Hundreds gather in Tallahassee in support of a ban on fracking, clean
water protections, and increased support for renewable energy
Hundreds of Floridians from around the state will gather today at the capitol to urge state legislators to protect our environment, including a ban on all forms of fracking, a just transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050, and protections for Florida’s remarkable network of waterways.
“Florida is an incredible state with some of the most unique ecosystems on the planet,” said Jeremy Matlow, Tallahassee City Commissioner. “Our residents know this. Our tourists know this. That’s why hundreds of caring people have traveled hours to come to Tallahassee to tell the Legislature that the time is now to protect our environment.”
The Reclaiming Florida’s Future for All event comes after a year plagued with pollution, extreme weather, and economic hardship for communities across the state. With a new Governor and new legislative leadership, Florida has a chance to tackle its biggest environmental and economic challenges with bold and commonsense solutions.
“Climate change is not a burden of the young. Rather it is an opportunity for the adults of today and the adults of tomorrow to work together for a safer, more resilient future,” said Charlotte Stuart, the 13-year-old Tallahassee native and leader of Climate Strike, a protest for climate action led by middle and high schoolers.
The day will start with a rally at 10:30 am at Waller Park where the Raging Grannies, part of an international activist group that promote peace, justice, social and economic equality, will captivate the crowd through song and humor.
“Every year, our event gets bigger, and every year, our cause becomes more urgent,” said Kim Ross, Executive Director of Rethink Energy Florida. “But one thing remains true: when Floridians get involved, we make government work for us.”
Following the rally, constituents will meet with their elected officials in support of:
- climate justice,
- transitioning Florida to 100% renewable energy by 2050,
- ensuring lead is filtered out of school drinking water,
- mitigating conditions for algae blooms by imposing stricter inspections on septic tanks and other onsite sewage treatment,
- addressing climate resilience and creating a Disaster Resiliency Task Force,
- restoring home-rule for regulation on single-use plastics, and
- enacting a ban on all forms of fracking.
“We have a real chance to ban fracking once and for all here in Florida but we have to do it right,”’ said Marybeth Dunn, MPH, and Executive Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility – Florida. “We’re counting on our state leaders to ensure the passage of a clean bill that bans all forms of fracking including matrix acidizing in order to truly protect the health of Floridians.”
The attendees also stand in opposition to expressway expansion and in support of allowing local governments to protect their communities.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RECLAIMING FLORIDA’S FUTURE:
What: Rally urging state legislators to pass a clean and complete fracking ban, ensure our drinking waters are kept clean, and support climate justice
When: Wednesday, March 13th at 10:30 am
Where: Waller Park (in front of the dolphins), 400 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32301 (Florida State Capitol)
Speakers:
- Jeremy Matlow, City Commissioner, Tallahassee.
- Crystal Johnson, founder of The Community Forum Foundation, Inc. in Dunbar, FL, which is dedicated to resolving issues of environmental injustice, water pollution, and gentrification in Ft. Myers.
- Janice Lucas, member of the Executive Board of the Long-Term Disaster Recovery Organization and long time organizer with LEAD Coalition in the low-income communities of Panama City.
- Charlotte Stuart-Tilly, 13-year-old leader of the Climate Strike–a protest for climate action led by middle and high schoolers–in her native Tallahassee
- Reinaldo Diaz, J.D. Waterkeeper, President Lake Worth Waterkeeper
Visuals: More than 200 conservation, social justice and health advocates, colorful signs, banners and oversized sticky notes.
Reclaiming Florida’s Future and the associated rally are organized by Floridians Against Fracking, ReThink Energy Florida, Environment Florida, Food and Water Watch-Florida, ReThink Energy Action Fund, Physicians for Social Responsibility Florida, Sierra Club Florida, Center for Biological Diversity, Florida Student Power Network, Earthjustice, Foundation for Florida Environmental Protection, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, National Nurses Organizing Committee,FL-SUN, Foundation for Florida Environmental Protection, Florida Native Plant Society and many more.
