last update: February 28, 2011

TREE SIT UPDATES!

The Scripps Page has been updated with videos from inside the tree sit, as well as an interview with one of the tree sitters! Click HERE to go to our Scripps Campaign Page.

ALSO, be sure to check Palm Beach County Environmental Coalition for further coverage about the Tree Sit!

BREAKING NEWS!
**********************************

NEWS COVERAGE OF THE TREESIT!

SCRIPPS PROTEST

FIRST FLOR IDA TREE-SIT erected on the Briger Forest Tract in Palm Beach County!

Everglades Earth First! activists Russ and Rachel took the issue of endangered species protection to new heights Monday February 14, 2011! They are suspended 30 feet up in the air to protest the plans for development of the "FAU/Scripps Bio-tech City" on the Briger Forest Tract. (pictures attached).

A joint statement from the tree-siters states, “As FAU graduates and Palm Beach County residents we are dismayed at the lack of protection for the Endangered Species on the FAU/Scripps development site. The Scripps “bio-tech city” plan promotes sprawl and will destroy endangered species located on the Briger Forest Tract. We have tried legal means to protect the site, but the developers and politicians have ignored our concerns. If the state and county refuse to protect endangered species then we must take action to preserve the remaining natural beauty of Florida.”

Law Enforcement with the Florida Department of Transportation and City of Palm Beach Gardens have promised to arrest the tree-sitters if they do not leave the sit. Both Russ and Rachel are holding tight!

In conjunction with the tree-sit, forty protesters converged at the existing FAU/Scripps Florida where Jupiter and FAU campus police briefly detained at least one person.

This will just be the first direct action of many to preserve the Briger Forest and the endangered species that depend on it. Everglades Earth First! activists plan to maintain a presence on the site to ensure no endangered species habitat is destroyed, and no animals are abused in the proposed vivisection labs.

Hoo-ray for Russ and Rachel! Stay tuned for more updates!

DONATE - to help us support the tree-sitters with future bail and legal costs! Donations can be made via Paypal

HELP THE TREE-SIT - We will have an on-going vigil to ensure the safety of these brave activists. We can be reached by email or calling
561-249-2071

2011 Earth First Winter Organizers' Conference and Rendezvous
February 9 - 14, 2011

Welcome to the Swamp:
An Invitation with Caution

Fisheating Creek is wild. Gators, bear, panther, big ass wild hogs, and coyotes roam through the corridor. Dogs really will get eaten if they get too close to reptiles. Mosquitoes, no-see-ums and chiggers might not bother you as much in the winter, but remember that this is a cypress swamp, and you will get a nasty case of swampititus stankis (also known as swamp butt) if you don’t keep a pair of dry clothes at the ready. In February this riverine cypress swamp just west of Lake Okeechobee gets cold at night, damn near below 50 degrees even, and, if something just ain’t right, it’ll get down to the 30's on occasion. It is cause enough for a gator to cuddle a coyote or an anarchist to cuddle a redneck. If you’re coming to the 2011 Organizer’s Conference and Winter Rendezvous, bring more than your flippy floppies and swim trunks. It can also reach over 80 degrees during the day in Winter, so be prepared for cold, warm, moist conditions and don’t expect to pick anything up in town once you’ve reached the conference.

Check out our EVENTS page for more details!

BP Oil Spill Flyer: It Wasn't An Accident

Call To Action: Stop Environmental Racism in Lake Worth's Osborne Community

By Definition

Environmental Racism: Under-represented racial groups, specifically people of color, bear a disproportionate burden of impact from environmental hazards

Environmental Equity: Everyone, regardless of race or economic status, is poisoned equally

Environmental Justice: No one is poisoned

Since 1990, the historically black community called Osborne in south Lake Worth has struggled against (SWS) Southern Waste Systems (also known as Solid Waste Systems, Sun Recycling, and All Star Toilets) and its 'Sun 5' construction/ debris recycling center at 790 Hillbrath Drive, Lantana, FL‎. This for-profit company and its affiliates are operating a construction-debris waystation to sort out non-saleable items, including toxic items such as asbestos and lead paint, from resalable items such as concrete and other construction material. The city of Lantana and the Solid Waste Authority (SWA) permitted the site less than 50 ft from the residental units of the Osborne Community. Click Here to read the Palm Beach Post's article about Sun Recycling's connection to the Cancer Cluster in the Acerage.

SWS has not been "a good neighbor" as they have claimed. Residents of the Osborne have struggled to get SWS to follow the requirements laid forth in Lantana, SWA, and Health Department permits. The complaints pushed the SWA to place SWS on a 90 day permit to review the community complaints. In that 90 day period, which started in February 2010, SWS has continued its record of violations.

The Sun 5 facility has been running an illegal port-o-potty business, lacking the necissary permits from the city of Lantana. Click Here to read the violation letter produced by the City of Lantana. Though residents had questioned the foul smells coming from the facility at several meetings with SWS officials, the company responded that they had no idea what that smell could be. When one resident shouted "It smells like poop back there," one SWS representative responed, "I don't know why it would smell like that."

The facility has continuously left the North door open which faces the Osborne community. This directly violates its SWA permit and poses a serious health risk to the community. In fact, two residents have been diagnosed with bacterial menegitis, which many community members believe is the result of the operations and violations taking place at the Sun 5 facility.

Residents have recieved structural damage to their homes from vibrational shocks created by dumping operations. Further more, there have been unhealthly levels of dust and construction particulate blowing over there homes, and the constant barrage of noises of trucks and other heavy equipment that carries on beyond the permitted hours of 7am to 7pm. The quality of life of the residents living along the north wall of the Sun 5 facility has been greatly reduced.

But regardless of Southern Waste Systems violations, there is the larger issue that ever if this facility followed its permits with diligence, the fact remains that this heavily toxic facility sits alongside of a predominantly black community.

This is just another example of environmental racism in South Florida. Polluting industies follow the path of least resistance. Current zoning which allows such a toxic facility to exist less than 50ft from the Osborne continues the history of Jim Crow city planning in Florida. This places the Oborne community at special risk. As is the case throughout the United States, communities of color make of the majority of those which sit along side of toxic facilities in Florida. Click Here for a report on Race and Toxic Waste in the United States.

On Tuesday, May 18 2010 the Solid Waste Authority will hold a hearing at the County Commission Building and decide whether or not to renew the permits for the Sun 5 facility. The meeting is at 2pm. All are invited to attend and join the Osborne to rid the community of this toxic facility.

Come Crash the 2010 Latin American Mining Congress in Miami

Help us give a warm South Florida Welcome to outstanding guests on Thursday, April 29th at 3pm

Representatives of a variety of ore-mining multinational companies, international development banks, other investors and ministers of mining who seek to promote and expand this devastating industry will be meeting here in Miami! Lets show them how we feel about this industry's role in ecocide and displacement of communities.

You are invited to rally with us outside of the Westin Colonnade, 180 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables, where we will be raising awareness on the human rights atrocities and environmental realities of the Mining Industry...We need your help!

To read about the convergence go to www.StopLatMining.info

To get involved, contact: Everglades Earth First!

Email evergladesearthfirst@gmail.com or call (561) 249-2071

D.E.P

Don't Expect Protection

a new film by Suki DeJong

See the trailer below. The full film will premier at the 2010 Del Ray Beach Film Festival on March 28th @ 2:45 pm.

FPL's Riviera Beach in the News

The Everglades Coalition & Everglades Corruption

Click the image below to see the modified mailer sent out to members of the Everglades Coalition before their annual meeting this year in Palm Beach County. The flyer calls attention to the growing corruption and corporate collusion in the multi-billion dollar industry called EVERGLADE$ RE$TORATION.

Don't Nuke the Nature Coast

Locals and Activists Hold Strategy Camp Near Levy Site

Locals as well as activists from across Florida and the South East, held a strategy camp on a beautiful piece of land outside of Levy County from Dec 4-7. Discussion centered on the pending threat of Progress Energy's new nuclear proposal in Levy County. Though the energy corporation has yet to get the necissary permits to build, they lobbied the Florida legislature to pass through an "early cost recovery" bill, allowing Progress to charge its rate payers for a plant that is yet to exist. In South Miami, Florida Power & Light is attempting the same process to expand their Turkey Point Nuclear Facility.

Hoisting the burden of cost onto the communities that will suffer from the poisonous "green" energy of nuclear demonstrates the collusion between these power companies and the State of Florida. While the rate payer will carry the burden, Progress and FPL will be the only entities that profit.

Communities in Levy County and beyond will be directly effected by construction and operation of a new nuclear facility. Niether the empty promise of jobs nor the absurd rebranding of nuclear as "green" energy can cover the truth that human health will be impacted.

Likewise, the economic and ecological health of the Nature Coast will be impacted. The Withlacoochee River, the natural springs, the coastal habitats, the Goethe Forest, and wildlife of this largely rural region, as well as the businesses that are built around this natural beauty, will be compromised.

What Does Levy County Stand To Lose To Nuclear Poison?

Above: a millenial cypress tree in the Goethe Forest near the proposed site of the Levy County Nuke Plant

VICTORY IN VENUS!

Local Residents, Environmentalists, Human Rights Activists, and Farmers Defeat the Eagle Military Training Center

Tuesday October 6th--Sebring, Fl--For no less than twelve hours locals, lawyers, developers, the air force, a former secret service agent, environmentalists, human rights activists, farmers, ranchers, anarchists, liberals, conservatives, land speculators, and politicians squared off at a quasi-judicial hearing at the Highlands County Board of County Commissioners. It was a marathon protest of strange bedfellows with all the hooting and hollering, jeering, sign waving and firebrand speeches calling for bird sanctuaries, armed defense, the dissolution of the government, peace and quiet, rural autonomy and eco-tourism.

Burt Harris, the silver tongued lawyer hired by the Eagle Training Center (ETC) applicant argued that the concerns voiced by the citizens of Venus, population est. 600, and other groups, had no merit. The business plan for the privately run for-profit ETC called for live firing ranges, MOUT (military operations on urban terrains) facilities, a runway, helipad, two towers, improvised explosive device (IED) training facilities, mobile firing ranges, classroom facilities, and barracks. It also stated that the company would seek to provide its services to the International Market, causing many to label the proposed training center, a mercenary camp. Harris argued that the ETC would be nothing more than a first responder training center for EMTs and as the night wore on, altered the site propasal piece by piece, first dropping all night flights to and from the site and banning 50 caliber bullets, then dropping the runway and one tower. The military facility he argued, would in no way impact panther, bear or swallow tailed kite habitat, nor would it pollute the Fisheating Creek watershed. Those in attendance were not buying it.

Jim Labozzo, the lawyer representing the interests of several citizens of Venus and other local environmentalists, blew holes in Harris' argument, pointing out that the facility was for special ops training, that it would adversely impact both the human and natural communities of Venus and surrounding areas. He also showed how little work the Highlands County Planning and Zoning Board had carried out. They had conducted no studies to conclude environmental impact, utility or infrastructure needs, growth projections, health concerns, and fire and medical needs.

At the end of the night, the Board voted unanimously (though a bit reluctantly) to oppose the project, which means that Venus can sleep a little easier for the next six months, at which time Eagle can reapply for the rezoning permit. But more was won that night than just the safety and integrity of one rural town. A coalition of hitherto opposing forces came together to fight the development which threatened all our ways of life, proving the power of collaboration. Together we raised our voices and drowned out a corrupt business deal in the making. Together we have the strength to turn the tide of development in rural Florida, and everywhere.

We are going to need that strength. Developers and politicians have no problem crossing political and social lines to push their fast money projects, most of them poisonous, into our communities and wildlands. Neither Venus nor the Eagle Project are off the radar. Those old orange orchards proposed for the Eagle site will go back on the chopping block for some other project of sprawl (how about a mall) and we can't rely on commissioners to stand by the people of Venus forever. Likewise, the Eagle Project will seek out another spot in another rural area to develop its mercenary center. One commissioner noted at the hearing that he had recieved word from an official in adjoining Desoto County that if Highland's didn't want Eagle, Desoto would take a shot at it.

Lets stand together and fight!

from WPBF.com

$1.5 Billion FPL Pipeline Project Rejected
PSC Rules FPL Failed To Show Pipeline Most Cost-Effective Source Of Natural Gas

POSTED: 10:34 am EDT October 7, 2009
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- State utility regulators have, at least for now, rejected Florida Power & Light's proposal to build a $1.5 billion natural gas pipeline.

FPL wants to build a pipeline that stretches from north Florida to the company's Riviera Beach power plant. But not all customers were in support of paying for a pipeline that will take 40 years to pay off, especially with FPL also lobbying for a substantial rate increase in December.

A proposed natural gas pipeline would cost $1.5 billion and stretch from north Florida to FPL's Riviera Beach plant.

"Cut the bills," Jupiter resident Ted Gliwa told WPBF 25 News. "Serve me better."

The Public Service Commission ruled Tuesday that FPL failed to show the underground pipeline was the most cost-effective way to secure a reliable source of natural gas.

FPL spokeswoman Pat Davis said "economic analysis has indicated that over the lifetime of the project it will have a positive impact on customers' bills."

"Florida needs this project in order to have secure, natural gas coming into the state," Davis said.

The ruling came after Gov. Charlie Crist said he would be watching the commission's actions very closely. The commission is embroiled in controversy about its members' possible ties to FPL executives and conflicts of interests.

A pipeline for FPL is not just a pipe dream, however, as the Public Service Commission ordered FPL to rebid the project.

SPEAK OUT at Highlands County Commission Meeting

OCTOBER 6, 9AM
at the Highlands County Government Center, 600 S. Commerce Ave, Sebring

The community of Venus in one of the most rural and wild places remaining in South Florida. The Eagle National Security Training Center is a proposal for a privatized military facility that would add 7,700 acres of military, industrial and residential development to southwest Highlands County.

Specifically, this includes:
6,000 foot airstrip, helipad, 2,000 acre free-fire zone, 5 story building, 25 single family homes, a dormitory for 1,000 trainees, 100 multi family residences, 250 foot training towers and 950,000 square feet of up-to-three story buildings

This land is part of the last open space in the State that serves as critical habitat for endangered Florida Pantherand Black Bear. It is in the watershed of Fisheating Creek, which is one of the most pristine natural places in South Florida; it is the last wild free-flowing waterway that runs into Lake Okeechobee.

GET INFORMED, GET INVOLVED, TAKE ACTION!
For more info on Fisheating Creek, check out:
www.SaveOurCreeks.org

"By 2010, if Seth Ellis [who represents the project] gets his way, Venus will become known as a live-fire training center for the military, homeland security, local police, even foreign governments. Ellis appeared … at the Highlands County Commission meeting, requesting expedited permitting for Eagle National Security Training Center, a 7,700-acre expanse near the Glades County border."

* “Greg Eagle [who is behind the proposal] is a Fort Myers commercial real estate broker who gave $750,000 … to Floridians for a Better and Brighter Future, which helped elect Charlie Crist in 2008.”

– Quotes from Highlands Today

If you cannot attend meetings, please…
Send letters, emails and phone calls:
County Commissioners

Barbara Stewart:
bstewart@hcbcc.org

Don Bates:
dbates@strato.net

Jeff Carlson :
jcarlson@hcbcc.org 863-382-4141

Guy Maxcy:
g.maxcy@themaxcygroup.com
863-385-7755(W) 863-385-1484(H)

Ed Stokes:
863-655-0079 or 863-402-6515

Development Services Director
Mark J. Hill: MHILL@hcbcc.org

River of Gas Update: Florida Power and Light's West County Energy Center Mucking up the Swamp

It appears as though unit one of the West County Energy Center is online. We have recieved unconfirmed reports that the first phase of the proposed 3800 megaWatt power plant in the Everglades has begun burning gas and deep well injecting water below the Floridan Aquifer. Below are photos and video we collected out in the River of Gas. Its telling that Florida Power and Light did not hold a ribbon cutting ceremony when the plant came online. There must be no way to 'greenwash' a power plant in the heart of the Everglades. We must shut this plant down and save the Everglades.

river of gas

Please help us Stop Progress Energy from Building MORE Nuclear Reactors in Florida!

Governor Crist will vote on Progress Energies proposal for the Levy County Nuke Plant this Tuesday August 11, 2009 in Tallahassee. PLEASE Contact the Governor and tell him no, No, NO NEW NUKES in FLORIDA! There has not been a nuke plant built in FLA for over 30 years, we intend to keep it that way. We need your quick call and email to show him there is opposition to nuclear expansion.

WHAT:
The Governor's Cabinet will meet 9 am on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 in the Capitol in Tallahassee to vote on Progress Energies application to build nuclear reactors in Levy County - the site is about 50 miles SW of Gainesville. The meeting will focus on the environmental impacts - radiation poisoning, cancer, destruction of the last reamaining wetland forest near Fla coastline, storage of nuclear waste, etc... The Cabinet consists of Governor Crist, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, Attorney General Bill McCollum and Agricultural Commissioner Charles Bronson. This cabinet has the power to support or deny the Levy County Nuke Plant. This is your chance to address the Cabinet directly, to tell them NO LEVY COUNTY NUKE PLANT!

HOW:
Attend the 8/11/09 Siting Board meeting or make public comment by email! Governor Crist is very pro-nukes, we need lots and lots of people to contact him, or show up in person. We will have a protest Tuesday Morning at the Governors Mansion - details TBD. To give public comment at the meeting please register with Katie Flanagan, the Cabinet Affairs Rep. for DEP, by telephone at (850) 245-2024, by cellphone at (850) 778-6965, or by emailing katie.flanagan@dep.state.fl.us. Please limit your comments to 2-3 minutes.

If you cannot attend:
Contact the Office of Cabinet Affairs or the Offices of the Governor and other cabinet members IMMEDIATELY to voice your concerns about the Progress Energy's risky plans for a nuclear plant in Levy Co..

The cabinet website is: http://www.myflorida.com/myflorida/cabinet/
Governor's Office of Cabinet Affairs: (850) 488-5152

Governor Crist: http://www.flgov.com/contact_governor
Citizen Services Hotline: (850) 488-4441
Executive Office of the Governor Switchboard: (850) 488-7146 [8 a.m.-5 p.m.]
Fax: (850) 487-0801

Attorney General Bill McCollum: http://myfloridalegal.com/contact
Citizen Services Hotline: (850) 414-3990
Florida Toll-Free: 800-966-7226

Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink:
http://www.myfloridacfo.com/askFLDFS/default.aspx
Office of Cabinet Affairs: gail.robinson@MyFloridaCFO.com.
Telephone: (850) 413-2825
Telecopier: (850) 488-6581[Yvonne Gsteiger, Senior Cabinet Aide. Handles issues related to land use and the environment, and the Administration Commission.]

Commissioner Charles Bronson: commissioner@doacs.state.fl.us
Telephone: (850) 488-3022

To read the agenda and information on the siting case, visit http://www.myflorida.com/myflorida/cabinet/agenda09/0811/DEP0811.pdf.
Background Information:
• The proposed Levy County site has never been developed. Building two reactors and the massive transmission line project would destroy this rural area of florida.
• The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the federal agency responsible for licensing, has agreed with activists that there are several environmental issues that are of concern and need to be addressed. The Governors Cabinte/Siting Board should not approve the site until these issues are resolved. These issues include:
o Numerous flaws in Progress' permit application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on the impacts of the reactors on wetlands, the underground Floridian aquifer system and the Withlacoochee and Waccasassa Rivers;
o The impact of salt contamination on wetlands including Big Bend Aquatic Seagrass Preserve
o Deficiencies in the Progress' plans for radioactive waste disposal, particularly highly-radioactive Class B and C waste - Progress Energy has no real plan on for the radioactive waste disposal
For more information on the high costs of building new reactors in Florida, please visit http://www.cleanenergy.org/index.php?/Take-Action.html?form_id=51&item_id=49

Update: Stevie Lowe's Bond Set to $10,000.

Please consider donating to Stevie's Defense Fund through our paypal link. Also, please write Stevie letters and send her books.

Stevie Lowe
Martin County Jail
800 SE Monterey Road Stuart, Florida 34994

EAGLE NATIONAL SECURITY TRAINING CENTER PROPOSAL in Highlands County, FL
PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING SCHEDULED FOR August 11, 2009 AND Highlands County Commission hearing August 18, 2009

WHAT:
Meeting to create new zoning category to allow the building of the Eagle National Security Training Center in southwest Highlands County.Specifically, a 6,000 foot airstrip, helipad, 2,000 acre free fire zone, 5 story building, 25 single family homes, a dormitory for 1,000 trainees, 100 multi family residences, 2 - 250 foot training towers and 950,000 square feet of buildings for lodging, recreation, welcome
center, operational and administrative buildings up to three stories.

WHERE:
Bert J. Harris, Jr. Agricultural Center
4509 George Blvd. Sebring, Fl. 33875

Directions: going NORTH on State Road 27, George Blvd. is the first traffic light (FLASHING) after you go past the traffic light at State Road 98/CR66. Turn LEFT (west) onto George Blvd.)

Meeting Time: 4:00 PM
Public Comment will start following a presentation on the project

WHEN:
Tuesday, August 11, 2009

WHO:
Highlands County Planning & Zoning Comm.

FOR MORE INFO:
Online article at
http://www.newssun.com/0707-eb-county-eagle-develeopment-problems

Or call Planning & Zoning Dept. (863) 402-6650
You can also have your comment included on public record by sending an email to Jodie Thayer: Jthayer@hcbcc.net

State Attorney unable to establish FPL ownership of Barley Barber in Trial;
Martin County comes down hard on swamp defendant Stevie Lowe despite Not Guilty verdict

Stuart, FL—Today’s victory against Florida Power & Light (FPL) was bittersweet for Stevie Lynn Lowe. The jury returned a ‘not-guilty’ verdict for the charge of Trespassing on the Barley Barber swamp, indicating that State Prosecutors, Maria Zamora and Adam Guzi were unable to establish clear property boundaries for the old-growth swamp claimed as private property by FPL . Yet, in a confusing twist of events, a verdict of ‘guilty’ was returned for the charge of Resisting Without Violence (a charge which rarely stands on its own.)

Everglades Earth First! (EEF!), the local group with which Lowe was a part of, celebrated the outcome as a victory towards truly preserving Barley Barber swamp. At the opening of the Defense’s case, Lowe’s Public Defender, Jordan Dershaw, filed a motion for a Judgment of Acquittal (JOA) based on the fact that Barley Barber swamp is a recognized navigable waterway with documented historical use for transport and commerce and its current connectivity to the L-65 Canal, St. Lucie Canal and Lake Okeechobee. The presiding County Court Judge, Stuart Hershey, denied the JOA, prompting Dershaw to present the expert testimony of hydro-ecologist Dr. Sydney T. Bacchus to establish the presence of this public navigable waterway.

Dr. Bacchus is an expert scientific witness in legal cases and has worked for several government agencies dealing with the jurisdiction of waterways, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). Judge Hershey expelled Dr. Bacchus’ testimony from the trial, refusing to allow the jury to hear the expert testimony for themselves. The Judge used highly questionable grounds, utilizing weak case-law interpretation provided by the Prosecution.

Despite these substantial setbacks, the jury still ruled in favor of Ms. Lowe on the charge of trespassing. To a packed courtroom, the Judge sentenced Lowe to ninety days on the remaining charge of Resisting (Arrest) Without Violence. Lowe, who has no prior criminal record, was also given a year of probation, almost one thousand dollars in court and investigation costs. Supporters considered the ninety days excessive given the fact that the jury found her not-guilty on the charge for which she was arrested.

“Its a real David and Goliath story. Stevie Lowe bravely stood up to one of the largest corporations in Florida and won. FPL is destroying the natural heritage of Martin County. We need to hold FPL accountable for their destruction of Barley Barber swamp. Stevie has put us on the right path,” commented Everglades Earth First! organizer Russell McSpadden outside the courtroom.

Citing that a co-defendant of Lowe’s plead out to Judge Hershey earlier this month for a 5 day sentence, supporters stated that Lowe was being punished for exercising her constitutional right to a trial by jury.
“While Martin County has attempted to intimidate and suppress the voices of FPL’s opponents, we remain more committed than ever to protect the ancient swamp of Barley Barber for future generations.”

ACTIVISTS SPEAK OUT AGAINST STATEWIDE NUCLEAR POWER EXPANSION

July 14-17 elected officials from across the state will be gathered in Palm Beach County for the annual Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) conference and board meeting. FMPA is a statewide energy group comprised of public municipal electric utilities. The elected officials gathered represent cities with their own electric utilities and are the voting members of FMPA. FMPA is considering two nuclear expansion proposals: minority ownership of the new Levy County nuclear plant, the first new nuke plant in the country and funding the expansion of Turkey Point Nuclear Power plant in Miami. Palm Beach County area activist will be in attendance at the conference opening reception and board meeting to express concerns about the nuclear power proposals.

FMPA is working out the legal details of buying into Progress Energy's Levy County Nuclear Project, a 17 billion dollar project. Advocacy and political groups, including the Florida Green Party and Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS) have filed formal complaints against the permitting of the plant citing critical concerns about the safety and environmental impacts of the plant. Progress Energy has yet to announce a plan for storage of radioactive waste that is produced by nuclear reactors. Federal guidelines require that the waste be stored for hundreds of years. Last week, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission ruled that the complaints regarding radioactive waste, impacts to area wetlands and salt-water intrusion have legal merit and gave the green light for those concerns to be given a formal hearing by a judge.

FMPA’s board meeting is open to the public. Concerned rate payers and area residents will be in attendance at the FMPA meeting to voice their concerns. Russell McSpadden, an FMPA utilities customer commented “As a rate payer for Lake Worth Utilities, a member of FMPA, I do not want my rates to support construction of new nuclear reactors. Available renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies are faster, cheaper, safer and cleaner than nuclear energy. The Levy County Nuclear project is not the answer to our energy needs; nuclear power is dirty, dangerous, and expensive."

Concerned citizens will be there to welcome FMPA board members with banners and signs as they arrive at the conference. Ana Isabel Rodriquez plans to greet attendees with a welcome and a message of hope “I want to give the elected officials from across the state a warm Palm Beach County welcome, and a clear message – no new nukes! I have great faith that the local elected officials of the FMPA board understand the needs of the public better than corporate utilities and that they will vote no on the Levy County Nuclear Project proposal.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Russell McSpadden 561-389-9827

Who: Everglades Earth First and Nuclear Power Opponents
What: Protest at Florida Municipal Power Agency Annual Conference and Board Meeting
Where: PGA National Spa and Resort 400 Avenue of the Champions Palm Beach Gardens
When: Tuesday July 14, 4:30pm and Friday July 17 10:00 am

July 20th

Stand Up For The Swamps!

Support Direct Action

Pack the Martin Court House and Support Stevie

Swamp Defender

Stevie Lowe is a true hero and eco-bad ass of Barley Barber Swamp. In January of last year, Stevie defied the law of FPL goons and followed the law of the wild to take part in a swamp occupation. Stevie crossed into Barley Barber Swamp, an ancient cypress forest, which FPL claims is private property. They are killing the swamp and Stevie crossed into the swamp through an open water way to lock down to a tree. This swamp sitting guru stood up for the wild and those who wish to see it live by calling attention to FPL's crimes against nature. She dealt well with the gators and the snakes but now she faces the legal system. Come support her at her trial.

On July 20th please join us on the trial's kick-off, and on wed. july 15th come to witness our defense, featuring Hydro-Ecology expert, Dr. Sydney Bacchus. We will rally in front of the courthouse before the trial begins (around 8:30 am), then join Stevie in the courtroom to witness the public jury trial and show our support for these actions to expose FPL, re-open Barley Barber, protect the Everglades and promote a truly sustainable future. For those who can't make it, we are asking for financial support to assist in covering the legal expenses for this trial (donate through paypal or send us an email for our mailing address) thanks for your support!

Do you plan to drive? Please let us know and we will coordinate car pooling. contact us at evergladesearthfirst@gmail.com

The address for the Martin County Courthouse is

Ste 138
100 SE Ocean Blvd, Stuart, FL 34994

(772) 288-5576

Where Might Scripps Florida Get Its Reseach Primates?

Primate Products, Inc, with an area headquarters in Miami, offers several living and sentient animal "products" including Macaque primates for vivisection facilities across the country. They also sell the restraining devices for their"non-human primates." Here are some of their top models, the Tallboy Macaque Chair and the Enhanced Environment Housing System. Primate Products is known to have sold primates to Huntington Life Sciences and Harlan Sprague Dawley, Inc.

Proposed Levy County Nuclear Power Plant

Aerial Photo of Proposed Levy County Nuclear Plant

No new nuclear power plant has been constructed in the United States since 1996. This fact has lead many to believe that the fight against new nuclear power generation has ended. But, befitting Florida's history as a corrupt dumping ground of greedy developers and the energy empire's poisonous lust, Progress Energy Florida, a power generation corporation, is pushing forward with plans to build a new nuke plant in Levy County Florida.

Besides the obvious dangers of nuclear energy, the plant, according to Progress Energy Florida,will also call for 30-40 million gallons of water a day to cool the reactors.

Floridians, environmentalists, and social justice activists must unite against new nuclear power through paper wrenching, outreach, and when the time comes, direct action. Please stay informed.

For more information on nuclear energy please visit The Nuclear Information Resource Center and Beyond Nuclear.

Scripps Florida Update: Macaque Primates and Vivisection on FAU Jupiter Campus?

Scripps Florida Update

Click Here To See a PDF file of a vivisection research project using Macaques underwritten by Scripps Florida

Watch a video about macaques and vivisection here

Did you know that macaque social structure is considered non-hierarchial or democratic. See for yourself here

Everglades Uprising! CD

Rowdy musicians crawled out of the swamps long enough to record some songs for your listening pleasure! CDs are available for a $7-15 donation via paypal (please note that you want a CD and give us your address.) Listen to these samples or see the full song list.

Everglades Uprising! Compilation CD Cover

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I-69 Opponents Facing Conspiracy Charges

Tiga and Hugh, activists with Roadblock EF!, were arrested Friday, April 24th on charges that amount to conspiracy (intimidation, conversion, and “corrupt business influence”, which carries a maximum sentence of 8 years). At the base of these charges is the fact that over the years Tiga and Hugh strove to communicate with others to create collective engagement with/against the I-69 NAFTA Superhighway project. EarthFirst!ers all over the globe are resisting the repression exemplified in their senseless arrest.

Both Tiga and Hugh have been bailed out by Roadbloack EF!, Check their website for updates and more information. Please support their resistance efforts and donate to the bail fund.

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