2008-02-28 13:22:35 - There's a rumor spreading that Brad Pitt will be running for office in New Orleans.

The actor sometimes lives in the city with his partner, Angelina Jolie, and has been working there with his Make It Right (MIR) campaign. MIR is an organization building affordable, sustainable homes in New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward, the area hit the hardest by Hurricane Katrina. The goal is to build 150 homes that use solar power, natural light, energy

efficiency, and other green design features for displaced residents, and to show that the system can be replicated.

Now there's some buzz that Pitt is interested in really taking charge of the Big Easy, and we're pretty sure we haven't seen a politician like him. An elected official who not only believes that global warming is a real threat but who has initiated a sustainable building project? A politician who has openly talked about our dependence on foreign oil? A politician who showed up to his movie premiere in a BMW Hydrogen 7, and who models organic cotton T-shirts that benefit his charitable organization?

Okay, some things might have to change with the new job. But seriously, the Big Easy could only benefit from having a leader who genuinely cares about the environment and citizens' health. The rest of the country would be impacted by learning about the importance of sustainable design - and by visiting the city's official Website to see pics of Mayor Pitt.



In December 2006, Brad Pitt convened a group of experts in New Orleans to brainstorm about building green affordable housing on a large scale to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. Having spent time with community leaders and displaced residents determined to return home, Pitt realized that an opportunity existed to build houses that were not only stronger and healthier, but that had less impact on the environment

Previously, Pitt sponsored an architecture competition organized by Global Green with the goal of generating ideas about how to rebuild sustainably. Several of those designs are currently under construction in the Lower 9th Ward and the project inspired him to expand his efforts.

After discussing the hurdles associated with rebuilding in a devastated area, the group determined that a large-scale redevelopment project focused on green affordable housing and incorporating innovative design was indeed possible.

The group settled on the goal of constructing 150 homes (one of the larger rebuilding projects in the city), with an emphasis on developing an affordable system that could be replicated.

To demonstrate replicability, Pitt determined to locate the project in the Lower 9th Ward, one of the most devastated areas of New Orleans, proving that safe homes could and should be rebuilt. Pitt hopes that this project would be a catalyst for recovery and redevelopment throughout the Lower 9th Ward and across the city of New Orleans.

Having listened to one former resident's plea to help "make this right," Pitt was inspired to name the project "Make It Right" (MIR).