Cleaning Machine

Kevin Costner testified before Congress yesterday to talk about an oil filtering machine that he believes can make a significant impact in the Gulf clean-up. Costner invested $20 million of his own money to develop and the premise is pretty simple....water goes into the machine and the oil and water are separated through centrifugal force. Costner was inspired to invest in this after the Exxon Valdeez tragedy and said that for all the boom and old technology designed to capture or corral the oil, there wasn't really anything to clean it out of the water. Costner's machine can clean up to 200 gallons per minute and BP just ordered 32 of them so we're keeping our fingers crossed. To learn more about Ocean Therapy Solutions machine, visit their website here.

Trail Ride

Last May we did a story called 'Acadiana Bike Trail May Soon Become A Reality'.....and now, a year later, it really, really may soon become a reality. The $100k grant from the Community Foundation has been allocated and now, Lafayette Consolidated Government has 1 year to complete the project. So...yea! The $100k will cover construction costs and signage for the trail, which will start out running from Parc Sans Souci to Beaver Park. According to the story in the Advertiser, the eventual plan is for it to run all the way from Lafayette to St. Martinville.

Photo by: sasrigais

Environmental Impact

Aaron Viles of the Gulf Restoration Network was on C-Span today and was really insightful and knowledgeable about the oil spill (or 'eruption' as some are calling it now). Here's his segment on Washington Journal and for some really horrific photos of this messy disaster, visit the Gulf Restoration website here at healthygulf.org.

Heartbreaking Gut Wrenching

Thanks to Daily Meaux reader Wayne who sent this link to Boston.com and their photo essay of the disaster in the gulf. These are the images I feared but hadn't seen yet. It appears the worst is still to come. Do yourself a favor and click the link.



AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Is That The Best You Got?

I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling beat down by this oil in the Gulf. The news worsens with each report...well except for this jackass who thought oil looked like chocolate milk.

Towards the end of the week the term "Obama's Katrina" started being bandied about. That was a nice twist from the "we don't want no stinking government interference" crowd. The president's visit to New Orleans, and his placing the responsibility squarely in BP's lap seems to have tamped down that mini-mantra.

Also, over the weekend, the gauging of the size of the oil slick in relation to the size of individual states began. Rhode Island was first first in line for comparison. Then, it became the size of Rhode Island and Delaware combined. Now I see, they're starting in with Puerto Rico. Really? What does it say about our knowledge of our own states that we couldn't find one of the remaining 48 to compare the size of the oil slick to....we had to go to a U.S. territory.

There's other stuff too. Ugly stuff. Such as BP making the rounds to coastal residents and fisherman with release forms in hand...offering "up to 5 thousand dollars" in return for a pledge not to sue for damages. Nice. Then, yesterday, began the faux "conspiracy" theories that the rig explosion was deliberate act, done to sway passage of the cap and trade energy bill. Seriously. This guy, and this guy actually made that claim. If this tact doesn't gain any traction, I'm sure another fantasy will be provided by the same crowd.

There are ways to help. Drew Landry has launched the website Dirty Cajuns as an information hub full of phone numbers and other information for those looking to volunteer for clean up crews. And Stacy Scarce posted this exhaustive list of links on her Facebook page for volunteer information as well as information update sites on the progress and affects of the oil slick.

All this, and I still haven't gotten to sing the praises of Kentucky Derby winner, and Catahoula native Calvin Borel. Sorry Calvin, it doesn't mean I love you any less.

42,000 Gallons A Day

So much for the "not in my backyard" outrage that echos throughout many states. Nope, not in Louisiana. Our backyard has been filled with oil wells, and refineries, and chemical plants for longer than I've been alive. The wetlands in our backyard are shriveling up and dying, due in large part to the canals dredged by Big Oil, and now provide less protection from hurricane storm surges; stronger hurricanes due to global warming caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels; and now we have an exploded oil rig leaking an estimated 42,000 gallons A DAY into the Gulf of Mexico, not to mention the eleven men who are lost and presumed dead. Where's the outrage? Does money put everyone to sleep? Are those right-wing talk radio DJ's making gold out of hate and misinformation going to lead the clean up efforts or rebuild our wetlands? I'm sick of this.

Read the New York Times account of the oil spill here.

Lafayette's Newest Park

Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government and the Kiwanis Club of Lafayette are set to break ground on Parc Independence on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 4:30 pm.

Located within Girard Park, Parc Independence will be the first wheelchair-accessible playground in Lafayette. Parc Independence is designed specifically to accommodate children who have physical and mental disabilities.

Because even the smallest design elements can create the largest obstacles for many children with disabilities, careful attention has been paid towards making the park ADA-compliant. The intent is to eliminate barriers and create a place where all children can play together, regardless of abilities.

“I am thrilled to be a part of this exciting announcement. This park will be a great asset to our community and demonstrate that our community is making an effort to be helpful and accommodating to those with disabilities. I also applaud the heroic efforts of the Kiwanis Club of Lafayette to bring this project to fruition. Anytime we have civic organizations that are willing to partner to achieve a public purpose, it can only strengthen our community,” said Joey Durel, Lafayette City-Parish President.

Well done Kiwanis Club!

Photo by Joshuadelaughter

Mais, Clean That Bayou!

Volunteers are needed to participate in a cleanup of the Bayou Teche between the Cecilia Bridge and Poche Bridge THIS SATURDAY! Trash bags and trash pickers are provided, volunteers with motor boats are needed and kayaks and canoes also welcomed. Gumbo provided. Let's clean up Bayou Teche!

WHEN: 9:00-2:00; Saturday, March 27

WHERE: 2085 Hwy 31, Arnaudville

WHO: Cajuns for Bayou Teche/ Shane Seneca Welding & Fabrication/ Keep St. Martin Beautiful/ St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Department + all volunteers welcomed

WHAT: Bayou Teche clean-up

A new section of Bayou Teche has been adopted by Shane Seneca Welding & Fabrication in the Keep St. Martin Beautiful program. This section from the bridge in Cecilia south toward Poche Bridge extends the adopted areas of the Kiwanis Club and Cajuns for Bayou Teche in the Keep St. Martin Beautiful program. Mr. Seneca is a neighbor to Blake Couvillion of Cajuns for Bayou Teche and was inspired by his efforts to clean up the Teche. Mr. Seneca, in conjunction with Cajuns for Bayou Teche, is coordinating a public clean-up on Saturday, March 27th with the launch point from his own back yard at 2085 Hwy 31, Arnaudville. Boats will be able to launch from his backyard. Due to the location of his adopted area, it was determined this is the optimum launch point. Gumbo will be provided to volunteers and those who attend to cheer them on.

Blake Couvillion says, "We are happy to have Mr. Shane Seneca join our efforts to restore Bayou Teche. He is a great welder and a valuable asset to our project. Mr. Seneca's area connects two other adopted stretches of bayou to form an unbroken chain of adopted waterway. We hope others will take interest in our project and volunteer to adopt an area as Mr. Sencea has done." Jacques Privat, director of Keep St. Martin Beautifu says, "St. Martin Parish Government and Keep St. Martin Beautiful applaud Mr. Shane Seneca for his dedication to our environment. We are encouraged and excited that he and so many more people are joining this fight to clean up our parish. Any person, family, neighborhood, business, club, church or other organization can adopt a remaining portion of the Bayou Teche, a road or other area in the parish by calling 442-1016."

Additional clean-up dates set by Cajuns for Bayou Teche include May 8th in Port Barre and September 25 in Breaux Bridge.

VOLUNTEERS WITH MOTOR BOATS ARE NEEDED. Kayaks and canoes are encouraged to come out, as well. Supporters who do not have a boat are also invited to join in a gumbo and to show their appreciation for the clean-up effort.

Cajuns for Bayou Teche will be out with their boat, the "St. Michael" and invites the community to join in the clean up effort or to enjoy some home-cooked gumbo and cheer on the volunteers!

Good Morning Monday

Well, today's search for Louisiana stories pulled up two that are very disturbing, and not really the way I want to start my week. That's OK, the world doesn't care about my week. On to the news.

Residents of Mossville Louisiana (right outside Lake Charles/Westlake), were featured in this CNN story about their high rate of disease possibly linked to the massive chemical manufacturing complex located in their backyard. There's a major racial component to the story too. Mossville was founded by African-Americans in the 1790's. "African Americans are more than 79 percent more likely to live in communities where there are dangerous facilities that pose health threats," says Robert Bullard, director of the Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark Atlanta University. Residents have complained for years to industry and State officials about the chemical plants to no avail. Now, Lisa Jackson, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, and the first African-American administrator of the EPA, has begun a study to determine if Mossville qualifies for designation as a Superfund site, reserved for the most polluted places in the United States. Superfund site designation would bring federal funding for cleaning up Mossville.



OK, let's turn our attention to our cousins to the north, in Bossier Parish. Drew Pierson, writing for the Shreveport Times, reports that the Bossier Parish sheriff's office is launching a program called "Operation Exodus," a policing plan for an end-of-the-world scenario involving a mostly white group of ex-police volunteers and a .50-caliber machine gun, inspired in part from the Book of Exodus in the Bible. Sheriff Larry Deen formulated the plan himself, and enjoys referring to himself in the third person as evidenced in this quote:

"The buck stops with Larry Deen," said Bossier Parish Sheriff Larry Deen. "The liability stops with Larry Deen. I am the chief law enforcement officer in this parish, and it is incumbent upon me protect all of the people in it."

Check out the story here. But I'll tease it with another quote:

These volunteers will be armed by the sheriff's office, using, among other things, shotguns, riot shields and batons. The members are mostly white men. Five are black. Women involved will only be used in "support roles," Deen said, which indicated non-combat activity.

Sorry ladies, no shotguns or riot shields for you.

Pr

Ahh What A Breath Of Fresh Air

All the Louisiana searches I've done for the last week center around the freaks that tried to tamper with Mary Landrieu's phones. I'm so sick of that stuff, not post worthy in my opinion. They got busted, it's a crime, not a prank....blah.

So, imagine my delight when a Daily Meaux reader sent me these pictures and stories about a new artist living in Breaux Bridge. Joseph Jilbert is his name, and his forte' is creating sculptors from scrap metal. Creating beauty from stuff that's been thrown away, that's genius.

Jilbert has been featured in two recent articles. Check them out here and here.


Photo 1: Silvia Bertolazzi
Photo 2: Erik Graveson

Talking Green

Mark your calendars now for the February and March Alternative Energy Lectures.

February 10^th: Alternative Energy Programs and Incentives

Presented by Kevin Boone, Renewable Energy Coordinator, US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

March 10^th: Compressed Natural Gas

Presented by Gifford Briggs, Vice President, Louisiana Oil and Gas Association (LOGA).

Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA) from 1:30 to 2:30 pm or from 6:00 to 7:00 pm for each lecture. LEDA is located at 211 E. Devalcourt St., Lafayette, 70506. For more information about the Acadiana Alternative Energy Committee and power point presentations from the previous lectures, www.lafayette.org/aaec. All lectures are free and open to the public.

Shine Baby Shine

The Solar Energy lecture that was canceled in November is rescheduled for next Tuesday, the 12^th of January. The Lecture will be given by Stephen Shelton, Director of the Louisiana CleanTech Network. Please join us at the Lafayette Economic Development Authority from 1:30 to 2:30 pm or from 6:00 to 7:00 pm to learn about this exciting technology. LEDA is located at 211 E. Devalcourt St., Lafayette, 70506. For more information about the Acadiana Alternative Energy Committee and power point presentations from the previous lectures, visit our website: www.lafayette.org/aae

Teche Clean-Up This Sunday

Coming off of a successful fundraiser at Cafe des Amis where Cajuns for Bayou Teche raised $1,600, the group is organizing it's next move; a clean-up on Bayou Teche slated for this Sunday, November 15th from noon until 4pm. Volunteers with motor boats are needed. Kayaks and canoes are encouraged to come out, as well. Supporters who do not have a boat are invited to the pavilion to join in a gumbo and to show their appreciation for the clean-up effort. Hebert's Superette on Grand Pointe Highway will be donating everything for the gumbo and Furman Guillory and Richard Burgess will lend their culinary expertise to feed volunteers and supporters.

The Kiwanis Club of Breaux Bridge, Keep St. Martin Beautiful and Acadiana Resource Conservation and Development have partnered with Cajuns for Bayou Teche and the St. Martin Sheriff, Ronnie Theriot and St. Landry Parish Sheriff, Bobby Guidroz have sent out crews to work on the bayou with Blake Couvillion and volunteers since the clean-up efforts began in May, 2009.

"This is a new day for Bayou Teche," says Kristen Kordecki, watershed coordinator from Acadiana Resource Conservation and Development. "Our communities along the Teche know we need to address non-point source pollution and water quality in the Teche if we want to improve fishing opportunities and habitat in the Teche. Cajuns for Bayou Teche has started us off on the right foot by first helping get trash and debris out of the waterway, which is no small task. Now is time for us to look at erosion and run-off from our urban, residential and agriculture areas into the Teche and see what we can do to help slow that down. We are all in this together and Cajuns for Bayou Teche has showed leadership in addressing some of the issues at hand."

Blake Couvillion, director of Cajuns for Bayou Teche and president of the TECHE Project says, "It will take a while to pull refrigerators, hot water heaters, and all the other junk people throw in the bayou, not to mention the log jams. And that's just from Port Barre to Keystone Lock and Dam!" He also said, "This is our heritage, our history, the story we will tell our children of how so many of us came to this land. We used to be able to fish out of there for our meals. We need to treat it with the respect it deserves and stop using it as a back ally to dump our junk and throw our used motor oil."

Cajuns for Bayou Teche will be out with their boat, the "St. Michael" and invites the community to join in the clean up effort or to enjoy some home-cooked gumbo and cheer on the volunteers!

Photo by Natalie Maynor

Nutria Expand Their Horizons

Apparently Nutria don't just prefer Louisiana coastline, they'll eat any old coast and right now, Chesapeake Bay is one of their new favorite places to dine. Unfortunately Maryland has a law against bounty hunting game, but they are looking to Louisiana for advice on how to rid themselves of this pesky rodent. Nikki Busky with the Daily Comet has a story about the renewal of the bill that originally authorized Louisiana's eradication methods. Those methods have meant big bucks for hunters and have saved the state an estimated 23,000 - 80,000 acres of wetlands. Maryland's Wildlife and Fisheries are hunting and trapping, just not paying bounties.

Broussard Company Featured on Sundance Channel

The Sundance Channel must love South Louisiana....or we're just so green we keep making their show. Back in September they featured a Jennings company on their 'Big Ideas for a Small Planet" and now they've turned their attention to a Broussard company. FuzziBunz is a cloth diaper company started by Tereson Dupuy of Broussard in 1999 as an answer to her son's problem with diaper rash. Now FuzziBunz can be found in retailers across the world and has many celebrity fans including Matthew McConaughey and Tori Spelling. Big Ideas for a Small Planet is on the Sundance Channel tonight at 7pm.

Maybe Some Hope?

Nancy Sutley, Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality toured the Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, as part of the Ocean Policy Task Force and was "humbled" by the experience. She saw with her own eyes the loss of coastal wetlands we here in Louisiana have been shouting about for quite some time. Here's what she posted on the White House Blog:

Standing on the viewing post of Bayou Bienvenue and seeing the extent to which the wetlands have disappeared was a humbling experience that reinforced my belief in the importance of this, and other coastal restoration projects. As the President said during the Town Hall, it is inspirational to spend time with the citizens there who have persevered in the face of the tragedy that was Katrina and are steadfast in their resolve to rebuild. The Obama Administration is committed to enhancing the environmental and economic sustainability of New Orleans and coastal Louisiana, and we recognize that coastal wetland restoration is a key path toward achieving this type of long-term resiliency.

And this:

Our trip allowed us to see both the bird’s eye view of the Gulf from the air, and actual restoration efforts on the ground. The Obama administration is working to strengthen the wetlands and barrier islands that are the first line of defense for the Gulf Coast – a priority that, while critical to this region’s physical protection, is also critical to our environment and to our economy.

Yes, it is overdue, yes it is mere words when action is needed. But at this point, I'll take it. It is a start, and Ms. Sutley is to be commended for her efforts. Now, Madame, if you could please get your boss on the horn. Read her post here.

Cajuns for Bayou Teche

Cafe des Amis will host a fundraiser for Cajuns for Bayou Teche, a program of the Teche Ecology, Culture and History Education (TECHE) Project this coming Thursday, October 29th from 6pm - 9pm. Musicians Bon Soir Catin, Drew Landry and David Greely & Friends will be sharing their music in support of Cajuns for Bayou Teche. Tickets are a $25 recommended donation and Cafe des Amis will host a complimentary wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres from 6:00-6:45.

Cajuns for Bayou Teche is a community organization that volunteers time to haul debris from Bayou Teche. Volunteers donate their time and boats to help clean up and currently, the organization would like to raise $3000 during event to get a motor and additional fabrication work to assist in removing large items like washers and hot water heaters. Blake Couvillion, director of Cajuns for Bayou Teche and President of the TECHE Project said, "Last Spring, we hauled over 6 tons of metal, tires, bicycles and refrigerators from the Bayou. It's ridiculous what people throw in there. The Teche is a part of our lives and our heritage and that's how we treat it? We have water quality problems to address on the Teche and we also have to get some of this junk out of here." He explained, "Right now I have my eye on a stove that's been sitting there for years. Once the winch is ready to go and I have a reliable motor, my guys and I will get out there to pick it up and start hauling debris. We'll work from Port Barre all the way down to St. Martinville!"

The community is invited to come out to meet with Blake and learn more about Bayou Teche and enjoy the company and music of some of the areas finest musicians. Tickets are available by calling Blake at 337-230-8596

Photo by Natalie Maynor

Beausoleil Home Final Update

Well, the Solar Decathlon finished judging Friday and if it wasn't for that darned water heater our team would have really come out strong. As it is, they finished 19th place, and really, just placing is an incredible accomplishment considering many of the teams had been there before and knew how to design to the criteria and this was the first time ever that a team from Louisiana even participated. Team Beausoleil had very solid scores in all other categories except the Water Heater challenge (the judges would draw 15 gallons of hot water from the home every 10 minutes). Unfortunately they had some issues, replaced the heater and was unable to regain enough power in time to heat up for the subsequent draws. The two weeks ended last night with a good ole fashioned fais do do as BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet played at the final celebration. I bet one thing: I'm sure Team Beausoleil had the rockin-est house on the Solar Decathlon block. Great job team! Marsha Sills with the Advocate has a complete story here, and here are the Team Beausoleil standings by contest:

Architecture: 11
Market Viability: 1
Engineering: 15
Lighting Design: 13
Communications: 16
Comfort Zone: 7
Hot Water: 20
Appliances: 6
Home Entertainment: 7
Net Metering: 17

Plaquemine Parish Is Protecting Itself

Plaquemine Parish has taken it upon themselves to come up with a solution to help protect them from future hurricanes. After being battled by recent storms, they regrouped and came up with multi line of defense solution that they plan on instituting as soon as they get the permits to do so. First, they intend to barricade themselves by using sediment to rebuild marshes and barrier islands, then they will build up a ridge of cypress trees in front of their levees....a plan inspired actually by a herd of cattle. During Hurricane Katrina, cattle farmer Earl Armstrong lost 1700 of his 1800 cattle but the other 100 managed to save themselves by moving to higher ground a top of a natural ridge. Rick Jervis of the USA Today has the whole interesting story here.

Photo by Ken Roberts Photography

Beausoleil Home Takes First in Market Viability Contest

Marsha Sills with The Advocate has a nice piece in today's paper on the Beausoleil House and it's win yesterday in the Market Viability Contest of the Solar Decathlon. That article can be seen here. It's not too late to vote in the people's choice award so let's show 'em our support and get texting!