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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Letter to Mary Landrieu

SOWL President
Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested April 7, 1999

Senator Mary Landrieu
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510-1803

Dear Senator Landrieu:

Enclosed is a SOWL letter to you dated November 19, 1998 requesting you introduce a resolution in the United States Senate to investigate our disappearing wetlands in Louisiana and the affect on flooding as well as our insurance rates. Hopefully the United States Senate can recommend steps to insure our remaining Louisiana wetlands are preserved." (See copy enclosed for your reference.)

As of this late date, no response from your office has been received. SOWL realizes you are busy supporting the bombing in Yugoslavia and it was announced in the New Orleans Times Picayune on April 2, 1999, your support of sending U. S. ground troops into this European War theater.

In the meantime, we, your constituents, have our own war. Louisiana has one of the highest rates of cancer and birth defects as a direct result of industrial toxic dumping.

The United States Army Corps of Engineers construction of the Mississippi River Gulf outlet is pouring Gulf of Mexico salt water into our rapidly eroding wetland hurricane tidal buffers. St. Bernard, Plaquemines and Orleans Parishes are sitting ducks for major flooding.

Also, the Corps, in conjunction with Louisiana state agencies, have been reckless in their rubber stamping of wetland destruction permits to land developers in St. Tammany Parish. And now, urban sprawl over once vast north shore coastal estuaries invite major flooding.

What does it take to get your attention? Do we have to be 12 feet under water? After we flood, will you fly over us in your big jumbo Washington airplane and bestow upon us your declaration as a federal disaster area?

We, your supporters, did not send you to Washington to perpetrate Ronald Regan's Star Wars. We the people of Louisiana sent you, Mary Landrieu, to Washington to address our problems in this State.

It's time to take your fingers off the nuclear trigger and address the problems here. We've already had our F. Edward Heberts in the United States Congress.

SOWL requests your response to SOWL's November 19, 1998 and now this letter in the near future.

Sincerely,
Save Our Wetlands

cc: American Lung Association of Louisiana

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For more on Senator Landrieu goto: U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu is No Friend of Wetlands