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Florida Everglades controversy

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1Florida Everglades controversy Empty Florida Everglades controversy 4/11/2015, 1:05 pm

Floridatexan

Floridatexan


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/04/09/1376605/--Tea-party-protest-against-Everglades-conservation-turns-out-to-be-just-a-bunch-of-paid-actors?detail=email#

Florida Everglades controversy Screen_Shot_2015-04-09_at_6.37.45_AM

Well, this is just pathetic.
The Tea Party of Miami put up a convincing demo last week to oppose a 'land grab' that would see 46,000 acres of sugar farm land restored for Everglades conservation. Just one problem - the 'protestors' were actors each being paid $75 for the two-hour shift.
Last week, South Florida Water Management District held a meeting about the possible purchase of 46,000 acres of land that sits to the south of Lake Okeechobee, currently owned by U.S. Sugar and residents.
The intention is to use the land to recreate a large area of the Everglades ecosystem on the former farmland, and create a 26,000 acre system of lakes to store and remediate seriously contaminated run-off water from sugar farms, and so keep the nitrogen and phosphorus-rich water out of lakes, water courses, wetlands, springs and public water supply.
Thanks to the surfeit of nutrients, huge areas of open water and wetlands are regularly afflicted by outbreaks of stinking green slime - and the water district has come under growing pressure to act to stop the pollution and its severe consequences on local people and the Everglades.

The protest took place last Thursday outside the South Florida Water Management District and was staged by the Tea Party of Miami and Florida Citizens Against Waste—a group that, according to the Palm Beach Post, "has no contact information on its website and is not registered to do business in Florida."
The call for actors to appear at the protest originally appeared on Facebook—although they have since deleted it. Luckily, some folks took screenshots before the post was taken down.


Cue a mysterious post on the Facebook page of the Broward Acting Group headed "Political Really Protestors Needed!!" and offering $75 each (no breakfast) for up to 40 actors to show up at the water district on 2nd April from 8.30 to 10.30 am:
"Details: Basically to stand behind fence, holding banners or signs that will be provided. Clothing is almost anything!! Use common sense and don't wear 'club' outfits or gym clothes. Just wardrobe for a Political Rally...We will pay CASH of $75 at end of shoot."

This stunt is almost laughable—but the environmental problems the area is facing are no joke. According to Earth Justice:
At present, polluters are legally discharging 300 tons of phosphorous over the legal limit, and the legislature is proposing a plan that will only reduce pollution by 100 tons over 10 years.
Here's a video of the "protest," complete with a bizarre stunt lighting fake money on fire in a barbeque.



Here's an ad that's been appearing around the internet:

http://stopthelandgrab.org/?gclid=CNCjh5a12MQCFdgZgQodWGIApg

And here's a discussion of what's going on:

http://www.thebradentontimes.com/news/2015/04/02/opinion/a_story_of_clean_water_big_sugar_amendment_1_hunting_trips_the_everglades_and_more_development/#.VSlRJ_nF-2o

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