By Stephen Sabludowsky,  reporter from Louisiana, traveling with the US congressional delegation to the Netherlands to study the Dutch integrated water management system.

Amsterdam, Netherlands—Day three (Thursday) of Louisiana U. S. Senator Mary Landrieu’s and the Environment Protection Agency’s Lisa P. Jackson’s “Codel” to the Netherlands to study how the European country handles water–was sparked by  with a comment at a press conference that Senator Landrieu plans to introduce  legislation that she hopes will result in reformation of certain practices of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (more…)

By Stephen Sabludowsky,  reporter from Louisiana, traveling with the US congressional delegation to the Netherlands to study the Dutch integrated water management system.

The Netherlands is attempting to spend over one billion Euros on what it considers to be a major problem affecting the world including its own  nation–that of “climate change”.

Dutch have a mindset of ensuring that climate and “water” are its friends rather than its foes, but believe that it shares many of the “lessons learned” and future concerns that many throughout the world have about its near and future destinies.  As a result, the country is on an ambitious project of protecting itself from changes that some might consider to be incremental, but, could possibly be resulting in major devastations such as Hurricane Katrina and Rita.  Due to its intense focus on the issue, the Dutch scientific community has been sharing information with the United States and with Louisiana since it believes it can learn much from the United States and in turn can help many communities throughout the nation better deal with “water-related-issues” that impact so many of us. (more…)

By Stephen Sabludowsky,  reporter from Louisiana, traveling with the US congressional delegation to the Netherlands to study the Dutch integrated water management system.

Day One:  I am “water-logged”.

Every part of my body feels like “water”.  And, I also must have had “water on my brain” as I, as a sleep-depraved journeyman, misplaced my own video camera full of beautiful movies of the Netherlands and yes, water.

No, I never considered water to be very interesting subject before.  I must confess, my attending this “Codel” with those who are studying the effects of water as a system has certainly piqued my curiosity juices, watering me with questions.  I really wonder, gee, just how can the Netherlands do this stuff they actually do.

Then, perhaps, there is another reason this Codel is so special to me. (more…)

By Willum Geerts

I’m home. That is, New York has become my second home in recent years. The chaos, speed, energy, 24hr noise, the extremes in about everything: It’s completely exhausting, but it gives me a great boost. The reason for my two months stay this time is the invitation to participate in the Homebase Project IV: A site-specific public art project exploring the meaning of “Home”.

And as soon as I set foot in the city “home” seizes me, since the promised accommodation, due to our friend the crazy crisis, is not available. So there’s nothing more to do than start running around straight away, checking listings and visiting places. Hunting for a home, or at least, somewhere I will feel at home. After a week I finally find a nice place in Williamsburg, I never would have thought this would take so much time and energy. Mundane life can start especially after I dig up my bike out of a friend’s basement. The city is mine again. (more…)