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FLORIDA: Waking up to the need for Green

Location: Blogs The Green Zone an environmental blog
Posted by: Dave Rhea	7/17/2007 1:12 PM
Florida is famous for giving away our natural wonders to build a bigger tax base and a hefty profit for a few specific people. State government has allowed too much of this Great Peninsula to be paved over or polluted in exchange for money. But the times, they are a-changin'! State and local governments are waking up to the need for green (and not just greenbacks). Back in June, the New York Times published a story about Florida - and it was none too flattering. It was titled, "Florida Is Slow to See the Need to Save Water." It said: "Changing the rules on lawns could be significant, since Florida households - especially those with automatic irrigation systems, which are increasingly common - use up to 75 percent of their water outdoors. "'The most important incentive we can establish is limiting lawn watering,' said Amy Vickers, an engineer and consultant who is helping Orange County rewrite its water conservation ordinance. 'It's reasonable and fair, and something I think we've got to learn to live with.'" What a miserable reputation we have when it comes to saving our own state's precious resources. But, luckily, there's a new sheriff in town, so to speak, in our governor, Charlie Crist. Crist is undoubtedly my favorite Republican. In fact, the AP published over the weekend : "Govs. Charlie Crist and Arnold Schwarzenegger told Republican supporters Friday night that the party needs to think of people first rather than getting caught up in partisan bickering. Schwarzenegger praised Crist because he has reached out to people and set aside politics since being sworn in last January. "'That is why I love Gov. Crist,' the California governor said. 'He doesn't care what is a Democratic idea or a Republican idea - what is the best thing for the people?'" Music to my ears. Gov. Charlie Crist was hosting his "Serve to Preserve Florida Summit on Global Climate Change," a two-day summit where Crist signed a series of executive orders aimed at limiting carbon emissions from vehicles and power plants and encouraging the use of renewable energy sources. From the Star-Banner : "Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense, said the failure of conservation during the past few decades led to Crist setting emission standards for energy producers. 'What we've done so far has failed miserably,' Krupp said during a break at the summit. 'We cannot change America without American businesses getting involved. And without policies in place, we're doomed,' he said." Aside from a lot of the old-school partisanship, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush was not all bad. He led the way in acquiring private land in order to save it from massive, unrestrained development through inequitable situations such as so-called "vested property rights," which I will explore at length in a later blog. (Preview, a source in the county commission said vested rights CAN be overturned. Stay tuned to find out how.) A great example of what Jeb did can be found in a story I wrote in June of last year about the Avatar land aquisition, called "Life by the Drop" Crist, however, far, far outpaces brother Bush. As a true public servant with the public interest in mind, Good Charlie has embraced "being green" for the sake of the state and our citizenry. This is a new era of politics in Florida, and it fills me with a great deal of hope for the future of our great state. Also, our mayor, Randy Ewers, just started a green initiative here in Ocala called "Go Green, Save Green Small Business Challenge," spearheaded by Citra-based Rosas Farms, a certified organic farm. From the Star-Banner : "Ocala Mayor Randy Ewers said the program is an opportunity for the local small business community to learn ways of saving money and being friendly to the environment, 'to help preserve it for the future.'" "'We have a great opportunity now because so much talk is about green initiatives and global warming, and we can start doing the right things now,' Ewers said." Way to go, Mr. Mayor. Thanks for being a leader on this front. With Crist and Ewers in the drivers seats, Florida and Ocala is traveling in the right direction into the future. Of course, there will always be those old curmudgeons out there who will always resent anything that is new or different. They were around during the civil rights era. They are here now. They will be around when the next big need for progress surfaces. But those types aside, there is a new day dawning in Florida, and I am excited that we are leading the way to responsibility and public service.

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Re: FLORIDA: Waking up to the need for Green

By allie on 7/18/2007 7:32 AM

A green day dawning. How could it possibly have taken this long? Of course I'm pleased with the progress, but I still feel disenfranchised. People in this country, in this state, have been calling for green change for decades. For the 38 years I've been alive, anyway. The right folks do need to be in control. We can do what we can on an individual level and, thankfully, people are still fighting the good fight and hollering at the lawmakers — and writing environmental blogs. Thanks.

Re: FLORIDA: Waking up to the need for Green

By nan on 8/17/2007 9:01 PM

people move to florida because of the weather if you want open space go to alaska! this is the US you know..."...one nation under God indivisible..."...not let's create a separate border and allow no one in Florida! Alaska is 90% wilderness so go there and you won't have to worry about asphalt...maybe not green but white...cold like the anti growth group...green stands for growth which would include people that populate!...and people were created in the image and likeness of God not like a tree or an animal...so give it up and allow God to love his people!

Re: FLORIDA: Waking up to the need for Green

By Dave Rhea on 8/20/2007 7:39 AM

So, nan, you are saying God is anti-nature? I have to say, that is the first time I have heard that one! I know some people on the extreme right have decided that God is pro-growth, but I assume that they are doing that to excite a radical voter base rather than actually believing that God is a profit baron. By paving over the great state of Florida and killing off natural wonders that God created so that "people move to Florida because of the weather," like you say, are you saying God can love us more efficiently if we build houses at the expense of trees and animals? Or, perhaps you are saying that if we save natural habitats, that is somehow hindering God's ability to love us? By destroying nature, that is allowing God to "love his people?" That is a new one for me, that is for sure! And through this logic, are you saying that God does not love people in Alaska? That is quite a version of God you've got going there, nan. I venture to guess that you are politically aligned with Ted Stevens. Are you saying God does not love Senator Stevens because he is in Alaska - or is he in Alaska because God does not love him? We'll have to agree to disagree on this one! :)

Re: FLORIDA: Waking up to the need for Green

By Daria Self on 4/17/2008 7:20 AM

My students are hearing the call for a need to be green. See our letters below. Can you assist us in any way? Even as a guest speaker? Letters from Ms. S’s 3rd grade students regarding the environment: Our air is being polluted. My name is John and I would like to make the world a better place. In school we have learned to recycle. Could you help us make the world a better place? Your friend, John My name is Chris. I think you need to help our environment by telling everyone on your show to recycle. Our world is contaminated by pollution. We need to change before the earth is polluted. Sincerely, Christopher Hi! My name is Michael. In the past week I’ve learned a lot about recycling. We are recycling cans and paper, but we need help. Can you donate some recycling bins and tree seeds because when we cut down trees we lose our oxygen? Sincerely, Michael We need your help to save our environment. I really want to save our planet. Do you? I’m ten years old. My name is Jabaarr . I recycle papers, aluminum, and plastic. You can help by going on TV and talking about recycling. They might write or call you about it. I can help you by mailing letters to different states so they could recycle. Your friend, Jabaarr I think we can save earth by recycling paper, plastic, and cardboard off the streets. We can clean the pollution in ponds, lakes, and rivers by nets. Global warming is caused by carbon emission. I hope we can change the earth by recycling. Littering is bad because it effects the environment. We should recycle paper instead of cutting down more trees. Our trees filter the oxygen in the air. Your friend, Joey We are learning about recycling and global warming. I was just wondering if you can help us by sending recycling bins and canvas bags. Why do people throw garbage in the road? People shouldn’t pollute because that could damage the world, right? People shouldn’t be cutting down too many trees because trees give us oxygen. Instead, you can use recycling paper. Your friend, Erica Hi, I am Kailee. I am 9 years old. My school is recycling. People pollute our word because they throw garbage on the side of the road. When car oil drips on the road it goes into the rivers and lakes. It effects our water, then we can’t drink our water. When people cut down our trees it is taking our oxygen away and we get weaker and weaker. Not only grown people can save the planet, kids can too. Can you help by recycling? Your friend, KW The main reason why I’m sending this letter is because I want to help our community stop cutting down trees. We need our trees to survive because we need oxygen. The trees aren’t just important there’s also thing like animals, water, and air. If we start picking up trash then you won’t have a problem keeping the environment clean. So be sure to look for trash on the ground. I learned that you are supposed to recycle when you are done with something. I need you to help by telling people to recycle. Your friend, TA My name is Kymesha and I am 9 years old. I want to talk to you about what I learned about recycling. In class we are talking about how we could save the earth. We started to collect paper, plastic and soda cans. We watched a movie about recycling and we collect pencil shavings for art class. We learned a lot about it and I learned that recycling is so cool and you never know what you might find interesting. I think when you get done with cans you should recycle them. So now I think people should clean up the world and think about what they’re doing to our world. Your friend, KG I am a student at Sparr Elementary. I learned that cars spread carbon emissions. Can you please make more bike lanes and put up a lot of signs that say no cutting down trees or pay $1000 fine? I’m begging you to make a recycling club. Do you think that people are going to listen to you about the trees? This is the way you can help: instead of dump trucks turn them into recycling trucks and try to stop people from throwing trash in Ocala. Your friend, Ricardo I’m writing this letter from school. We’ve been learning about recycling, global, warming and the environment. We’ve been learning what happens to our planet each day when people throw trash on the ground and it just makes our planet smell like diapers. I know that nobody wants that so that’s why we need to keep our planet clean. You can help by making posters and emailing people, even John Travolta, to help save the planet. Sincerely, Trevor Hi! My name is Montana. I live in Florida. I am nine years old. I wanted to talk to you about carbon emissions. Carbon emissions come out of our cars exhaust pipes. It is lowering our oxygen and people are cutting down trees too. We are loosing a lot of oxygen. Littering is bad too. Littering causes the world to be dirty and look like a garbage dump and it will smell. Sincerely, MS Our third grade classes in our school are recycling to help our planet be a clean and better place to live in. We have learned about keeping the environment clean and how trees give us oxygen. Would you like to help us save our planet by recycling and using canvas bags? Sincerely, AM P.S. John Travolta lives 2 miles from our school. Hi! My name is SB. I have been learning about recycling. I think recycling is a good thing to do because it helps our environment. Recycling is better than throwing things away. They way we don’t kill trees and if we don’t kill trees we can have oxygen. I also learned that trees kill our air. My teachers taught my class all about recycling. Oh, one more thing can you plant some more trees for our environment. Your friend, SB Dear Ms. Winfrey, Hi! My name is Savannah. My class is learning how to recycle cans and other goods. I was wondering if you can talk about the environment and how not to turn it into a bucket of trash. My class went on a field trip in the back of the school. We put newspapers and cardboard in the recycling bins. It was interesting. Your friend, Savannah My class is learning about global warming. I’ve learned that cars make carbon emissions that pollute our air. Will you make a bike lane? I learned that the people that make the paper use trees that are new. They are cutting down our air supply. Will you tell them to use sticks and trees that are already down? Yours truly, Walter My name is AF. We are learning about recycling at school. We heard about global warming. Can you help us stop the global warming? All you have to do is make bike trails, stop polluting the water, pick up cans to recycle, and have recycling service at everyone’s house. Your friend, AF Hello! My name is MB. I’m from Ms. S’s class. We’re learning about recycling. I’ve learned that it’s best to use canvas bags. But if you ever have to use paper or plastic bags be sure to recycle. Lately, I’ve been seeing more and more trash aside the road. So I was wondering if you can help us stop people from littering. Also, can you stop global warming by not using your car all the time? Some places you can walk, other places you have to drive a car, or you can ride in the subway. You can even ride bikes. The reason I say this is because when you use your car carbon emissions come out and gets in our air. I don’t think you want to breathe that. Oh, and can you show an episode about recycling? Your friend, MB Our environment is getting polluted by carbon emissions. Our class is saving the earth. I want to know if you are too. If not, can you try to help us by using recycled paper because people are cutting down trees for paper. Do you like soda? If you do, recycle the cans after you drink them instead of throwing them away. Put them in a bag. If you want to drink out of a water bottle again the numbers 2, 4, and 5 are drinkable. Your friend, Brandi D. Hello! My name is FM and I go to Sparr Elementary School and I like your show. I hope one day you come to our school. We need help and I want you to tell people, “Don’t pollute.” It is not good and it isn’t safe for the earth. Bring your recyclables to our school and we will recycle them. Your friend, FM Hello, my name is RP. I am from Ms. S’s classroom and we would like you to help us save the world from global warming. The world’s garbage problem begins with individual people who don’t take responsibility for their trash. We have been thinking about a bike trail in our city. If we could get on your show we could bring our recycling bins. Your friend, RP I am worried about our planet because animals will die and our world would be trash. So please help clean up the Earth. These are the things that can help the Earth, save cans, recycle newspapers. Your friend, ES “I have a dream of a world free from litter and of a clean environment where everyone recycles.” This was written by one of my 3rd grade students. Our one-blinking-light town is nestled among horse farms scattered throughout Marion County. Many of the families in our rural community work on these horse farms. About 71% of our students receive free or reduced lunch. As I became more and more excited about cleaning up our environment, I began to share all of my green information with my students. This had a great impact on them. Instantaneously, they were true recyclers. When we go to lunch or anywhere else on campus, they get out of line to pick up litter. Best of all, I have students that have convinced their parents to clean up their neighborhoods on the weekend without any prompting from me. Each of my students has shown individual desires for helping our world. They’ve written letters and stories that were so heart felt I wanted to cry. We are writing to share with you what one small school in Florida is doing to help our environment and to ask you to aid us in our quest to save our planet. We live in a county without curbside service and have hit a lot of road blocks trying to get assistance. I feel that our mission is best expressed by my 3rd grade students. Thank you for showing how even one person, even a third grader, can make a difference. Daria Self Sparr Elementary

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