Category Archives: Environment

Rising Gasoline Prices Aren’t Wholly Caused by Hurricane Katrina

Posted on September 23, 2005 by bfiacarolinevernon

Rising Gasoline Prices Aren’t Wholly Caused by Hurricane Katrina by Public Citizen http://www.citizen.org What is it going to take before the American people start demanding accountability? Why should the people be the only ones to sacrifice in tough times? While … Continue reading →

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Smithfield, Iowa Settle Packer Ban Lawsuit

Posted on September 20, 2005 by bfiachadthompson

Smithfield, Iowa Settle Packer Ban Lawsuit In a bit of “end of the week” news last week, Smithfield announced a settlement with the State of Iowa that would lift the ban on Smithfield owning hogs to contract to growers. Smithfield … Continue reading →

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Iowa Hog Confinements Built at Record Pace

Posted on September 20, 2005 by bfialindathieman

Iowa Hog Confinements Built at Record Pace by Perry Beeman, Des Moines Register.com The number of large sites continues to grow, despite their neighbors' concerns Iowa this year set a record for new large-scale livestock confinements, as neighbors and critics … Continue reading →

Posted in Corporate Greed, Environment, Farming, Health Care & Medicare, Iowa in the News, Main Page | 2 Comments

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Speaks to Sierra Club on Non-Environmental Issues

Posted on September 18, 2005 by Trish Nelson

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Speaks to Sierra Club on Non-Environmental Issues DailyKos Contributed by Ellen Ballas by muddy paw Robert Kennedy, Jr., in a speech before the Sierra Club, as reported in a diary on DailyKos – “And I say … Continue reading →

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Where There is Hope: The Story of Steve

Posted on September 13, 2005 by bfiacarolinevernon

Where There is Hope: The Story of Steve by William Rivers Pitt, Truthout.org Although we have seen many examples of incompetence and the lack of a much needed sense of urgency to help those whose lives have been completely devastated … Continue reading →

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Katrina Timeline and Why FEMA Failed

Posted on September 9, 2005 by bfiacarolinevernon

 Katrina Timeline and Why FEMA Failed

by Caroline Vernon

Timeline excerpts from thinkprogress.org
Why FEMA Failed from Salon.com

I just heard on Air America that FEMA Director Michael Brown has been removed from his position overseeing recovery efforts post-Katrina. Although Brown has finally been demoted, the spin machine has embarked on promulgating their latest sound-bytes also known as the “blame game”. Check out the following audio file at www.salon.com and pay particular attention to what O-Reilly has to say. To further demonstrate this rare brand of compassionate conservatism, according to the progressreport.org and the Wallstreet Journal, Rep. Richard Baker (R-LA) of Baton Rouge was overhead telling lobbyists: “We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn’t do it, but God did.” These guys have no shame whatsoever!

It is important that the Bush administration not get away with shifting their responsibility to local officials. Here is the timeline of what actually happened. One case in point is the fact that Bush himself was previously warned of levee failure by the National Hurricane Center on August 28th, yet he stated, “no one could have anticipated that the levees would collapse.” Liar, liar, pants on fire! Yeah, he’s in the hot seat all right.

Timeline:

Friday, Aug. 26: Gov. Kathleen Blanco declares a state of emergency in Louisiana and requests troop assistance.

Saturday, Aug. 27: Gov. Blanco asks for federal state of emergency. A federal emergency is declared by Bush giving federal officials the authority to get involved.

Sunday, Aug. 28: Mayor Ray Nagin orders mandatory evacuation of New Orleans. Bush warned of Levee failure by National Hurricane Center. National Weather Service predicts area will be uninhabitable after Hurricane arrives. First reports of water toppling over the levee appear in local paper.

Monday, Aug. 29: Levee breaches and New Orleans begins to fill with water, Bush travels to Arizona and California to discuss Medicare. FEMA chief finally responds to federal emergency, dispatching employees but giving them two days to arrive on site.

Tuesday, Aug. 30: Mass looting reported, security shortage cited in New Orleans. Pentagon says that local authorities have adequate National Guard units to handle hurricane needs despite governor's earlier request. Bush returns to Crawford for final day of vacation. TV coverage is around-the-clock Hurricane news.

Wednesday, Aug. 31: Tens of thousands trapped in New Orleans including at Convention Center and Superdome in  medieval conditions. Bush finally returns to Washington to establish a task force to coordinate federal response. Local authorities run out of food and water supplies.

Thursday, Sept. 1: New Orleans descends into anarchy. New Orleans Mayor issues a  Desperate SOS  to federal government. Bush claims nobody predicted the breach of the levees despite multiple warnings and his earlier briefing.

Friday, Sept. 2: Karl Rove begins Bush administration campaign to blame state and local officials — despite their repeated requests for help.  Bush stages a photo-op — diverting Coast Guard helicopters and crew to act as backdrop for cameras. Levee repair work orchestrated for Bush's visit and White House press corps.

Saturday, Sept. 3: Bush blames state and local officials. Senior administration official (possibly Rove) caught in a lie claiming Gov. Blanco had not declared a state of emergency or asked for help.

Monday, Sept. 5: New Orleans officials begin to collect their dead.

(Adapted from: Katrina Timeline, http://thinkprogress.org/katrina-timeline/)

Those are the facts. State and local officials BEGGED for help as people in their city suffered. The Bush administration didn't get the job done and when their failure became an embarrassment they attacked those asking for help.

The New York Times recently reported that Karl Rove and White House communications director Dan Bartlett rolled out a plan… to contain the political damage from the administration's response to Hurricane Katrina.  The core of the strategy is to shift the blame away from the White House and toward officials of New Orleans and Louisiana.  
Continue reading →

Posted in Big Government, Environment, GOP, Main Page, Media Bias, National News, Progressive Community | 2 Comments

Add These to Your List: Progressive Blogs and E-groups of Note

Posted on September 1, 2005 by bfialindathieman

Add These to Your List: Progressive Blogs & E-groups of Note Iowa's Drew Miller Blog Check out the award-winning Drew Miller Blog, if you haven't already.  Drew covers news and topics related to the Iowa scene and spices up his … Continue reading →

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Confronting The Evidence – A Call to Reopen the 9/11 Investigation

Posted on August 31, 2005 by bfiacarolinevernon

Confronting the Evidence – A Call to Reopen the 9/11 Investigation by Caroline Vernon Excerpts from http://www.Reopen911.org 90% of CNN Viewers Believe in a 9/11 Cover-up: On Wednesday, November 10th, Anderson Cooper featured Kyle Hence and Jimmy Walter regarding the … Continue reading →

Posted in Big Government, Calls to Action, Corporate Greed, Environment, How You Can Help, Main Page, Media Bias, National News, Progressive Community | 2 Comments

IOWA’S NEW BOHEMIA SOLAR PROJECT

Posted on August 28, 2005 by bfiamollyreagan

Iowa's New Bohemia Solar Project by Cliff Day A group of enthusiastic volunteers recently completed installation of the LARGEST PHOTOVOLTAIC ARRAY EVER CONSTRUCTED IN IOWA (7,200 Watt) in the New Bohemia neighborhood of Cedar Rapids (3rd Street and 10th Avenue … Continue reading →

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9 States Plan to Cut Emissions by Power Plants

Posted on August 24, 2005 by bfiacarolinevernon

9 States in Plan to Cut Emissions by Power Plants By ANTHONY DePALMA, NY Times Officials in New York and eight other Northeastern states have come to a preliminary agreement to freeze power plant emissions at their current levels and … Continue reading →

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