View the Photos on Display

The boat ride, out, from Lafitte, Louisiana, Sunday, May 23, 2010, to our fishing grounds was not unlike any other I have taken in my life, as a commercial fisherman from this area. I have made the trip thousands of times in my 35 plus years shrimping and crabbing. A warm breeze in my face, it is a typical Louisiana summer day. 3 people were with me, my wife Tracy, Ian Wren, and our grandson, Scottie. I was soon to find out, how untypical this day would become for me, not unlike a death in the family. This was going to be a very bad day for me.

As we neared Barataria Bay, the smell of crude oil in the air was getting thicker and thicker. An event that always brought joy to me all of my life, the approach of the fishing grounds, was slowly turning into a nightmare. As we entered Grand Lake, the name we fishermen call Barataria Bay, I started to see a weird, glassy look to the water and soon it became evident to me, there was oil sheen as far as I could see. Soon, we were running past patches of red oil floating on top of the water. As we headed farther south, we saw at least a dozen boats, in the distance, which appeared to be shrimping. We soon realized that shrimping was not what they were doing at all, but instead they were towing oil booms in a desperate attempt to corral oil that was pouring into our fishing grounds. We stopped to talk to one of the fishermen, towing a boom, a young fisherman from Lafitte. What he told me floored me. He said, “What we are seeing in the lake, the oil, was but a drop in the bucket of what was to come.” He had just come out of the Gulf of Mexico and he said, “It was unbelievable, the oil runs for miles and miles and was headed for shore and into our fishing grounds”. I thought, what I had already seen in the lake was enough for a lifetime. We talked a little while longer, gave the fisherman some protective respirators and were soon on our way. As we left the small fleet of boats, working feverishly, trying to corral the oil, I became overwhelmed with what I just saw.

I am not real emotional and consider myself a pretty tough guy. You have to be to survive as a fisherman. As I left that scene, tears flowed down my face and I cried. Something I have not done in a long time, but would do several more times that day. I tried not to let my grandson, Scottie, see me crying. I didn’t think he would understand, I was crying for his stolen future. None of this will be the same, for decades to come. The damage is going to be immense and I do not think our lives here in South Louisiana will ever be the same. He is too young to understand. He has an intense love for our way of life here. He wants to be a fisherman and a fishing guide when he gets older. It is what he is, it is in his soul, and it is his culture. How can I tell him that this may never come to pass now, now that everything he loves in the outdoors may soon be destroyed by this massive oil spill? How do we tell this to a generation of young people, in south Louisiana who live and breathe this bayou life that they love so much, could soon be gone? How do we tell them? All this raced through my mind and I wept.

We continued farther south towards Grand Terre Island. We approached Bird Island. The real name is Queen Bess Island, but we call it Bird Island, because it is always full of birds. It is a rookery, a nesting island for thousands of birds, pelicans, terns, gulls etc. As we got closer, we saw that protective boom had been placed around about two thirds of the island. It was obvious to me, that oil had gone under the boom and was fouling the shore and had undoubtedly oil some birds. My God. We would see this scene again at Cat Island and other unnamed islands that day. We continued on to the east past Coup Abel Pass and more shrimp boats trying to contain some of the oil on the surface. We arrived at 4 Bayou Pass to see more boats working on the same thing. We beached the boat and decided to look at the beach between the passes.

The scene was one of horror to me. There was thick red oil on the entire stretch of beach, with oil continuing to wash ashore. The water looked to be infused with red oil, with billions of, what appeared to be, red pebbles of oil washing up on the beach with every wave. The red oil pebbles, at the high tide mark on the beach were melting into pools of red goo in the hot Louisiana sun. The damage was overwhelming. There was nobody there to clean it up. It would take an army to do it. Like so much of coastal Louisiana, it was accessible only by boat. Will it ever be cleaned up? I don’t know. Tears again. We soon left that beach and started to head home.

We took a little different route home, staying a little farther to the east side of Barataria Bay. As we approached the northern end of the bay, we ran into another raft of oil that appeared to be covering many square miles. It was only a mile from the interior bayous on the north side of Barataria Bay. My God. No boats were towing boom in this area. I do not think anyone even knew it was there. A little bit farther north, we saw some shrimp boats with boom, on anchor, waiting to try and protect Bayou St. Dennis from the oil. I alerted them of the approaching oil. I hope they were able to control it before it reached the bayou. We left them and started to head in.

My heart never felt so heavy, as on that ride in. I thought to myself, this is the most I’ve cried since I was a baby. In fact I am sure it was. This will be a summer of tears for a lot of us in south Louisiana.

The Southwest Fair Climate Summit will bring together regional leaders representing tribes, low-income communities, communities of color, and other stakeholders who share a common vision of rebuilding our communities.

Summit Goals:

• Share success stories and model initiatives for building strong, sustainable community
• Discuss critical issues related to the human and natural resource impacts of climate change, renewable energy, and effective partnerships with a diverse set of leaders from across the Southwest
• Provide information about funding and grant opportunities for building a green energy economy
• Strengthen and renew relationships among leaders committed to a vision of rebuilding communities through dialogue and equitable solutions.

Register Today! Space is limited! No registration fee

Travel scholarships available.

*Pre-Summit Reception on the evening of June 14th

For more information please contact Erica Anderson at andersone@nwf.org or 202-797-6618.

Host Committee: Native Workplace, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club, New Energy Economy & National Wildlife Federation

FAMU Earth Day Event

Declare Your Energy Independence Today!

40 years after the first Earth Day, the world is in greater peril than ever, but there is also an unprecedented opportunity to build a new future. Earth Day Revolution has the power to bring about historic advances in climate policy, renewable energy, green jobs, and to catalyze millions who can make personal commitments to sustainability by mobilizing the power of people to create change. This can be done by taking small steps in our homes, our schools and our businesses that add up to an enormous collective action.The Fair Climate Project is partnering with the Hip Hop Caucus for a HBCU Tour from Florida to Arkansas to North Carolina.

Earth Day Revolution is a pivotal opportunity for people, corporations, and governments to join together to create a global green economy. Our coordinated efforts now will be recognized by future generations as a turning point.

The declaration demands that the Senate to act on clean energy and climate change and it asks: “We have a question for members of the US Senate: Whose side are you on – Big Oil and their lobbyists or the Clean Energy Patriots?”

Follow the Earth Day Revolution on Twitter by searching #EarthDayRev

Worse Spring Allergies

Spring a mixed blessing for allergy sufferers. Tree pollen is the most common trigger for spring hay fever allergies. With spring arriving 10 to 14 days earlier than it did just 20 years ago, pollination is already starting sooner. New maps in the report show projected increases in habitat conducive to more allergenic trees.

Worse Fall Allergies

In the fall, ragweed is projected to thrive and become more irritating under increased carbon dioxide levels. Ragweed plants at today’s carbon dioxide levels are likely produce about twice as much pollen as they would have 100 years ago. The pollen production rate could double again if we keep adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

More Asthma Attacks

Global warming is especially bad news for the millions of asthmatics in the United States whose asthma attacks are triggered by allergens. They will have to cope with more abundant and severe allergens plus likely increases in ground-level ozone pollution, particularly in urban areas. High
ozone concentrations can trigger asthma symptoms and make bronchial airways less able to cope with allergens.

More Health Costs

These potential impacts of global warming could have a significant economic impact: allergies and asthma already cost the United States nearly $33 billion annually in direct health care costs and lost productivity.

Local Effects

The report warns that fungal spores, poison ivy and even allergic reactions to bee stings could be on the increase.

• State “Hotspots” at risk of high increases in allergenic tree pollen: Arkansas, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and West Virginia.
• State Hotspots at risk of moderate increases in allergenic tree pollen: Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
• Worst Cities in the United States for Asthmatics and for Spring and Fall Allergies

Download Extreme Allergies and Global Warming  

Experts and Heroes Creating a Climate for Justice

Experts on global warming are under attack as never before, but they are standing firm and speaking out, showing heroic leadership for the planet. This conference allows you to meet great experts and heroes, and learn how we create a climate for justice here in western Pennsylvania.

Our heroes and experts and their topics include:

• Dr. Robert Bullard, Ware Distinguished Professor of Sociology, director of the Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark Atlanta University, to discuss racial and social implications of climate justice;
• Dr. Michael Mann, renowned climatologist and director of Earth System Science Center at Pennsylvania State University, to describe the facts behind global warming science;
• John Hanger, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, to discuss energy policy and job creation;
• Local Green Opportunities Panel will include:
  • Lee Ann Briggs of Duquesne University’s Small Business Development Center (moderator);
  • Carla Castagnero of AgRecycle, our region’s only commercial composter;
  • Richard Taylor of ImbuTec, a company that sells LED lighting;
  • Joe Simko of Hodge & Elyria Foundry, manufacturer of wind turbine components;
  • Tonya Johnson of Green Empowerment Training Alliance, an organization preparing minority and low-income people for the green economy.
• Other speakers will cover state and federal energy and climate policy and the low carbon fuel standard;
• Exhibitors from local organizations will have information on sustainable foods; renewable energy including solar, wind, geothermal, energy efficiency, and biodiesel; green building materials, and more!

Don’t be left out – Pre-registration is required by Thursday, April 29th 

PennFuture members: free admission; Non-members: $10 Pre-registration required.

To table information about your organization at the event, contact Sharon Pillar

 Date: Sunday, May 2, 2010
Time: 1:30 PM – 6:15 PM
Location:
August Wilson Center for African American Culture
980 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

For over 20 years, NWF has formed constructive partnerships with tribal communities and organizations with the common mission of protecting and preserving our treasured environment. Through these lasting partnerships, we have been able to create a forum for Tribes to share first-hand on-the-ground accounts of climate change and its impacts on their economic, natural, and cultural resources while discussing and catalyzing solutions such as renewable energy projects, energy efficiency, and carbon sequestration.

On Monday, March 22nd, participants gathered for a training session, where staff from NWF’s D.C. office shared effective lobbying methods and updates on the progress of current climate change legislation. Throughout the afternoon, tribal members shared their experiences and information on projects within their own communities. The evening concluded with dinner and a presentation by guest speaker Cristala Mussato Allen, the Executive Director of Native Workplace, an organization devoted to promoting green jobs in tribal communities, and Larry Schweiger, who spoke about the importance of tribal communities urging Congress to address climate change.

Tuesday began bright and early with a Letter-to-Editor drafting session hosted by our D.C. communications team. Leaders then spent the day meeting with the offices of their respective Senators to ensure that effective steps are being taken in Congress to address climate change, and that tribal voices are being heard. NWF also hosted a press conference to release our recently-completed report on tribal renewable energy potential.

Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester currently have a historic opportunity to create many green jobs in Native American communities and also fight global warming/pollution by supporting comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation which includes specific equitable tribal provisions. I’m counting on our senators to pass a strong bill which will safeguard Native American country, Native American peoples and our natural resources.

Read the entire article…

The New Energy Future in Indian Country: Confronting Climate Change, Creating Jobs, and Conserving Nature

New report details renewable energy resources on tribal lands

Washington, DC (March 23) – Indian Tribes are disproportionately bearing the brunt of climate change. But the huge potential on tribal lands to generate clean energy from renewable resources presents tribes with the opportunity to be a significant part of the solution through climate policy that creates green jobs and protects natural resources, detailed in a new report.

“Tribal households pay significantly more in home energy expenses than other Americans,” said Bob Gruenig, senior policy analyst, National Tribal Environmental Council. “The vast potential on tribal lands to generate clean energy from renewable resources means that Indian Tribes can help to provide for their own energy needs, generate clean power for a new energy future in Indian Country, and put American on the path to energy independence.”

In collaboration with National Tribal Environmental Council, Native American Rights Fund, and Intertribal Council On Utility Policy, National Wildlife Federation is releasing The New Energy Future in Indian Country: Confronting Climate Change, Creating Jobs, and Conserving Nature to provide an overview of the possibilities for renewable energy in Indian Country and detailing case studies of wind, solar, geothermal and biomass production, as well as energy efficiency/weatherization.

“With 95 million acres of land under their management and centuries of experience conserving the natural world, Indian tribes can play a significant role in protecting natural resources from climate change and coping with a warmer world,” said Steve Torbit, director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Rocky Mountain Regional Center and Tribal Lands Conservation Program. “With our partners, we developed this report to showcase the tremendous opportunities tribes have to implement renewable energy, energy efficiency, and participate in the green economy, while protecting their natural resource heritage.”

“Our band is at the forefront of national efforts to build a new energy future, and we must continue to invest in renewable, sustainable power to ensure that 20 percent of our energy comes from renewable power by 2020,” said Monique La Chappa, chairwoman, Campo Kumeyaay Nation, home to the first wind farm on Tribal land. “Wind power development is the accelerant to the Campo people’s vision for 2020:  THRIVE – A Generation of Promise.”

The report details:

• The vast opportunities for renewable energy production and case studies where clean energy is already flowing in Indian Country
• Maps of energy potential in wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass
• How weatherization can reduce energy costs for Tribal households
• Green jobs in Indian Country and opportunities for clean energy investments
• Tribal principles for climate legislation

“Native people are not only aware of climate change, but offer solutions to lessen the impacts of global warming and help restore the balance of creation,” said Pat Spears, co-founder and president, Intertribal Council On Utility Policy. “Renewable energy from the earth, the sun, and the wind can provide energy and jobs for our communities and green the federal transmission grid that interconnects us all.”

NWF is part of a diverse coalition working to revolutionize Earth Day.  Join us for a 40-day countdown of actions leading up to the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day and demand the Senate to act on climate change.