New Orleans, Louisiana USA

It's been more than 3 years since Hurricanes Rita & Katrina swept through the City of New Orleans leaving devastation in their wake. Today, the city is still rebuilding amidst failed funding, missing donations and the sometimes seemingly insurmountable task of encouraging people to return.

In April 2007 some 800 Pyrates visited New Orleans during the first annual "PyrateCon" - bringing their gold and goodwill to the citizens of this fine cith on the Mississippi delta. New Orleans has a history with Pyrates; it was largely founded by them (specifically by Capt. Jean Laffite and his brother Pierre - frequently mis-spelled Lafitte) and holds them in some regard for creating a port of trade, commerce and many a good time! In April 2008 the Pyrates Union joined thousands of other Pyrates in New Orleans for the second annual  PyrateCon whose parade was the "largest single day parade" in New Orleans history - 2700 Pyrates stretched six blocks up Bourbon Street!

Our good friend (and Pyrates Union member) Sean M. Perry is co-founder & Director the Lafayette Cemetery Research Project (begun in 1997) - and since then has been the custodian of New Orleans most famous cemetery (Lafayette Cemetery No. 1). In communicating with Sean he has updated us on the progress of rebuilding - including his monumental task of rebuilding, maintaining and protecting one of the cities greatest landmarks. Like everywhere else in the city, the cemeteries are in need of repair, better security and funding. Sean has told us that it's often the everyday things that are needed - paint, wood, concrete...and would you believe, garbage bins! there has also been a great deal of vandalism in the cemeteries - people breaking the faceplates of tombs to try and claim them as "abandoned" and then re-sell them to others (all tombs are deeded land)...even people stealing statues from tombsites - there were only two left in Lafayette No. 1 and someone destroyed "The Weeping Virgin" in May of 2008 - now only "The Archangel" remains and it's been long damaged (missing a wing).

Sean is a great keeper of the history of New Orleans, from the cemetery to the Garden District that has been his home for more than 40 years, to the Old Spanish Fort out on the Bayou. In fact, Sean is the only official tour guide of Lafayette No. 1. In order to help him continue his work and help support the city through tourism, we encourag everyone to visit Sean for a tour (the tours are free, but we suggest a $10 donation to support the work in the cemetery).

Sean also has another project that is close to his heart, Read New Orleans - helping early readers in the City of New Orleans by providing new or gently used books (starting with a K - gr. 4 age range). There are also opportunities for anyone local to assist with distributing the books, mentoring children or anything else that can help.

Another very important group in the rebuilding of New Orleans is Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation which is helping build homes in the lower 9th Ward. Not only are they building homes, but making them environmentally sound which will also make them easier for residents to own as the costs of electricity (for example) will be considerably lowered by the use of things like solar panels and CF bulbs.

NOLA Rising: NOLA Rising is a post-Katrina art campaign encouraging people in all faubourgs of Greater New Orleans to publicly display works of art, regardless of how simple or untutored it may seem to be, for the purpose of rebuilding and restoring the human spirit in our city. NOLA is a unique and beautiful city that has historically embraced the spirit of personal freedom that supports the growth of the artist, musician and writer ... the goal of the NOLA Rising Project is to showcase that spirit.

We encourage you to support these initiatives - with donations if you are able, or simply spread the word to others. We especially encourage you to visit New Orleans (make sure to get outside the French Quarter) -  and we are certain, like us, you will fall in love with this city, it's people and it's rich culture and return many times (or perhaps like so many in NOLA, never leave).

Boubon St. Live Cam
(Cat's Meow - corner of St. Peter)