History
In 2001, Former Louisiana Governor Mike Foster launched what would become the America's WETLAND Campaign, and declared a "holy war" on coastal erosion. Since a previous 18 month state sponsored study had determined a comprehensive restoration effort would cost more than $14 billion, it was determined the only way to raise that amount of money was through federal funding and therefore widespread public support was necessary.
In 2003, AWF became an independent foundation supported by public donations, and private sponsors such as Shell Oil Company, Tabasco pepper sauce, and others.
AWF has been supported by Republicans and Democrats including Foster's successor, Former Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco who joined the effort in 2004. AWF has grown into a multi-million dollar campaign, and describes itself as "the largest public education campaign in Louisiana history."
Read more about this topic: America's Wetland Foundation
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“The greatest honor history can bestow is that of peacemaker.”
—Richard M. Nixon (1913–1995)
“The history of medicine is the history of the unusual.”
—Robert M. Fresco, and Jack Arnold. Prof. Gerald Deemer (Leo G. Carroll)
“When the landscape buckles and jerks around, when a dust column of debris rises from the collapse of a block of buildings on bodies that could have been your own, when the staves of history fall awry and the barrel of time bursts apart, some turn to prayer, some to poetry: words in the memory, a stained book carried close to the body, the notebook scribbled by hand—a center of gravity.”
—Adrienne Rich (b. 1929)