It took nature 6,000 years to create the Louisiana coast, yet only 75 years for humans to destroy one-third of it. Already, 1,900 square miles of coastal lands have melted into the Gulf of Mexico, and that damage has put New Orleans and the entire region on the verge of collapse. The destruction of land is continuing, and if this area washes away, so will the economy and heart of the entire state -- and the nation will pay a price as well.
The oil industry is not the only party responsible for this destruction, but they are accountable for much of it. RLN will initially devote itself to preventing political interference in the lawsuit filed by the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East against 97 oil, gas, and pipeline companies for the destruction of the coast -- the region’s first line of hurricane protection.
The message of these lawsuits is simple; obey the law, keep your word and fix what you broke. According to a recent poll, 93% of coastal Louisiana residents say that oil, gas and pipeline companies, not taxpayers, should pay to fix their share of the damage to the coastal wetlands. RLN proudly stands with those residents.
This week the Louisiana House of Representatives will vote on whether to protect the lives, property and habitat of half the state’s population that lives in its coastal parishes, or grant legal immunity to the oil and gas industry for decades of non-compliance with state law and permits. The juxtaposition should disturb most Americans, but Governor Bobby Jindal and his legislative allies believe that shielding Big Oil’s privilege trumps the constitutional rights and indeed, the very survival, of the citizens they allege to represent. Let me explain.
Of all the words spoken down through the ages in the halls of our state government, none resound with greater authority than these: “We, the people of Louisiana.”
It is clear to most observers that the number one economic and social issue facing south Louisiana (in fact, the entire State) is the continuing loss of our coast.
PLAQUEMINES PARISH, LA (WVUE) - As Louisiana barrier islands, marshes and swamps melt away, some of the best-selling fiction in the bookstore might just be the Louisiana state map.
"They're becoming memories," said David Muth, describing many of the bays and land features that have vanished along Louisiana's rapidly eroding coastline.