Saturday, February 9, 2013

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Too late to save face, but time for LSU to settle van Heerden lawsuit ~Jed Horn, The Lens

Jindal aide: Army Corps of Engineers is a 'complete disaster'

 

Dear Editilla,
Louisiana's state bird was back in the news last week.  The newest NBA team nickname is the New Orleans Pelicans!
The pelican had faded from the nation's attention, along with the BP oil disaster, after images in 2010 of the majestic bird drenched in oil became the icon of BP's carnage in the Gulf.  Along with the birds, their oil-soaked mangrove nesting habitat on Louisiana's eroding barrier islands has been decimated as well.  Pelicans need nesting sites far removed from predators to hatch and fledge their young. 

Unfortunately, BP is dragging their feet in funding barrier island restoration projects.  Cat Island in Plaquemines Parish is falling apart around these amazing animals.  This critical rookery spot was 360 acres in 1930, 40 acres in 1998 and 4 acres in pre-BP 2010.  Now the island has been split in two, its magroves are dead, and it's roughly the size of a football field. A plan to protect it has run into significant funding shortfalls, despite some big promises from BP.

In a high profile announcement in 2010, BP agreed to spend $1 billion to fund 'early restoration'.  Intending to get ahead of the severe impacts, the agreement envisioned spending the money in a year or two. 

We're at the end of that timeline and the early restoration effort has only programed $70 million, less than 10% of the initial promise.  None of the projects will restore pelican nesting habitat, despite the fact that Louisiana has proposed a number of different barrier island projects to BP. 

Take action today and urge BP to spend the money they promised, and help restore habitat of our fearsome Pelicans.

For the Gulf,
Aaron Viles
Deputy Director,
Gulf Restoration Network

 

The Advocate’s N.O. bureau moves to new location, website remains a hideous wasteland

New Orleans sees gains in making children ready for school

Lee Zurik Investigation: St. Tammany coroner gives himself 39 percent raise ~WVUE

“Demand It” Campaign Expands – Emphasizing Louisiana Seafood Certification

Gulf Oil Spill Claims Disputed By Feckless Limey Bastards at BP

"Believe You Can" Targets New Orleans Ladies ~Bloodhorse.com

Maskers carry on Carnival tradition in Tremé 

Knights of Babylon 
~Uptown 5:45 p.m.  
Knights of Chaos 
~Uptown 6:30 p.m.
Krewe of Muses 
~Uptown 6:30 p.m.


Oh man! Oh girl! Oh Hell! Oh My Heavens! Oh Suzanna! Check out tonight's parade weather!
Lassezes Le Bon Temp Roule'!!!

Endymion stages a free New Orleans music festival on its Mardi Gras 2013 parade route

An array of concerts heat up New Orleans stages on Lundi Gras ~The Hullabaloo