Aaron and the Angels Sing a Hallelujah Chorus

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

I hope that everyone is having a relaxing and peaceful break! Everyone deserves it after all the hard work from last semester!

On this day I would invite all to remember our brothers and sisters for whom Christmas is an especially hard time. Let this understanding guide us and bring us a renewed sense of purpose in our next semester as we work toward equality and justice.

Also (on a somewhat less profound note), as my Christmas gift to you I would like to share this rendition of "Ave Maria" by Aaron Neville. Enjoy.

In Peace.

Ride the Rails

Today marks the first day since Katrina that the St. Charles streetcar runs the entire length of St. Charles. I think this is the first thing that has happened in New Orleans ahead of its promised deadline and quite frankly, I'm excited.

Its still $1.25 and runs until midnight. Oh and remember, the streetcar has the right of way on the roads.

Link.

Stupid people.

As Chad blogged about earlier there was an incident if you will between housing protesters and police earlier today when a decision was made not to allow the protesters inside the council meeting [to decide the fate of the big four projects]. You can watch a video of the scuffle below.



After city council approved unanimously in a 7-0 vote to approve the demolition of the big four projects, B.W. Cooper, St. Bernard, Lafitte and C.J. Peete, Mayor Ray Nagin, who notably was not at the council meeting released a statement supporting the councils decision. According to nola.com he said "The decisions made today were ones of compassion, courage, and commitment to this city,"... "This is an incredible day. You heard lots of pain today. The City Council in its wisdom has come up with a solution that will allow us to move forward, to hold HUD accountable".

Shame on Ray Nagin and the New Orleans city council for the lack of attempt at making any attempt at compromise.

4 Remaining Projects to be Razed

The New Orleans city council voted unanimously to issue a demolition permit for the Lafitte housing complex all four remaining projects in the "big four" this afternoon.  Before the vote, there was a clash between demonstrators and police involving tazers and pepper spray.  WDSU/CNN have a clip with the clash and Quigley that you should check out.

Votes on the remaining projects are upcoming.

Articles:
WDSU
Rawstory

Details are sketchy, so this is all I have to work with at this time.

Brazilian Bishop Performs Hunger Strike

I found this article on the BBC website and to be honest it's the first time I have heard about it. In Brazil Dom Luiz Flavio Cappio had to be hospitalized after performing a hunger strike for 27 days. He was protesting the diversion of the Sao Francisco river citing the detrimental effects to the environment. The Vatican has tried to convince him to cease the strike for the sake of his health, but he refused.

Call the City Council TODAY!

As a New Orleans resident, you have a powerful way to help. Tomorrow, the New Orleans City Council is scheduled to vote on whether or not to permit HUD to carry out its demolitions. Several council members are on the fence, and your voice can influence their vote. Please join us in calling on them to vote against these reckless, premature demolitions and insist on a rebuilding plan that is fair and good for all New Orleanians.

Calling is simple and takes only a few minutes. Here are the key New Orleans City Council members and their offices:

Arnie Fielkow: (504) 658-1060
Cynthia Hedge-Morrell: (504) 658-1040
Shelley Midura: (504) 658-1010

When you call, you can use the script below or write your own.
Once you've called, please let us know by emailing hudhousing@colorofchange.org.

Script: Hello. My name is [Your Name], and I'm calling to urge [Councilperson's Name] to vote against permitting HUD to demolish public housing units in New Orleans. HUD's plans are flawed and unfair and would greatly reduce affordable housing in the city, making the housing crisis worse.

Until HUD creates a plan that provides 1-to-1 replacement of public housing and deals with the current criminal investigation of HUD and the HANO redevelopment plan, there should be no demolitions.

via Bob Payne (via colorofchange.org)

A Christmas prayer for peace

The Christmas season has always been my preferred time to refocus myself on my spirituality. Advent gives me the structure I need to start attending Mass regularly again – four Sundays in a row is a realistic goal for me. Time away from the stresses of life at Loyola (exams, moving, BOLOs…) has lended itself to me as time for quiet reflection. With my parents at work, I’ve got the house all to my self. We don’t get this much downtime often, so try taking advantage of it.

In that spirit, I’d like to share a prayer that LUCAP alum Carlos Navarro (’79) passed on to me today. Its written by Jesuit priest and peace activist John Dear, S.J. and was recently published in the National Catholic Reporter.

Here's an excerpt:

Thank you, God of peace, for announcing the coming of peace on earth and for coming among us to make peace. Thank you for siding with the homeless, the refugee, the marginalized, the immigrant, the outsider, the disenfranchised, the imprisoned, the enemy. Thank you for being good news for the poor and the oppressed.

Read the entire prayer.