God’s green hand in the U.S.

New York. God created environmentalism. Richard Cizik’s Bible does not state it in such definite terms. But the experienced preacher can quote many verses in the Scriptures, which back up his gospel of green. Genesis, chapter 2 verse 15. “God has assigned us the biblical duty to care for the Earth and to protect it”, he says. His clear voice rises over the diffuse noise of the coffee brewing. It is cold on this morning of January in New York. In the dim anonymity of a Starbucks in Manhattan, the reverend talks about his mission to help save the environment.

Jennifer Lopez: “I have matured”

Miami.
How long did it take to produce your album?
It took about three years to complete, which probably sounds like a long time. But it did not feel like a long time. I never went to the record company to tell them I wanted to make an album. Or they never asked me to make a Spanish album. It wasn’t that type of deal. It was just that we started making music. 2 1/2 years later, we realized we had this beautiful album.

Shantytown for lost souls in Liberty City

Miami.The rose progressively faded away. “This is my wife”. Timothy Fuller says, while showing the worn-out tattoo engraved in his left forearm. “Even if don’t see her, she is always there with me”. On this early afternoon of January, the tall African-American, 50, is standing in front of hut that proclaims in red letters : “Jesus is Lord! That!!!” He arrived at Umoja a month ago, a shantytown, which was started on October 23 2006 by advocates for low-income housing in Miami.

Liberty City, Miami

To see jean-cosme delaloye’s pictures of the first “official” US slum, click here.

Keith Ellison: «I did not expect to become a symbol»

Keith Ellison, after you stated your intention to take oath on the Quran, you became the target of attacks by some conservatives but also a symbol of religious tolerance in the US. Did you expect to have such an impact ?
-No I did not expect to become a symbol. I campaigned because I wanted to talk about peace, about Iraq, about the problems of the middle class and about universal healthcare for my fellow Americans. To find myself in the middle of a controversy was a surprise but I am used to it.

Ellison, the Muslim Congressman, who haunts conservatives

Minneapolis. “With God, we’ll have a good time!” Seating on the stage of a union hall in a snowy suburb of Minneapolis, Keith Ellison and his wife Kim are listening to a gospel choir from a local Baptist church. The singers are dancing: “Come on, let’s have a good time!” Ellison claps his hands with the crowd of about 200 people who came tonight to send him off to Washington. One might not be surprised to see an African-American Congressman-elect dance to gospel. Except that the democratic politician who was elected in November 2006 to represent Minnesota’s 5th district, is the first Muslim Congressman in US history.