Walter
Williams, creator of the iconic “Mr. Bill” from the glory days of
Saturday Night Live, recently sent an email to his “Sluggo” list. In
it, he describes a wonderful act of free speech and resistance directed
at the sponsors of Jazz Fest, or what has become known as “Shell Fest”
on the beleaguered Gulf Coast.
Shell Oil is the “Sluggo” of the
Mississippi Delta. Coastal scientists estimate that oil companies have
caused 40-60% of the coastal land loss Louisiana is experiencing.
Current estimates published by the Gulf Restoration Network
to repair the Gulf Coast and protect cities like New Orleans is $50
billion. Taxpayers should not have to fix what Big Oil broke.
In fact, Mr. Bill predicted the flood caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2004, one year before August 29, 2005.
Here is Walter’s email:
Sunday,
as sunset approached on a beautiful day, our native sons the Neville
Brothers returned home to perform for the first time since Katrina.
Suddenly, up in the air…is it a bird? Is it a plane? Yes, actually it
is and towing a banner reading “Shell Hear The Music Fix The Coast U
Broke.”
I heard many exclaim, “I don’t think that’s supposed to be there.”
Thanks
to the Gulf Restoration Network, which did a similar Shell protest two
years ago, for taking my idea seriously and financing it, there it was.
And thanks to Tab Benoit and his Voice of the Wetlands organization, it
stayed up an additional hour and closed out one of the most beautiful
closing days in memory. The T-shirts were a big hit also. Two girls at
the ticket booth wanted them and wore them and you could spot people
all around making it feel like the official theme of the Fest.
Once
again, before any feels too sorry for Shell, saying they provide jobs
and pay taxes. Well, all of the real jobs have moved to Houston and
they’ve been using that line for decades and getting away with it. Now
people are starting to wake up to the reality that Shell and the other
oil companies involved in southern Louisiana have made us vulnerable to
total destruction every summer and fall by eating away our natural
defense; coastal wetlands.
And besides, before Shell took
over it cost about 25 bucks to get into the Jazz Fest...I paid 50 on
Sunday. I guess they are passing on the cost of all of those Shell
flags to the customer. Please present the idea of the oil industry
paying to restore our coast to your representatives and let them know
that rebuilding our coast is a national issue.
Thanks to Michael
Sustendal for taking the picture of me when we bumped into each other
and for Alycia Daumas for taking the close up from her house. I think
the whole event was awesome and everyone’s talking about it.
Keep hope alive,
Walter
Here is a permalink to Walter Williams' documentary titled "Restoring the Gulf Coast: Who Pays?"
Environmental
activists contend that Shell Oil has co-opted Jazz Fest, a cultural
institution, by becoming a major sponsor. Comments welcome on "who
should pay?"
Comments