Looking into the future the Pelican feeding its young from a self-induced wound in its own breast (as depicted, mysteriously, on the state flag of Louisiana) is accepted as an appropriate symbol of both self-sacrifice and rebirth. Through his selfless efforts, man is raised from the slavery of ignorance to the condition of freedom conferred by wisdom. Given the current state of affairs in Louisiana, one hopes that the understanding of the Pelican as a symbol shall point the way towards a new consciousness of ourselves as a whole, and lead us to face our futures with strength, grace, wisdom and faith, to learn from our mistakes and carry our successes and zest for living to future generations.

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Editorial: Shell Oil Company Plays a P.R. shell game with the Straw Man

"Shell has a long-standing belief that we must help protect our country's natural ecology. The viability of Louisiana's coast is important to all of us. Because this is an area where Shell customers, stakeholders and employees live and work, and because we are committed to our social responsibility to protect and preserve Louisiana's natural assets for future generations, Shell is especially proud to help bring Louisiana's unique ecosystem to the public's attention."

- John Hofmeister, President, Shell Oil Company

It's unbelievable that Mr. Hofmeister has the audacity to even spew such outlandish rhetoric...but there it is...now here's the TRUTH:

Shell Oil Company according to EPA documents, is one of the major polluters in the United States. In the past, Shell's Norco, Louisiana plant has had multiple explosions, resulting in massive evacuations of minority Afro-American citizens, that live in this toxic-petro-chemical corridor called: "Cancer Alley." Louisiana is a toxic dump thanks to the Shell Oil and the gas industry.

Ironically, the toxic polluter, Shell Oil is now a major sponsor of AMERICA WETLANDS and is putting up several million dollars for a AMERICA WETLANDS PR campaign touting to rebrand Louisiana's marshes as "America's Wetland."

The Marmillion Company a big Washington D.C. public relations firm, who has had ties with Sen. Mary Landrieu in the past, has now been contracted to handle the public relations for AMERICA WETLANDS.

On thier website Marmillion Company boasts of its past involvement with Landrieu, acting as her PR campaign management when she has run for political office. Also, conviently enough, Marmillion Company announced that at the beginning of 2006 Landrieu's Chief of Staff Norma Jane Sabiston will take over as their new Vice President.

Landrieu, who is known for pushing to drill in the Artic National Wildlife Reserve(ANWR), for giving tax breaks to the oil & gas industry, and supporting 'limitation of liability legislation' for the nuclear power industry is also a spokesperson for AMERICA WETLANDS.

The idea of Landrieu recieving funding from congress for coastal restoration makes one wonder if her interests to preserve wetlands is for the people and wildlife of Louisiana, or is it for the benefit of Shell Oil and the rest of the oil industry.

Now, AMERICA WETLANDS with it's mega-industry sponsor, and it's mega-politically connected spindoctors is convienently omitting key issues from its rhetoric. Such as...

1. The Corps of Engineers Mississippi River Gulf Outlet must be filled in immediately. This MR-GO has destroyed over 20,000 acres of wetlands that once served as a buffer to hurricane tidal surges hitting St. Bernard, Plaquemines and Orleans Parishes. MR-GO served as a funnel-funeral for Hurricane Katrina's tidal surges.

2. AMERICA WETLANDS demands federal tax payers fork over billions of dollars to restore the Louisiana costal zone. However, they fail to mention the liability of oil companies for the dredging of thousands of miles canals, or the Corps' disasterous MR-GO. But Landrieu has no problem pointing out that it's the levees not canals that are the cause for coastal erosion.

3. During an interview on NPR Radio she takes the side of big oil and makes it clear that the burden of the restoration of wetlands in Louisiana falls in the lap of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the federal government. She then plays down the documented research that over 50% of the reason for coastal erosion is because of the thousands of oil company canals created by gulf coast petroleum industries.

4. Finally, Two questions are raised. How can Shell Oil sponsor a save AMERICA WETLANDS campaign and proceed with their killing field-open loop LNG facility proposal that will slaughter the fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico and also be considered eco-friendly? And how can AMERICA WETLANDS lie in bed with Shell Oil Co. and be considered a proponent for environmental conservation and restoration?

Since AMERICA WETLANDS fails to bring up the known fact that oil company canals are in large part the leading cause of coastal erosion. And since AMERICA WETLANDS has this partnership-sponsorship with Shell Oil that supports this false image of Shell Oil as a wetland-conservation supporter it lends credence to the idea that AMERICA WETLANDS is a straw man created to take the heat off of Shell Oil by ignoring key issues.

By aligning itself and accepting sponsorship from Shell Oil Co. AMERICA WETLANDS helps promote the concealment of the fact that there is an obvious and immediate necessity to convert from the stinking-polluting oil and gas industry to a solar-wind-alternative-economically viable energy industry with a massive energy conservation program.