as they wandered the streets of the Dead Zone in the lower ninth ward; and the men moving debris and clearing the streets of rubble.

Steve and his crew worked and lived in conditions little better than those of a third world country. They initially slept in travel trailers parked in horse pastures with no potable water or sewage facilities. But even in those conditions, the men stayed on working to make the land clear so the previous inhabitants of the Gulf Coast could return to their land. Every truck load carried away from previously populated area impacted the men who worked there. "It was stressful...you're picking up pieces of somebody's life." Throughout, it is evident that Burgoyne's family was his support network while he toiled in the land of the hopeless.

On the Gulf, with no affordable places to live, there is no working class to run the shops and businesses in the service industries. FEMA has made a feeble attempt to provide housing for those living in shelters surrounded by hopelessness. Those that stayed and now make their homes there are the disabled, the elderly, and the unskilled labor. They now sit in their FEMA provided formaldehyde-laced cages destitute and deeply depressed. The rebuilding of the city has completely ignored this disenfranchised population, government supplemented affordable housing is not a priority in the re-building boom.

New Orleans is currently the murder capital of the world. Depression, suicide, and anxiety are rampant. The devastation of the storm still takes victims in its path through drugs and alcohol abuse. The imported workers and those refugees who remained self-medicate as they live side by side in a ravaged land.

Ignored, forgotten, and abandoned the Gulf Coast is still a hotbed of contention and corruption. Raping Louisiana is a good read for raising America's social consciousness. We can provide millions of dollars to tsunami stricken countries, we can fund a war to fight terrorism, and we can forgive billions of dollars of foreign debt but we have written off our own citizens. Raping Louisiana should be a wakeup call to those who have forgotten Katrina and her victims. Is anybody listening?

Shannon Evans is recognized in the Puget Sound as an expert in how to make your business have a web presence rather than just a web page. Her conversational marketing techniques and practices outlined by Practical Local Search, LLC you will see your small business presence on the web increase: http://www.practicallocalsearch.com/ She is a consultant for social marketing campaigns that allow you to organize your marketing and sales efforts in an inexpensive delivery platform that is easy to set up and manage. The ability to send, deliver, and track any installed resource gives you the power to create a marketing program quickly and easily in a scalable format that can grow with your business.

Shannon is also a co-author of Get Found Now! Local Search Secrets Exposed: Learn How to Achieve High Rankings in Google, Yahoo and Bing and multiple business ebooks. Her books teach entrepreneurs how to leverage the internet to attract new clients.

Shannon has a wide and varied background in both the practical and the pragmatic aspects of the business world. Shannon loves nothing better than teaching local businesses how to think globally and to be searched locally.

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