Sunday, January 11, 2009
Anti-FPL activists arrested in Martin County; bail contributions sought ... by gimleteye
The following is a press statement from EvergladesEarthFirst:
"On Saturday, January 10 of this year, seventeen Earth First! activists were arrested for entering the Barley Barber Swamp to demand the protection of Florida old growth ecosystems. The Barley Barber Swamp is one of the few remaining old growth cypress swamps in the Southeast. Several of the bald cypress trees in Barley Barber are over a thousand years old. They are the oldest in Florida and the entire Southeast region.
Barley Barber Swamp is being killed by the massive 3750 megaWatt Martin County power plant that hovers over it and the seventeen mile cooling pond that surrounds it.
Following a five day standoff, six activists entered the swamp through a public waterway and chained themselves to trees. Eleven other activists were swept up by the police in a frivolous attempt to quell the protest. Currently, Everglades Earth First! is confronted with the immediate need to raise $18,000 to bail these courageous activists out of Martin County jail.
Direct action is a community effort that goes well beyond the risk of arrest. It requires broad support from those who wish to see grassroots efforts succeed. We hope to go to the jail on Monday with the funds to bail all seventeen activists out. We know times are tough but if everyone pitches in we can ensure that these folks don't sit in jail for the next thirty days. Can you contribute to this effort? Just go to our website at and click on the "Donate" paypal link on the left hand side of the page or make out a check to Everglades Earth First and send it to 822 N C Street, Lake Worth, FL 33460.
Another form of support that we would like to ask for is that those concerned call FPL and demand that they drop all charges against the Barley Barber 17 and that they reopen the Barley Barber Swamp to scientific and public scrutiny. One number to call for FPL is 305-552-3888. If you have a local FPL office, please call them as well...
Any funding raised beyond bail will go towards the legal battle that we will carry out to fundamentally change the status of Barley Barber and to ensure its protection and public access much like the battles over Fisheating Creek in the 1990's (http://www.earthjustice.org/about_us/our_stories/a-snake-in-the-kitchen.html)
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Jan 12
Contact: Everglades Earth First! 561-308-9452
Several FPL protesters released from Martin County jail, continue to speak
out for the swamp
PRESS CONFERENCE & RALLY for BARLEY BARBER
Wednesday, January 14, 4pm in Downtown Stuart, across from Martin CountyCourthouse, 100 East Ocean Boulevard
Stuart, FL- On January 10, seventeen activists who were fighting FPL for access and accountability over Barley Barber swamp went from the canopy of
Florida's oldest cypress trees to the barred windows of county jail. On Wednesday those who have been released from jail will speak to the public on the motivations behind their actions and their experience of arrest and jail.
Join us with signs, banners, drums and music to spread the message of protection for Florida's remaining old-growth forests and renewable, decentralized energy for Florida's residents.
For background info, photos and video of the action and the swamp, check out: www.evergladesearthfirst.org
For a company who claims to be "environmentally concerned," FPL contradicts itself with the use of promotional inserts in mailing of it monthly statements. Advertisements for companies like Geico provide FPL with additional revenue, while many recipients of the inserts discard them, thereby adding to environmental waste. If you would like to opt-out of receiving such promotions with your FPL bill, contact Elizabeth Murphy or FPL Customer Correspondence with your name, address and account number. Please exercise social responsibility and help to reduce the environmental impact that affects all of us.
Elizabeth.W.Murphy@fpl.com
FPL_Customer_Correspondence@fpl.com
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