When Katrina hit, I had only one thing in my mind as a Slow Food leader: finding a direct way to help small farmers, artisans and fisherman get back to work and sustain themselves and their families.

It's about identity, really. Do we want everybody to dress the same and look the same and listen to the same music? That's a disaster. Every place has it's 'best' product -- an artichoke or whatever. Why have uniformity instead of preserving local things?

Any help or donation, no matter how small, will be deeply appreciated and is much needed.

I didn't know what was going through my mind.

Perfect harmony of body and mind are my key to personal balance and happiness.

I felt nobody would understand what was going on in my mind.