It’s Getting Hot In Here

Florida’s been rockin’ a bit slower over the summer… or at least the the extreme temperatures melting my brain make it seem that way but we’ve been rollin out some community support by way of EJS (That’s Energy Justice Summer) that I wanted to update everyone on with a few words…

Energy Justice Summer North Florida – August 3-6, 2007

August is fast approaching, which means Energy Justice Summer is coming to a round up rather quickly, but it ain’t over yet! The Energy Justice Summer North Florida training will be taking place August 3-6 in Taylor County. Here’s a bit of what you can expect:

• Meeting with some amazing activists whom have been in the fight since you were a wee-tot.
• Story telling… about the Buckeye/Proctor and Gamble paper mill and it’s astonishing relationship with the Fenholloway River.
• Deciphering tons of technical jargon on the Taylor Energy Center (we do that part) into easy to follow “this is what’s up, and this is the B.S. they’re trying to feed us about how clean this coal will be…”
• Interacting with people like yourself whom have a passion and drive to protect the environment and health.
• Having a great time.
• Finding out what YOU can do in your life to make a huge impact.

So don’t hesitate, sign up on the interest form TODAY!

Energy Justice Summer South Florida: Recap – May 23-25, 2007

South Florida – From May 23-25, students converged in Moorehaven/Glades and Palm Beach counties to meet with the Save it Now Glades (S.I.N.G.) and the Palm Beach Environmental Coalition (PBEC) community action groups to learn of their respective battles with Florida Power and Light.

On Wednesday S.I.N.G. president Rhonda Roff and her group of awesome folks from around South Florida took the lot of us on a journey through Glades and Moorehaven counties describing the landscape and the effects the Glades Power Park would have if built. The afternoon tour was concluded with a ceremony hosted by Oannes Pritzker, Director, Yat Kitischee Native American Center and distinguished Native Ecologist, Journalist, and Educator.

Later that evening, we joined the S.I.N.G. group in their meeting with an attorney to see how the group would devise it’s strategic legal plan.

PBEC Co-Chair, Panagioti Tsolkas continued the tour on Thursday through Loxahatchee and surrounding areas describing the West County Energy Center and the astonishing environmental impact it is expected to have including disrupting the Aquifer and further degrading the Everglades which is the largest (and most heavily botched) restoration project in the world.

Following the training, members of the S.I.N.G. and PBEC groups joined with other community members to take part in a Rally For Sustainable Energy outside the FPL Shareholders meeting in Juno Beach which was successful in garnering media attention.

On June 5th, the Florida Public Service Commission denied the permitting for the Glades Power Park Coal Fired Power Plant, a huge victory for the community! (for more info, see: http://www.psc.state.fl.us/home/news/index.aspx?id=273)

If you took a stand on the Callery Judge development or the FPL Glades Coal Plant proposal, take a moment to feel the appreciation of the ground beneath your feet. For all of you who did not take a stand on these victorious efforts, take a moment to envision what we, collectively, could do with your participation… and get your pen and calendar out so you can join us in claiming these historic victories.

panagioti tsolkas
PBCEC Co-Chair

The West County Energy Center fight is still going strong and needs your help; to get involved, please check out http://www.riverofgas.info/.