And we thought Nalgene's were so good!

So, as Chad disappointingly mentioned to me the other day, skipping out on plastic bottles for resuable polycarbonate is NOT as good as an idea as we once thought. If yours has a 7 on the bottom--sorry! You're probably drinking bisphenol-a, which unfortunately is most dangerous for the very old and very young. Check out the article on Canada's new ban below:

http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5215109782482807501

Yours in thinking of other ways to not buy plastic bottles,
-j.

School Busing

Here's a very interesting slideshow on controversy surrounding busing in Northeastern cities in the 1970s. It focuses on some jarring pictures taken during the era, and concludes with a picture taken during the immediate aftermath of Katrina that I hadn't seen, yet was powerfully moving.

Shame on you, polluters

The Catholic Church released an article in "L'Osservatore Romano" listing several new ways to sin. Among them: polluting. Its always a good feeling when the Catholic Church supports what you've been believing for a while.

This raises the question. What's the penance for driving an SUV getting 12 mpg?

Presidents: Loyola and Abroad

Today's LUCAP meeting is focused on the chief executive. As the nation's primary elections close, the country grows closer to the general election in November. Many LUCAPers have been following the races closely and will lead discussion on various positions of candidates.

This week also marks the start of active campaigning for SGA President at Loyola. LUCAP is having both candidates for SGA President speak at the meeting, giving the candidates a chance to explain their platforms and answer (usually tough) questions. This year, pre-med/finance/sociology student Greg Fontenot (pic above)and political science student Cade Cypriano (pic below) are running to represent the student body.

Be thinking of questions you might want to ask the candidates.

Check out their facebook groups, websites, flyers etc. for ideas on their platforms.


Greg Fontenot: website
Cade Cypriano: website

Fair Trade across Freret and beyond

Fair Trade certified products are items that (in their simplest form) are guaranteed to have paid the people who produced them a fair wage.

While there are tons of places to buy fair trade products online, a few stores are right in New Orleans for your shopping convenience. Whole Foods has a few things, but here's a few more you might not have heard about:

InExchange
Tulane University
Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life
http://www.inexchange.org

A new store in Tulane's LBC (student center) sells exclusively fair trade products and local art. The founder, Erica Trani, is a Tulane alumna and is active in the justice groups of both Tulane and Loyola Universities. Trani drew upon her experiences working with artisans and growers in Ecuador as well as selling handmade jewelry made by independent artists at a French Quarter store. InExchange carries chocolates, coffee from Cafe Justo (starting March 2008), jewelry, rugs, ceramics, glasswork, textiles, reusable shopping bags and so much more. The inventory changes quickly, so check often.

Blue Frog Chocolates
5707 Magazine Street
http://www.bluefrogchocolates.com/

This candy store sells several kinds of fair trade chocolate as well as lots of locally made candy. Not everything is fair trade, but its still a delicious stop.

Fair Grinds Coffeehouse
3133 Ponce de Leon
http://www.fairgrinds.com

By far my favorite coffee house in New Orleans. Its located in the Mid City/Fair Grounds area. All coffee used is locally roasted by Orleans Coffee Exchange and 100% fair trade. Their cold drink cups are made from biodegradable corn plastic. Fair Grinds also hosts some cool community events such as a recent series relating sustainability to spirituality. This is the kind of coffee shop you want to live next to.

More crime in public housing

The public housing issue has caused so much controversy over the last few months, that it seems as if the City Council and HUD want it to just go away. Well, it isn't, largely thanks to only two reporters, Edward Pound from the National Journal and Lolis Eric Elie from the Times-Pic. I should also note that I only found these articles through the blog run by local artist/advocate/voice of Mr. Burns Harry Shearer.

The articles show what a corrupt fraud the HUD Secretary, Alphonso Jackson, is.
Here are some of the big highlights:

"Federal investigators and a grand jury in Washington are exploring the secretary's ties to contractors who have been handed lucrative business at HANO under HUD. In at least one case, Jackson helped a friend, William Hairston, obtain contracting work, according to an account that Hairston has given to National Journal. Jackson testified before a Senate panel last year and during an earlier federal inquiry that he never intervened in awarding contracts. Jackson's problems may be growing. It turns out that his wife, Marcia, a consultant in Washington, had financial ties to at least two companies that did business at HANO."

-Pound

The news is damning enough, and there is more in Pound's article. But it takes local reporter Elie to put this corruption in the proper context:

"Evidence is mounting that a new, multimillion-dollar crime wave is poised to hit public housing in New Orleans, replacing common street-level operators with well-connected, out-of-town confidence men.

One of the prominent arguments in favor of the destruction of public housing has been the contention that public housing is a breeding ground for crime. If current demolition plans go through, crime in public housing won't go away -- it'll only change class."

The Blog is Back...Again!!!

LUCAP,
This week's meeting was full of information and insight regarding fair trade and our other projects. Here are some of the highlights and announcements:

Thursday, February 14: 4PM- Global Justice Week Meeting
LUCAP office
4-7PM- InExchange Valentine's Day Bash
Food, Fun and Fair Trade
Tulane University Center
Saturday, February 16: 8AM- Walk for the Hungry
Meet in the LUCAP Office

Sign up on the board or write Rick

10AM- Green Light New Orleans
Exchange incandescent lightbulbs with CFL's in the homes
of low income families
Sign up on the board or contact Jamie or Rob for more info
Sunday, February 17 11AM Hunger Relief
Meet in the LUCAP office
contact Roy for details

Fair trade seeks to provide a viable and humane economic alternative to the effects of free trade, which often benefits the richest countries while debilitating the economies of developing nations. Check out the In Exchange fair trade store in the Tulane UC to buy fair trade products and contact Erica Trani for other ways you can help!

Also, Catholic Relief Services is very dedicated to promoting fair trade and sustainable economies for developing communities. Their microfinance work is especially commendable as it targets building up communities for women in poor, rural communities.