We apologize for the foul language, but we just have to respond to a recent opinion editorial in the Fort Lauderdale SunSentinel about the lack of Everglades restoration. The editorial is complete bull sugar (changed by the Editor). We link to it below. The gist of the editorial is that a bunch of environmental extremists have recently started causing a bunch of headaches by complaining about the water mismanagement in South Florida. All of this noise for no good reason. The article implies that all is in good shape, that Evergaldes restoration is proceeding quite fine, that strengthening the dike on the south side of Lake Okeechobee is all that is needed, that a land purchase is not needed, that >200 scientists are wrong, and on and on. If this is the case, then why is the Army Corps of Engineers discharging toxic water (toxic green algae is now in the massive freshwater discharges flowing from Lake Okeechobee)? Why hasn’t Everglades restoration been completed? Why is Florida Bay dying? Why are the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Rivers dying? Why? Because the special interests that support this editorial have been purposefully causing the problems to keep the mismanagement going as long as they can. They make money from the old way of doing things, even though it’s now well known that the old way of doing things is killing Florida. Like we said, complete bull sugar. Does one really expect the facts from something written by “Malcolm S. “Bubba” Wade Jr. is the senior vice president of Corporate Strategy and Business Development for U.S. Sugar. This is like the tobacco companies reporting that smoking does not cause harm to your lungs or health. It is part of Big Sugar’s campaign in response to many environmental scientists and groups calling for the Everglades restoration to be completed now. Cynobacteria is causing human illness on both of Florida’s coasts.
Also we wonder where the Federal EPA is? Where are the national environmental groups on this and other water quality issues in Florida such as the dying Indian River Lagoon? Where are the environmental lawyers ready to help? Why are they not defending the Clean Water Act in Florida? Because the Army Corps of Engineers says it is an emergency and have a permit to discharge to the coasts instead of to the Everglades? To this we say bull sugar! Well the emergency is that ecosystems are dying now. The many are suffering due to the power of a few. Yes the deep pockets of big sugar are ruling Tallahassee and the U.S. Congress. We are watching our ecosystems die in front of our own eyes. Documentation of this ecosystem disease and destruction is shown every day on social media and honest news papers and television stations. We guess it will take people like movie stars or politicians dying from cynobacteria or other poisoning before the national media really pays attention and before something is done. Time for a change. Albert Einstein and other have said “The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch and do nothing.” What will other media outlets do publish more bull sugar like the SunSentinel and other big sugar paid newspapers? Or provide the science based facts and tell the truth unlike the SunSentinel. When will the real leaders stand up and heard?
The original SunSentinel “editorial” can be found here: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/opinion/commentary/fl-viewpoint-sugar-20160513-story.html
Signed,
Take Back Our Water – http://takebackourwater.org
