Update 2021-02-09: Back to Live Oak and online: SRWMD Nestle Special Meeting 2021-02-23.
Update 2020-03-09: Nestlé pulled from the agenda.
See in these videos 32 people speak to the SRWMD board, against Nestlé’s Ginnie Springs permit, and not a single one for, after a rally outside, in December 2019. Plus 384,000 signatures delivered by Allison Guy of SumofUs.
That permit is on the agenda for tomorrow morning, 9AM, Tuesday, March 10, 2020, at SRWMD HQ in Live Oak.
SRWMD staff recommend denial, but they did back in 2003 when the Madison Blue Spring permit was originally granted, and the SRWMD Board approved it anyway.
So come speak your mind. Come early: SRWMD is expecting so many people they’re setting up expansion space inside, and their parking will fill up quickly. Facebook event.
The Suwannee River Water Management District Board may never have heard from a mermaid before. Many other speakers were new to this venue, such as 14-year-old Isaac Augspurg.
Others were old hands, such as Our Santa Fe River (OSFR) president Mike Roth, past president Pam Smith, Historian Jim Tatum, and of course Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson.
Several WWALS members spoke, including several of the above, and Chris Mericle, Garth Brewster, and Maxine Connor.
Valdosta spill; No Nestle permit –Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman
The only speaker to cause an audible gasp from the audience was me, when I revealed that Valdosta had spilled again, 7.5 million gallons of raw sewage, upstream from Madison Blue Spring. Much more about that on the WWALS website.
I hand-delivered to SRWMD board and staff copies of the WWALS letter against Nestlé permits.
Below are links to each WWALS video of each speaker, followed by a WWALS video playlist. Please share these videos on your social media and other places.
-
Merrillee, you need to be in here! Against Nestle
-
A Valdosta sewage spill upstream from Madison Blue Spring –Suwannee Riverkeeper
-
Public interest: no Nestle withdrawal –Michael Roth, Pres. Our Santa Fe River
-
384,000 signatures against Nestle permit –Allison Guy, SumofUs
-
Convenience, not necessity & out of watershed, Nestle –Mike Roth, pres. OSFR
-
Our home under attack by Nestle –Isaac Augspurg
-
Say no to Nestle! –All
-
Order, invocation, pledge
-
Nestle not on agenda today but you can speak
-
Public Comment Against Nestle
-
Fled south Florida to Ginnie Springs, now Nestle –Jim O’Brien
-
Grassroots in England got Nestle out for grandchildren –Lucy Anstey
-
Draw the line against Nestle -Pam Smith, past Pres. OSFR
-
Support our rights, not the cancer of Nestle –Kristin Rubin, OSFR
-
Alexander von Humbolt predicted this (the Invention of Nature) –Martha Strawn
Video. Eel grass is gone. Science may not see the big picture of ecology. The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humbolt’s New World, by Andrea Wulf.
-
We’ll make sure the absent board member gets a copy
-
Nestle just wants money for investors extracted from our waters –Russ Augsburg
-
Adults in charge: do not grant Nestle permit –Isaac Augspurg, age 14
-
These springs affect all of Florida –Michelle Colson, mermaid from Ocala
-
Legal basis for denial or revocation of Nestle permit –Jim Tatum, OSFR Historian
-
Three daughters, one FFA pres. –Lindsey Dank, 226,208 signatures, Change.org
-
Valdosta spill; No Nestle permit –Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman
-
All these people love the rivers and springs –Garth Brewster against Nestle
-
384,000 signatures against Nestle permit –Allison Guy, SumofUs
-
Stopped 4 bottling permits, now stop Nestle –Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson OSFR
-
TMDLs, flows, BMAPs, Outstanding FL Waters, etc. –Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson, OSFR
-
Tip of iceberg public opposition to Nestle –Katrina Shadix, Bear Warriors United
-
Want us to give our water away; makes no sense –candidate for FL Senate 5
-
No public interest, Nestle permit –Jane Blais, ex OSFR board
-
10 minute break
-
Huge high plains drawdowns: no Nestle from our spring aquifer –Laura Dailey
-
Quantity gravely diminishing; no water for Nestle –? drove an hour
-
Population pressure; do your due diligence -?
-
Native Floridian has seen decline of waterways, esp. Withlacoochee–Chris Mericle
-
Three prong test for public interest; no Nestle –Lucinda Merritt
-
Conservation continues to be necessary; no Nestle permit –Hilda Gilchrist
-
My name is Karen Mullins, I live in Fort White
-
Foreign company stealing our water; no Nestle song –Karen Mullins
-
Assault OK as long as only percent harm? No Nestle! –Mike Roth, pres. OSFR
-
Change the paradigm to eco-jurisprudence; no Nestle –Kate Gallagher, Melrose
-
Springs and agriculture; no Nestle –Carollee ?
-
Needs (sustainability) vs. wants (profits); No Nestle–Maxine Conner, Sierra Club
-
Expansion of Chemours titanium mine on SRWMD land , Bradford County–Paul Still
-
Thanks speakers, water for nature & water for economy –Hugh Thomas, E.D., SRWMD 2019-12-10
Here’s a WWALS video playlist:
Citizens about Nestle at SRWMD 2019-12-10
Videos by John S. Quarterman for WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS),
Many thanks to Jim Tatum for recording most of the speaker names in Hundred of Thousands Sign Against Nestle/Seven Springs Permit.
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!
Short Link: