THE GULF AND GLOBAL WARMING

This is a big week for our coast and global warming. Tomorrow, the LSU Presidents' forum is highlighting the issue and how it will impact Louisiana's already massive challenge to create a sustainable coastal wetlands ecosystem. This is an important step, and indicates that some of the big brains that will be engaging to protect our coast are considering this critical issue. Of course, it always takes a long time for information to flow from the fuds to the duds (PhDs to the politicos), and the timeline for action on both issues is frighteningly brief, so I truly think it's going to take a significant show of popular support to grease the skids.

As if by magic - we're also working hard to make that outcry loud and proud. The GRN is working with the Sierra Club, the Alliance for Affordable Energy, the Gulf Coast Fund of the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, the Holy Cross Neighborhood Association and others to pull of a New Orleans "STEP IT UP" rally.

If you haven't heard of STEP IT UP yet - it's the brainchild of green author Bill McKibben - normal folks from all across the country rally in their communities for leadership to cut Global Warming emissions 80% by 2050 - the amount many scientists feel is needed to stabilize our climate without forcing everyone abandon their commuities and live in floating biodomes.

There's an outside chance that Bill may be in New Orleans for our event - we're planning it for Friday the 13th of April - the day before the 'official' STEP IT UP day. We're the national launch. As hurricane Katrina proved New Orleans to be one of America’s cities most at risk of climate change impacts, we’re proud to be leading off the STEP IT UP events nationwide.

We’re pulling together music and a few speakers, to make the event a bit more entertaining. One aspect of the event that we think is important is generating a group photo on the levee that we can send to our lawmakers – we’re producing special-edition, bright red “SAVE NEW ORLEANS – STOP GLOBAL WARMING” t-shirts. So come on out, get a t-shirt, get active, and get the duds to move on this issue post-haste!

The New Orleans event is just one of 58 that are already being planned in the Gulf states! Who says the South doesn't care about the environment? Of course, after Katrina, Rita, Wilma and the overall overactive 2005 Hurricane Season, the idea of increased tropical storm intensity being linked to climate change has everyone on the Gulf coast more than a touch nervous.

Aaron Viles is the GRN's campaign director