So much has happened since we set out on this journey. Friday we stuffed thousands of feet of hair boom at Arc of Greater New Orleans with the folks from A Ride Till the End. That was a truly soul-enriching experience, and renewed our faith in folks in general. On Saturday we drove down to Cameron, LA to cover the beach cleanup event with Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, got to meet and work with some great people from all over the US, including a scientist who is working in oil extraction technologies. When he found out I've been giving free haircuts to collect for the hair booms, he asked for a trim and for me to explain hair booms to him. When I explained it, he said that he was very interested and thought that there was a way to remove the oil from the used hair booms and recycle it. This morning he called me and told me that he had spoken to scientists in Ukraine and they said that that could definitely be done. He said the Ukranian scientist was flying in today with the necessary equipment, and asked if I could connect him with the folks at Matter of Trust! He also said that they would help design and fund whatever is needed to float the booms. I connected him with all the contacts I have for boom manufacturers, volunteers, etc., and they are calling us about going out with them to Grand Isle in the morning. Positive progress is happening, and to quote the little Shake-N-Bake girl: "And I helped!" It just goes to show what even one person can do with just a little faith and gumption! Blessed be! Tomorrow we head to MS to meet with the Gulf Conservation Coalition, then on to Alabama for the Blessing of the Bay on Wednesday, worj with hair boom volunteers on Thursday and dune building and planting with school children on Friday. After that, onto Pensacola to talk to the folks from the Pensacola Beach Blog , the Emerald Coastkeeper and some of the other folks working to fight this 'war'.
Keep the faith, don't give up hope, fight the good fight! If there is one thing this trip has proven to me, it is that it's worth it. Blessed be!