An email I just got from a friend who is doing relief work down in

[WhollyHeretic]

Louisiana with the Hartford chapter of Food Not Bombs:

Hartford Food Not Bombs (including Dave **** and Ross ****) has been working tirelessly with other volunteers to get food and supplies to folks affected by Katrina both inside and outside of New Orleans. They have delivered food to several poor neighborhoods in rural areas such as Slidell, areas of Mississippi, outside Covington and other places along the way. These are the areas that FEMA and the Red Cross (more below) have not reached and some of these people had not seen any signs of help until FNB bus.
Veterans for Peace are stationed at Camp Casey 3 and they have been supplying FNB with some of the supplies they need to distribute to the victims. They are currently using Camp Casey 3 at a staging area for their efforts but plan to move the operation inside Algiers, a poor neighborhood where there are about 2000 people who refuse to evacuate (see below). Algiers is under marshal law and although many “officials” are present, they are doing nothing to help the people of this neighborhood. Food Not Bombs plans to set up a permanent kitchen in a local mosque so that when the volunteers leave, the residents can continue to use it for community meals.
Tucson, Arizona Food Not Bombs met up with Hartford which was a welcomed relief and together they are now able to extend their resources to more folks in need. Hartford and Tucson are the only FNB chapters down here as of last night but hopefully some others are on their way. Here are some things going on that they want people to know about:
• The Red Cross has been dangerously incompetent. For those who evacuated, the Red Cross is separating families into different shelters. In the Red Cross shelters that FNB visited, the food is terrible and conditions are horrendous. The people who chose not to evacuate are in much better shape largely thanks to grassroots efforts. In Algiers, there are reports that the Red Cross are turning away much needed volunteers and having other volunteers arrested for bringing medical supplies to the Wellness Clinic (the Wellness Clinic was set up by Mayday DC, some action medics and other groups).
• Some rogue members of the military have taken supplies from FEMA and gave them to the Wellness Clinic and other grassroots folks because they knew it would get to those in need more effectively.
• FNB was able to rescue two dogs from the lower garden district, one of which had a bad eye infection. They’ve adopted them until they can get them back to their owners (they have tags with names and addresses so hopefully they’ll get back with their families soon).
• Food Not Bombs and Indy Media is desparately needed down there. If you can come help, please call Ross at ***-***-****. This is a long term effort but a little help goes a long way. We must not forget about these victims!
• On the bright side, there is a strong spirit of community and mutual aid. People are very happy to be alive despite all they have lost.-


Here is the Food Not Bombs website on there Katrina efforts
http://www.foodnotbombs.net/katrina.html

[crispini]

1. Good report, thank you!

:kick: and nominated

[Sydnie]

2. Kick - Thank them from all of us! n/t

[Lori Price CLG]

3. Kick. Nominated, as well. n/t

[AnnInLa]

4. Really interesting report...thanks very much for posting it

[fooj]

5. Food not bombs is great. Worked as a volunteer for them

while going to school in San Francisco.

Peace.

[ClayZ]

6. Kicked and Nominated

:kick:

[Helga Scow Stern]

7. Love hearing these reports.

Need Indy Media down there.

I like the part about the rogue military.

[Ksec]

8. nominated.

and I dont normally do nominations.

[bonito]

9. Another silver lining. Recommended!

[donheld]

10. Food Not Bombs needs our praise

and help. I'm grateful for them.

[WhollyHeretic]

11. .

:kick:

[Nothing Without Hope]

12. It's a damned shame that the Red Cross is STILL being pushed by so

many media and government people as the best place to donate. It's often the only suggested relief agency.

WHY is the Red Cross so incompetent and cruel?

The Red Cross has been dangerously incompetent. For those who evacuated, the Red Cross is separating families into different shelters. In the Red Cross shelters that FNB visited, the food is terrible and conditions are horrendous. The people who chose not to evacuate are in much better shape largely thanks to grassroots efforts.

The truth about the terrible performance by the Red Cross needs to be publicized. Too many people are giving to that organization, thinking they are helping the Katrina relief effort.

[mirandapriestly]

14. I've noticed that too.

Well, I read that the director donated $50,000 to the RNC and $1,000 to Bush re-election, so that may have something to do with it.

[WhollyHeretic]

15. I've had some problems with the Red Cross ever since the terrible

way they handled some of the stuff on 9-11. I'd give blood to the group but I'd never give them money again.

[LostinVA]

16. I feel the same way

Blood, yes. Money and time, no. There are better organizations to give to, and I do. And, I am NOT condemning every single ARC worker -- most of y'all on the ground are terrific, and work for very little (or no) money. I don't like the Republican-heavy, scandal-ridden leadership.

[faithnotgreed]

13. beautiful needed post - thank you for all information

[melody]

17. what would we do without the good people in this world? n/t