Hubspot.NOLA: May 2010

It’s difficult to not draw parallels between the government's response in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the most recent reaction of officials to the oil spill that took place just last month, but I’ll try to contain myself.

New Orleans's fate hangs in the balance as we watch how the BP Horizon oil catastrophe unfolds. And so we watch, once more, the grave impact of a man-made disaster. And what is that we see? Yet another calamity that could have been avoided, yet another delayed government response, and yet another campaign to shift blame and assign culpability. But what does this amount to? What does it matter whose fault it is? Simple, it doesn't.

What matters is the fragile ecosystems that may be destroyed if, rather when, the oil comes ashore. What matters are the thousands of workers that have been displaced because Louisiana's coast has been shut down. What matters is the impending ruination of the wetlands that are vital in providing flood control, water filtration, habitats for fish and wildlife, and more. What matters are the animals that will die. What matters is the looming damage to the ecosystem, economy, and this glorious city's existence.
These are the things that matter. These are the problems that need to be resolved, and in the future, avoided.
From April 20th and on, rather from August 28th, 2005 and on, we have watched and we have waited. The oil spill is yet another "crude awakening." We can longer sit by idly as these disasters ensue one after another. Speak up, take action.
If in need of some motivation as to why you should help fight for the preservation of this great city and ensure that past wrongs are rectified listen to this awe-inspiring track by Flobots. Entitled “Stand Up”, featured on their album “Fight with Tools”, the song speaks to the government’s failure in New Orleans. A sneak peak of their sensational lyrics:

We still don't understand thunder and lightning/Flash back to when we didn't fund the dam//Didn't fund the dam levee? No wonder man/Now our whole damn city's torn asunder man/Under water but we still don't understand/We see hurricane spills overrun the land/Through gaps you couldn't fill with a 100 tons of sand

Their heart-wrenching chorus:

We shall not be moved/Except By a child with no socks and shoes/Except by a woman dying from a loss of food/Except by a freedom fighter bleeding on a cross for you

We shall not be moved/Except by a system that’s rotten through/Neglecting the victims and ordering the cops to shoot/High treason now we need to prosecute

And as if every other stanza wasn't inspirational enough, they conclude:

Stand up/ We shall not be moved/ Unless were taking a route we have not pursued/

So if you've got a dream and a lot to do/ Put your hands up and I'll copy you

- Raya

Check it for yourself!