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The environmental education of Bob Graham offers lessons for Florida today
Officially he was “D. Robert Graham,” but nearly everyone called him “Bob.” The former governor and U.S. senator from Miami Lakes died last week at 87. Tributes poured in from everywhere, mentioning his “workdays,” his color-coded notebooks, his passion for his native state. The coverage mentioned his environmental leadership on issues like restoration of the Everglades. Heck, some people even […]
Florida fueled the first Earth Day; now we need another one
Earth Day is coming up next Monday, which will probably elicit a fervent “meh” from a lot of people. These days, Earth Day seems more like a marketing gimmick than a holiday, not unlike President’s Day. It’s more about greenbacks than being green. When I worked for Florida’s largest daily newspaper, I used to get […]
Again? For the third time, another company wants to drill in FL’s Apalachicola River floodplain
Every year in the spring, there’s an event called Hands Across the Sand, where people gather on Florida’s beaches to show their opposition to offshore oil drilling. This year, the folks in the Panhandle may want to face north instead of south. That’s because the biggest threat from drilling isn’t coming from offshore. It’s coming from inland. […]
Florida buys springs to preserve them, does little to stop harm from beyond boundaries
A couple of weeks ago, I drove up to the picturesque small town of High Springs, about 30 miles north of Gainesville. Then I kept driving, heading out of town for several miles until I reached Florida’s newest state park. Park No. 175 is Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs, formerly a family-owned and operated […]
Museum should display wetlands and other artifacts of a Florida that’s fast disappearing
Dear Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd, I am writing to you about some ideas I had for one of your museums. As you know, Tallahassee is home to more than just the Florida State Capitol (congrats on ridding it of the recent infestation of lobbyists). It’s also the home of the Museum of Florida […]
New study of Florida pollution just an expensive way to delay cleanup
Friday marks World Water Day. I feel bad about this, but I just know I’m going to be late sending out Water Day cards this year. But we can still go caroling door-to-door. I figure we’ll start with “Black Water” by the Doobie Brothers, then segue into Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” We […]
The Florida Legislature doesn’t care how hot outdoor workers get
The Oscars on Sunday honored the year’s best film performances, best direction, best picture and, as a bonus, the best shade thrown. My pick for the latter would be host Jimmy Kimmel’s response to a social media post from a certain deluded Palm Beach club owner: “Isn’t it past your jail time?” In a similar […]
Florida conservation easements preserve land – until a developer needs it
Florida may be the only state where the economy depends on the willing suspension of disbelief. I’m not just talking about the thousands of tourists drawn here by the theme park fantasy factories along Interstate 4. I’m talking about all the developers who tout retention pond lots as “lakefront.” The Ponzi schemers who assure suckers […]
By deleting mention of climate change, Florida legislators try to hide from the problem
The other day, because I was in a hurry, I swung through a McDonald’s drive-through and ordered one of their burgers. You know, the ones that seem less like cooked meat and more like a warm hockey puck. But it’s OK! I told myself that it was actually filet mignon from Bern’s Steak House in […]
Court ruling stops Florida’s sloppy wetlands permitting, saves panthers
Florida has inspired a lot of great writing, from Zora Neale Hurston’s “Their Eyes Were Watching God” to Carl Hiaasen’s “Squeeze Me.” It’s not just novels, either. I totally loved Jack E. Davis’ nonfiction Pulitzer-winner, “The Gulf.” I just read another powerful piece of nonfiction about Florida, one that I think should make the bestseller […]
Florida lawmakers try to move aquatic preserve’s boundary to benefit developer
Hollywood is famous for its ability to spin colorful worlds of wild fantasy. Elves and dwarves fight over jewelry in “The Lord of the Rings”! Drug addicts ride giant worms in “Dune”! Old dudes battle with big flashlights in “Star Wars”! But nothing compares to the unbelievable flights of fancy spun by our fine Florida […]
Trash-talking Florida legislators push a pro-litter bill
Have you ever picked up trash from a beach, a park, or a roadside? I have. And before you ask, no it was NOT because a judge sentenced me to community service. I think every Floridian should do a little litter cleanup, if only because it would make everyone less likely to litter again. Plus, […]