A year ago, many of us indulged in one treat we all are blessed with while living along the Atlantic ocean and Indian River Lagoon......swimming, playing, fishing and/or just sightseeing. Last year things took a drastic turn for the worst. Our waters turned brown, bright green algae ran amok throughout the lagoon and rivers and people got badly sick.
This problem Has plagued our home not just within the last year but for decades. This fight is not new to say the least. One thing that is new, social media. Last year, around this time two ordinary surfers/friends were fed up with the putrid sights and smells and death of the animals and took charge in the most monumental event some had ever seen while living along the treasure coast.
Evan Miller and Clint Starling brought to life the movement that has become an asset for this state. They were able to round up thousands and bring so many people from all different walks of life to one location. The St. Lucie Locks in Martin County to protest against the destruction. Their were informative speakers, scientist, politicians, environmental organizations and lots of FED UP local citizens. It was then that the momentum really started rolling.
Sadly, we are faced with the same destruction as last year, harmful fresh water discharges. These discharges are a plethora of nasty chemicals ranging from harmful chemicals to animal waste. While we presently are NOT seeing discharges directly from Lake Okeechobee, some believe this water is just as harmful as this water is left over from last year and has been stagnant prior to the gates opening recently.
August 3rd we will do it again and bring several communities together for the second year in a row.
The event starts at 10am with a great lineup of speakers. At 12pm, we will march to the locks. Following the march, their will be a ROCK THE VOTE concert. On hand will be voter registration applications for anyone who is not signed up to vote. Voting will be HUGE this year.
The River Kidz will have a booth there and are looking for ways to demonstrate what this event (the harmful discharges) mean to the Kidz. We are encouraging our young voices to join us and remind the stakeholder that the Kidz are our future. They deserve to utilize the one thing that has us all drawn to this state and that's CLEAN WATER! If your interested in having your child join the tiniest advocates, send an email to riverkidzslc@gmail.com ASAP.
I have been fortunate enough to watch lots of these Kidz grow and "just get" the problems and solutions.
Listed are links regarding this event. We need everyone who cares and wants clean water again to join us.
Citizens 4 Clean Water
Citizens 4 Clean Water event page
Kidz against Lake Okeechobee Discharges
Rock the Vote FL
Video from last years protest
We hope everyone will join us. This is the largest event and requires the largest crowd. The bigger the crowd the louder we are, the more the politicians know we mean business.
We need to demand they STOP THE DISCHARGES NOW!!!!!
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