"It's All About the Water” is designed to bring attention to a broad range of threats to clean water faced by communities throughout Florida. By land and by sea, we will march on the beach and paddle from the Naples Pier to the Governor’s beachfront home. Banners, signs, and flags will spell out concerns. Solidarity fish from the east coast of Florida will make visible the need to send clean water south from Lake Okeechobee. You are invited to bring your own “troubled waters” samples in containers marked with location and date to vividly show the variety of water problems Florida faces from drilling, fracking, the BP oil spill, Lake Okeechobee water releases, and more. In the Governor’s beachfront backyard we will deliver our troubled waters, enjoy music, participate in a water blessing from the Miccosukee Otter Clan, and listen to speakers. Speakers will map out solutions for water problems such as banning new drilling and fracking, cleaning toxic Lake Okeechobee discharges, sending clean water south to restore the Everglades, curbing agricultural and industrial run-off, denying permits for gas-fired power plants and pipelines, investing in clean, renewable energy to help prevent further sea-level rise and climate change. Closing with a candlelight vigil and wish lanterns, we will invite everyone, from legislators to land barons, to partner with us in saving Florida’s waters and Everglades.
Governor Scott’s support of the oil industry has fueled the expansion of new drilling in Florida. We don’t want another Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill—with its long chain of documented misjudgments, operational failings, and oversight mistakes. We want to protect the aquifers that supply Florida with its drinking water and save the watersheds that sustain wetlands. It’s about our water. We know accidents happen. Over time pipes leak. Injected chemicals surface. And even cement casings fail. One accident could ruin a community’s aquifer. The risks are too great and benefits, too small. Drilling is not in the public interest — especially not in Florida since its limestone geology sources the state’s drinking water and is extremely porous and highly susceptible to groundwater contamination. You can’t clean up an aquifer.
This march follows fast on a milestone victory — after unauthorized fracking threatened water supplies and wetlands. Faced with fines, penalties, protests, and lawsuits, Dan A. Hughes has abandoned all plans to explore for oil in Florida. The Texas oil company terminated its 115,000 acre lease while the state revoked all its permits and filed a lawsuit for clean up. This means 115,000 acres in the heart of the Everglades, some, only 1000 feet from homes, has been saved from drilling and fracking. Most significantly, the proposed drill site that had placed 30 families in an Emergency Evacuation Zone has been turned into a watermelon field. Although we are still celebrating the shutdown of Hughes, the company has countersued the state and other oil companies have leased an additional 330,000 acres so the struggle for the Everglades and clean water escalates.
The message is simple: NO to dirty drilling. YES to clean water. Create a spillway. Send clean water South. Restore the Everglades. Keep the Frack Out of Florida Water.
WHAT: MARCH ON GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT’S HOME: IT’S ALL ABOUT THE WATER
WHEN: Saturday, October 18, 4:00PM-7:00PM
WHO: Stonecrab Alliance, Clean Water Initiative, Food & Water Watch, Re-Think Energy Florida, Love the Everglades Movement, water keepers and concerned citizens
WHERE: By Land and by Sea, from the Naples Pier to the Governor’s Home
-Meet on the beach at Naples Pier (25 12th Ave. S., Naples, FL 34102)
-March on beach to Governor’s Home on the Gulf of Mexico (3150 Gordon Drive)
Please note we do have a rideshare page and some free housing available. Just let us know how we can help.
PLEASE SHARE THIS EVENT AND INVITE ALL OF FLORIDA AND BEYOND.
VISIT the it's all about the water Facebook page here.
https://www.facebook.com/...
Message me with any concerns. We need you, the more the merrier. Hopefully, this will energize Collier County voters in particular to support pro environment and Democratic candidate Charlie Crist.
P.S. If you kayak, bring yours as we will be protesting by sea as well. Thank you