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Focus On Solutions
The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina has given us a lot to think about. In addition to being a human and economic tragedy, Katrina is an environmental disaster of unprecedented proportions. But it is also a wakeup call. The technology and the ideas for making our cities safer, more sustainable, and healthier exist today. As we support the people of the Gulf Coast, all Americans must continue challenging our leaders to support the real solutions listed below.
1. Increase the Use of Alternative Energy
Hurricane Katrina seriously affected the production, refinery capacity, and price of oil in the United States. This catastrophe spotlights the danger of our dependence on oil, and how fragile our reliance on it is. The only way to oil independence is to increase the use of renewable energy that won't pollute our air or poison our water.
2. Stop Global Warming
Climate change could bring an increase in severe storms like Hurricane Katrina. We have the technology today to curb global warming by making every car go farther on a gallon of gas.
3. Keep Toxics Out of Our Communities
The floodwaters covering New Orleans are a toxic soup of chemicals from a variety of sources, including leaking fuels and oils from gas stations and submerged cars, paints and solvents from small businesses, and household cleaners and pesticides from peoples' homes. We can no longer delay in cleaning up toxic waste sites, upgrading our sewage treatment systems, and rethinking how toxic chemicals are stored and shipped through our communities.
4. Preserve Wetlands
Wetlands protect coastal communities by storing floodwater. Louisiana has lost one million acres of wetlands – wetlands that could have acted as a buffer to Hurricane Katrina's storm surge. Across America, wetlands must be restored and protected.
5. Uphold Environmental Justice
In cities across the country, minority populations live closest to petrochemical plants, industrial sites, oil refineries, underground gas stations, and sewage treatment plants. The flooding in New Orleans is now exacerbating the disproportionate effects these communities feel, exposing them to a toxic stew of contaminants. Our federal government must ensure that environmental laws are fairly implemented and enforced.
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