On January 22 concerned Floridians
from more than 100 different organizations in 16 communities at risk from water
pollution and the unrestrained over-consumption of water resources
gathered to make a stand for clean water in Florida.
“Commit to Clean Water” events were
held in Boynton Beach, Bradenton, Ft. Myers, Ft. Pierce, Gainesville,
Interlachen, Jacksonville, Key West, Palm Bay, Orlando, Naples, Ocala, Stuart,
Tallahassee, Tampa, and Vero Beach.
The public was joined by local and state
level elected officials who want to join the fight to save Florida from the
threat of lost jobs, lost quality of life and lost natural environments that we
now face due to the degradation of our state’s waters; they were State Senator
David Simmons and State Representative Linda Stewart (in Orlando), State
Representative Michelle Rehwinkle-Vasilinda, and State Representative Alan
Williams (in Tallahassee), State Representative Mark Danish, Hillsborough
County Commissioner Kevin Beckner and Tampa City Councilwoman Mary Mulhern (in
Tampa), State Representative Lori Berman (in Boynton Beach), State
Representative Heather Fitzenhagen (in Ft. Myers), Manatee County Commissioners
Michael Gallen and Robin DiSabatino (in Bradenton), Indian River County
Commissioner Peter D. O’Bryan and Indian River County School Board Member Dale
Simchick (in Vero Beach), St. Lucie County Commissioners Tod Mowery and Chris
Dzadovsky (in Ft. Pierce), Jacksonville City Councilman Jim Love , Palm Bay City
Councilwoman Michelle Paccione, Interlachen Mayor Ken Larsen and Alachua County
Commissioners Mike Byerly and Robert "Hutch"
Hutchinson.
Civic, water and environmental
groups from every corner of the state have come together to launch a historic
endeavor – a collaborative campaign to harness the resources and
energy of organizations and individuals from throughout our state to demand and
win the protection of Florida's springs, rivers, lakes, and estuaries.
The cornerstone of the campaign is the Floridians' Clean Water Declaration which was developed with the input and support of dozens of environmental organizations. The Declaration lists six rights that should be guaranteed to the people of Florida and four responsibilities of the state government, water managers, and natural resource users.
The cornerstone of the campaign is the Floridians' Clean Water Declaration which was developed with the input and support of dozens of environmental organizations. The Declaration lists six rights that should be guaranteed to the people of Florida and four responsibilities of the state government, water managers, and natural resource users.
The goal of the campaign is to build
a movement; to demonstrate Floridians' overwhelming support for protecting
state waters and to create a framework for achieving meaningful policy changes
in the future.
The campaign's genesis was only two months ago on November 16 when water quality activists from across the state gathered at a Citizens' Summit to begin to explore ways to collaborate at a higher level.
The campaign's genesis was only two months ago on November 16 when water quality activists from across the state gathered at a Citizens' Summit to begin to explore ways to collaborate at a higher level.
For additional photos of the events go to the FCWD Campaign Facebook page.
Visit our website www.wewantcleanwater.com to sign the declaration and learn more.
Our next big event will be on February 18 when we rally on the Old Capitol steps in Tallahassee - more details to follow!
PRESS HITS
Statewide (Clear Channel Radio)
Bradenton
Ft. Myers
Fox 13 TV (no link available)
Gainesville
Jacksonville
Lakeland
Ocala
Orlando
Palm Bay
Palm Beach County
Sarasota
WSLR Radio 99.5 (no link available)
Stuart/Ft. Pierce
Tampa
Tallahassee
