I’m generally skeptical of the value of petitions, but I’ll pass this along because the cause is good and the principals have, well, priniciples. This one is addressed to both McCain and Obama:

To the Presidential Candidates:

Since the 1800’s, New Orleans has been a birthplace for culture and talent unique from the rest of the world. The immeasurable impact that New Orleans and Louisiana music has had on the people of our nation over the years is just one of the elements which makes the city and region such a treasured part of the United States. Despite the invaluable contributions New Orleans has made to the music and culture of the nation, the city continues to struggle to recover.

In the almost three years since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita ravaged New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, new efforts have been initiated to help restore the health of the Gulf of Mexico and protect coastal Louisiana from future devastation. To succeed, these efforts will require years of work and continued federal leadership. We are asking that the future President of the United States direct the resources and attention necessary to restore coastal Louisiana and secure the future of Louisiana’s communities.

In order for New Orleans and the region to be assured a sustainable recovery it is imperative that steps are taken to restore Louisiana’s coastal wetlands. Due to the nation’s need need for energy and dependable shipping lanes, we are losing a football field’s worth of wetlands every 45 minutes to erosion. This unrivaled land-loss threatens the nation’s fishing, our energy, our ports, and most importantly, leaves New Orleans increasingly vulnerable to storms such as Katrina.

Thankfully, solutions exist to utilize the land-building power of the the Mississippi River to stem the tide and rebuild our critical coastal lines of defense. Through stronger, better levees and wide-scale coastal restoration, our communities can be protected.

Google/YouTube and New Orleans universities are sponsoring a Presidential forum on September 18th which would be the ideal place to spotlight this devastating yet largely unacknowledged crisis. We write to ask you to commit to attend and share your vision for leading the Gulf coast’s recovery.

The health of the Gulf of Mexico and the surrouding states are vital to our nation’s energy, economy, and culture. Unfortunately, the future of the Gulf coast will be in jeopardy until serious action has been taken to secure healthy water and wetlands. The time to act is now. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

… and the undersigned is a Who’s Who of New Orleans and Louisiana music, led by Tab Benoit, Monk Boudreaux, Cyril Neville and the members of the Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars. You’re asked to add your name to this list by contacting Aaron Viles at [email protected] or by calling (504) 525-1528, ext. 207.