What do HPS II Enterprises, Oceana and the Sumter Sunshine Community Foundation have to do with each other?
The answer is that they were all topics of Mary Hampton’s Villages Environmental Discussions Group at the public library in The Villages on March 14, 2018. And interesting topics they were, presented to an appreciative audience of seventeen.
Of most interest to us was Chris Mericle of Suwannee Saint John’s Sierra Club North Florida Working Group, who gave an excellent presentation on phosphate mining and the current situation with HPS II which is trying to obtain permits to mine in Union and Bradford counties.
This type of work is very important because it brings the phosphate issue to an audience who is sympathetic but mostly unaware of the situation. Their interest was apparent by the ensuing question and answer session which kept Chris busy for quite some time. From groups such as these we get recruits who become the next volunteers to join the battle.
Hunter Miller Ellen Didion
Campaign Organizer for Oceana Sumter Sunshine Community Foundation
The Villages Environmental Discussions Group meets on the second Wednesday of the month except during the summer, at The Villages Public Library, 325 Belvedere Blvd., The Villages, FL 32162, from 12:45 PM – 2:45 PM.
Thanks and congratulations to Mary Hampton and the Villages Environmental Discussions Group for their hospitality and the good work they do there.
Dear Friends,
Villages Environmental Discussions Group hosted a Sierra Club phosphate talk. Sincere thanks to Chris Mericle, Suwannee-St. John’s Sierra Club North Florida Working Group Chair for traveling a great distance to speak to people who live in Lake, Marion, and Sumter Counties. Chris educated these folks about what phosphate is, how it is mined, the proposed HPS ii phosphate mine, the environmental impacts of phosphate mining, why they should care, and how they might help.
Sincere thanks to Jim Tatum, Historian of Our Santa Fe River, Sierra Club Suwannee-St. John’s Executive Committee member North Florida Working Group for traveling to attend and participate in this community group meeting. Thank you for taking photos and later sharing them with other presenters. And, thank you for giving this meeting such lovely visibility via the beautiful website of Our Santa Fe River.
Your devotion to fighting the devastation of phosphate mining is remarkable and a true demonstration of the various talents needed to take on these battles and win the desired results. We hope to support your efforts.
Sincerely,
Mary Hampton