Protesters march with High Springs water tower in background.
We continue our post of Nov. 1, 2019, in order to present more images of those attending. This protest was organized by Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson who, with the help of Anton Kernohan, conceived and planned the project, arranged the speakers, consulted the police, (to whom we give thanks for full cooperation,) sent out the notices, planned the signs (with which she had some help in the making) and went to High Springs and made it work. How lucky are we and the environment to have these people working for OSFR and our planet.
Leader that she is, Merrillee needed participants to send the message to Seven Springs, Nestle and the Suwannee River Water Management District.
And she got them. People by the dozens came from as far away as Hawthorne, Tampa and Orlando.
Nestle’s and Seven Springs’ greed and the fact that our water district is industry’s toady results in a negative impact on our river and springs and brings out passion, indignation and anger, directed at the two water companies and also our state agencies for allowing it.
That the water district’s board has representatives from agriculture and developers but not a single environmentalist adds further injustice and rage. Here we direct our anger toward our governor.
This march sent a message to Seven Springs and Nestle: You are not a good neighbor; we do not want you in our community, you pollute and take our water. The few jobs you give in return is a pittance. You leave the river and spring and Florida poorer than before you came. And you leave plastic water bottles everywhere.
This march also told Suwannee River Water Management District that we do not want you to help industry instead of our river and spring. The public has spoken loudly with many comments. Read them and listen.
Seven Springs, Nestle, SRWMD, the message could not be more clear.
Thank you Merrillee, thank you everyone who was present.
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Tracy Marinello and Billie Jo Benedict; hardworking and ever-present
Joanne Trembly Victoria Machado, U. Florida
Cindy Noel, OSFR treasurer Jim Pruitt, Sarah Baldwin
Mike Roth OSFR president
On the left, Hilda Gilchrist with unknown
Fresh water truck held by Kirk Moss.
Terry (OSFR board member) and Andy Phelan
Merrillee sings along with Izzy Mogelgaard of Clearwater. Added levity to the gathering.
Tris Meucci Sana Saare Maryann Smith
Russ & Elayne Augspurg OSFR board member Rhonda Long, Walter Bickmeyer
grandparents of Issac A.
Merillee has her ducks in a row and directs the staging parade to the speaker area.
Marion Moss Kate Gallagher Doug Jipson
Jane Blaise. Well, we said this industrial greed draws out our passions.
Working on signs with Anton, Hilda and Merrillee
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
-A river is like a life: once taken, it cannot be brought back-
I think we are beginning to see the picture. Wealthy land-owners, along with our Governor are planning a big expansion in the north western part of our state…..new toll roads to “nowhere”, expansion of local roads, and the destruction of Florida’s water supply. The news is, with destruction and over building, comes multiple issues with algae, drying up of springs and rivers, death to wildlife and destruction of the habitat and, then…..NO VISITORS as there will be nothing left of the reasons people travel to Florida and with a tourism based economy—-the one that made Florida the Sunshine State—will be no longer.
We begin to stop this destruction of our state by protecting our rivers and streams, our wildlife, our unique outdoors and continuing to give people a reason to visit, to love and to enjoy what Florida’s natural resources provides.
Do not renew the permit for Nestle. We do not want them destroying our environment for profit.
Thank you for sharing this important information and demanding stewardship of Florida spring water.