Pitching Coastal Restoration

They're back. Responding to the Gulf Coast oil disaster, members of Women of the Storm have launched the “Be the One” campaign to enlist citizen support and demand complete restoration of Gulf of Mexico coastlines and wetlands.

Women of the Storm launched the “Be the One” campaign to garner national support for restoration of Gulf coastlines and wetlands.

The nonprofit group, formed after Hurricane Katrina and responsible for lobbying members of Congress to visit areas devastated by the storm, has brought out the big guns — top actors, musicians, athletes and media stars — to pitch the message in a “Be the One” video.

Women of the Storm founder Anne Milling, a graduate of Newcomb College and 2007 Alumna of the Year, is seeking to gather signatures on the electronic petition at the RestoreTheGulf.com website. The petition will be delivered to Congress and the Obama Administration “to show broad and deep national support for funding and implementation of Gulf Coast restoration,” she said. “The impact of a healthy Gulf of Mexico is critical to American domestic energy, shipping, seafood, ecology, recreation and culture.”

Celebrities who appear in the “Be The One” video in support of the cause include actors Sandra Bullock, Bryan Batt, Harry Shearer and John Goodman; NFL star quarterbacks Drew Brees and Peyton and Eli Manning; musicians Lenny Kravitz, Dave Matthews and Dr. John; celebrity chefs Leah Chase and Emeril Lagasse; media commentators James Carville and Mary Matalin, and others.

While Women of the Storm does not advocate particular legislation, Milling said, “We simply seek to demonstrate to national leaders the strong support in every corner of America for the essential funding of Gulf Coast restoration.”

The “Be the One” video and its accompanying petition can be accessed through various social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. In addition, a 2-D barcode has been created and printed on T-shirts and pocket cards to broaden the reach of the initiative. A mobile version of the website also allows for viewing of the video and signing of the petition from smartphones.