July 2010 | Bridge The Gulf Project

July 2010

Resilience and hope for the future

I visited coastal Mississippi for the first time ten years ago. A friend I knew in Boston, Derrick Evans, had invited me to visit Turkey Creek, where his ancestors had settled after the Civil War. Soon he was drawn into a new life in Mississippi, and I was drawn into making a film about the struggle to protect Turkey Creek against urban sprawl, industrial contamination and disaster.

Recovery for All

Being intentional about "healing" the open wounds and the powerlessness of those victimized by "man-made" disasters is just as important as environmental recovery. The recovery of the environment is intertwined with the recovery of our humanity. Every time a "man made" disaster occurs the emotional, mental, and spiritual strengths erodes. Due to the multigenerational nature of these "unnatural" disasters, internalized messages of lack and limits reinforces a culture of oppression.