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 - Why Shell Oil Company rules over New Orleans Louisiana & U.S.A.

The State of Louisiana and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is committing Billions of $$'s to build a "Leaky Levee" Wall around Louisiana that coastal scientists-engineers say is faulty, and won't work.

Why is there no state or federal plans discussing, or even mentioning anything about the coastal erosion caused by the 10,000 miles of oil company canals and navigational channels dug thru Louisiana wetlands?

It's because the State of Louisiana and the entire U.S.A. is controlled by the oil-gas cronies of Bush family allies. We're certainly not in Afghanistan-Iraq for any other reason than OIL.

Getting back to Louisiana and New Orleans, let's take a look at Shell Oil Company. Shell has created the "Aubudon Institute", an environmentally friendly name. This "Shell for Shell" conglamerate has gobbled up and privatized huge hunks of City and Federal properties and infrastructures. The Audubon Institue owns and controls the New Orleans Audubon Zoo. They tore down invaluable green space for a parking lot, and installed their man Ron Foreman as director. The Audubon Institute under Ron Foreman eventually had their tentacles tear down a much loved New Orleans Aubudon Park Golf center amidst an uproar from local residents. Ron Foreman's response? Bull doze ahead and dam the locals. The Audubon Institute knows what to do with public park space better than local residents. Save Audubon Park!

Back down by the French Quarter, the Audubon Institute seized Mississippi river front property for their Aquarium amidst an uproar from preservationists such as Vieux Carre Property Owner's Association and their attorney Jim Derbes. The Audubon Institute(Shell Oil Company) now controls a huge swath along the Mississippi river for their Waldenburg Park. They have constructed countless statutes and monuments without any approvals from the Vieux Carre Commission. Dam the unique and distinct character of the Vieux Carre. The Audubon Institute-Shell rules.

Downtown New Orleans, the Audubon Institute has taken ownership and control of the U.S. Custom House. Amidst much controversy, they have plans to install an "Insectarium".

In the Warehouse District, Shell has joined with Freeport Moran for the Contemporay Arts Center.

Over in New Orleans east, Audubon Institute-Shell opened up a "Nature Center" to educate the youth their way concerning "greenhouse" gases and loss of wetlands etc. etc.

To keep the people "dancin and eatin", Shell now sponsors the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and the New Orleans Seafood Festival.

Shell Oil is one of the world's largest polluters and emitters of green house gases, and yet receives an environmental award from New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, who can't even get a recycling program or bottle deposit bill started.

The best Mayor Ray Nagin can do is increase garbage collection from a $7 million dollar contract to $33 million dollars, and force giant garbage cans upon the historic New Orleans neighborhoods.

In regard to wetlands, Shell created "America Wetlands," WHICH IS A SHELL FOR SHELL. America Wetlands says we got to save wetlands with $ appropriated from taxpayers-not a peep about Shell and their oil greasy allies' destruction of Louisiana coastal zone by their 10,000 miles of canals and navigational channels. And therefore, Shell under America Wetlands' shell silently slinks away from their responsibility to remedy the coastal erosion caused by these 10,000 miles of wetland oil canal cancers.

The Louisiana Coastal Restoration Protection Authority(CPRA) was set up under Governor Kathleen Blanco to establish a Master Plan to restore Louisiana's disappearing coast. The CPRA is partly sponsored by America Wetlands, which is actually public relations scheme created by Shell Oil Company. Therefore nothing is being done to force oil companies to take responsibility for their massive erosion caused by their over 10,000 miles of canals and navigational channels gutting thru Louisiana wetlands.

There's a reason today why our cities are choked full of loud-gas-oil-polluting busses rather than environmentally friendly trolley-streetcars. Today, there's a reason why we don't have electric cars charged with solar power.

There's a reason why big oil favorite Senator Mary Landrieu votes to drill in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge Center.

There's a reason today a thief, liar, and mass murderer is President-Vice President of the U.S.A., and truth of 911 is covered up.

There's a reason Lyndon Johnson became President. There's a reason why George Herbert Walker Bush became head of the CIA in time to cover up the Kennedy assassination, and there's a reason why his father Senator Prescott Bush never went to prison, and there's a reason why U.S. Senator Huey P. Long's assassination was covered up. It's all tied to the Oil and Gas industry. And that's why today, greenhouse gases are out of control, and more violent, bigger hurricanes are on their way, and Louisiana is disappearing while 10,000 miles of oil company canals and navigational channels are not part of Louisiana's master coastal plan-not a peep-not a word.