Former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards, now 89 years of age, spoke to a Lafayette civic group in April 2017.  A gentleman in the audience asked governor Edwards what he would do if he became king for a day enabling him to change anything in need of repair.

The Governor replied without hesitation: “I would do something to fix this problem of global warming. We must deal with the issue very soon!”

Along with global warming comes a rising ocean. The Weather Channel in April showed how much of Boston would be flooded by the next century.  New Orleans and other Atlantic coast cities, such as Norfolk, Virginia as host of the world’s largest naval base, are already preparing for the rising ocean. Norfolk streets are already affected.

“Fourteen of the world’s seventeen largest cities are built on or near the coast. Half of the world population (near three billion) are built on or very near the edge of our ocean. Billions live with in a one hour drive of the coast.” (Oceans –The Threats To Our Seas And What You Can Do To Turn The Tide, by J. Bowermaster (2010) p. xii)

Ken Gjemre, former owner of half price book stores in Dallas during the 1980’s said, “Things are getting so bad that people are finally starting to pay attention!” Like Governor Edwards, Gjemre was more concerned about his children and grandchildren.

On Earth Day 2017, are we beginning to pay attention to our warming, rising ocean or are elected officials banning use of such environmental terms?  Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee and Louisiana have attempted to forbid use of environmental words in recent years.

Earth Day was begun on April 22, 1970.  The present administration in D.C. is waging a war on science with hopes of distracting us from environmental realities.  Vanishing Isle de Jean and other impoverished coastal areas of Louisiana are no longer in denial.