Love The Everglades Movement
Let's Keep in Touch
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Everglades Cleanup Series
  • Events
  • Take Action!
  • Native Plants
  • Blog
  • Blog En Espanol
  • Everglades Awareness Concert
  • Symposium 2017
    • 2017 Speakers
  • Summer Symposium 2016
    • SS16 Speakers
  • Summer Symposium 2015
  • Summer Symposium 2014
  • Newsletter
  • Walk for Mother Earth
  • Videos: Filmgate 2014
  • Music Video: THE RAVEN
  • Board of Directors
  • Donate Now!
  • Friends
  • Contact Us

What We're Doing

4/14/2015

0 Comments

 
by Jean Sarmiento, Coordination Circle,
Love The Everglades Movement

Picture
Map can be found here: http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2014/06/24/323665644/the-map-of-native-american-tribes-youve-never-seen-before
What we’re doing in the Everglades:
  • efforts to raise awareness;
  • get people involved;
  • thru their own media;
  • the Responsibility belongs with us all;
  • being here and supporting our Indigenous brothers and sisters.

There are parallels that exist throughout the world.

In Northern California, for example, the Indian Nations there that are going through the same struggles, now amplified by the States Drought.

So we do our part here in South Florida contributing to the well-being of our Environment. The further into the future we go the more prevalent the issue of Water will become and we see it already in more and more publications. http://www.nationofchange.org/2014/11/18/water-wars-21st-century/

Picture
Picture
And although we have a deep respect and love for Science, I swear these guys are gonna research & pie-chart themselves up until the moment of destruction.  Let us look at the late, great Dr. Masaru Emoto and the gift he brought to the world with his beautiful research.  Can you not see the core of his message, Silly? 
Picture
Yet, we have folks running around debating whether or not to show love to the water.  It’s that underlying discontentment – our need for more and more.  If you think I’m lying, then why do we have such high suicide rates? – and why do the Prozacs and other anti-depressants make billions?
Picture
Picture
Humanity has been at War for waaaay to long.  The discontentment is so much that we would rather pay to send rockets in search of Water than take care of the abundance of Water we have here on Earth.  Emoto taught us if you want to know God, get to know these Waters, get to know yourselves and each other.  More importantly:  love each other, be kind, and the World will be kind right back.
Picture
Picture
We are done with the Death Dealers we are done with the Wars.
It is time to start loving each other. The real love, not the idea we have, but rather that unifying principle; the force that makes cells divide and all things grow. And with that love comes a profound change that is expressed in this statement:
"It is easier to flush toxins from the river valleys than to remove toxic ideas that cause them from human minds. In the order of healing, it is human consciousness that must first change." 
- Ken Carey, Return of the Bird Tribes

And as far as I’m concerned healing and recycling are the biggest jobs.

We are ALL made of this Water, whether you like it or not.  And because of that, this Water ties us all together.  And so it is through these Waters that we can transmit and deliver this message of Love – appreciation penetrating the very core of our beings

This Love is the highest principle of cohesion and surely trumps any draconian system of control we are under. Allow this force to be our guiding light.

May the boundaries that impede humanity be dissolved!

And on the Strength and Authority of Universal Law we act to steer this planet to its deserved harmonious state. 
Picture
0 Comments

FREC Award Highlights LTEM Work

11/17/2014

0 Comments

 
by Houston R. Cypress,
Coordination Circle, Love The Everglades Movement

Picture
The Film, Recording & Entertainment Council (link) is one of South Florida’s most important economic development organizations serving the Entertainment Industry and over the weekend FREC held its 11th Annual Star Gala recognition ceremony at the Magic City Casino.

The Star Gala (link) recognizes industry professionals and organizations whose careers and bodies of work establish South Florida as a significant region for developing a career in this commercial sector.  There is a thriving community of people here in South Florida and it is important to note just who they are and what they have done.

The nature of entertainment necessarily highlights those on stage, or in front of the camera, or in the spotlight, and so the unique work of the Star Gala is to highlight the talent and expertise of those behind-the-scenes.  The types of categories that this event notes include the work of choreographers, lawyers, recording executives, producers, directors, make-up artists, casting directors, recording studios, up-and-coming talent, and so many more.

Love The Everglades Movement, like FREC, is a member-driven organization.  Our work is concerned with offering opportunities for people to connect with the Everglades and thereby inspiring positive change in the broader society so that we can achieve goals such as improved water quality in the Florida Everglades.  Many of us are artists, and so the methods that we’ve been using reflect our skills.  We understand how our artistic projects communicate complex messages across multiple dimensions, so we’ve been eager to invite influential people to participate in our excursions and events.  Our understanding of the influential embraces people such as teachers, event planners, spiritual leaders, political organizers, etc.

We also strive to cultivate a community of people concerned with Everglades matters using an approach that is respectful of local mores – which we are discovering is not an easy task.  This work has required us to learn new languages, to go outside of our comfort zones, and to confront obstacles of all types.

LTEM began with a vision that Jean Sarmiento (link) was blessed with as a result of his dedication to his spiritual and ceremonial work.  Since the fall of 2012, our work has evolved:  from Everglades excursions, to art exhibitions, inter-faith prayer rituals, benefit concerts, short films, interviews with print/radio/television/internet media, and an eclectic symposium.

Our Summer Symposium 2014 (link) was the culmination of all of the projects and community networking that we’ve been involved in since our efforts began.  Our program and attendance reflected that.  It was also an event that was free to attend so that there would be no barriers preventing people from getting engaged in Everglades advocacy – FREC took note.

At the Star Gala, event hosts such as Trina Robinson of NBC 6 and world-renowned artist Laurence Gartel took time to highlight my achievements in film, television and art, as well as my community work with the Love The Everglades Movement as a prime reason for the honor.

So, I would like to share this honor with everyone who has been involved with LTEM in one way or another since our work began, including all those who’ve been on our Everglades excursions, everyone who has prayed for the water, all the friends we’ve made in all the different communities that we’ve visited, our benefactors and sponsors, and all the members of the Coordination Circle (link).  Nuff Respect!

Another honoree that was noted for Best Film Festival was Filmgate Interactive (link).  Filmgate is an event that showcases and develops transmedia projects – projects that are expressed across multiple media platforms.  Diliana Alexander, Executive Director for Filmgate, invited LTEM to collaborate on their filmmaking workshop.  Diliana wanted to use her resources to express an environmental and humanitarian concern for the Everglades and the Miccosukee community while providing artists from around the world with an opportunity to hone their skills using cutting-edge technologies.  You can see the result of this collaboration by clicking THIS LINK.

The Star Gala was a blast!  Some of us from the Coordination Circle who attended had an opportunity to rub shoulders with the professionals of the South Florida entertainment industry.  And I had a great time, with Dudley Alexis of Epyllion Films (link), in putting together the tribute video honoring Irene Marie of modeling agency fame for her Lifetime Achievement Award.  Love The Everglades Movement was in great company.
0 Comments

Message to the River Rally

8/3/2014

0 Comments

 
by Geovanny Perez & Houston R. Cypress,
Coordination Circle, Love The Everglades Movement

Picture
Picture
Hello everyone.  I'd like to thank THE RIVERS COALITION, THE RIVER WARRIORS, AND C4CW for inviting me to speak today; I truly feel honored to do so.  I'm also excited to be able to connect with all of you, even if under such dire circumstances.

As for the matter that brings us here, I have found it necessary to participate in the effort to restore the Everglades because it's where my home (including my clan and Tribe) and heart resides.  In my lifetime I've seen many destructive changes to our lands, such as the disintegration of tree islands, the disappearance of game animals, the increase of pollution in water, and the erosion of the Everglades.  Because our culture is tied to the land (our ceremonies, our medicines, and many other spiritual practices), we are witnessing the gradual disappearance of our culture.   We are losing our roots.

But we know there is hope; we can certainly steer this thing in the right direction, but it will take incredible coordination and resolve to manifest our dreams.

This is where our spirituality comes in.

Personally, I don't believe spirituality to be superstition or hollow, self-promoting, self-serving, self-comforting cliches.

Instead, it is about wisdom, insight, strength, patience, trust, and compassion, and in the face of great uncertainty and potential doom, this is exactly what we need.  There are many great sages that have explored the struggles of the human condition in such a mysterious universe, peering deeply into our very being and place in the universe.  There is much to learn for the sake of our global as well as local ecosystems.

With Love the Everglades Movement, LOVE is central to our cause because we do not want to be ruled by fear or anger.  In fact, we know we cannot afford to be mindlessly distracted given what's at stake and the amount of time we have to make things right.  We know that anger and fear, especially in a crisis situation, may galvanize some, but it can also blind us, divide us, perpetuate the delusion that we are factions bent on defeating one another, and thus undermine these important efforts. 

In getting to know some of you, I've heard from you about other groups involved in this issue, and those comments have been disparaging.  We are supposed to be the SOLUTION to this problem, otherwise our divisions are poison in the water.  We do not have the luxury to bicker, but we can overcome this, in fact, we MUST overcome this.  As someone with an outside perspective, this entrenched rift is off-putting, but it is also all too familiar, so I sympathize with you even as I am critical (our Tribe has been witness to entrenched bickering slowing the Everglades restoration effort to a glacial pace).

So how are we to overcome this bickering? -- this factionalism?  Love & Respect is a good place to start.  We have youngsters here among us and we must set a good example for them.  Let's show them how to have a civil and civilized dialogue with one another.

Let's also continue to have forums for discussion, so we can increase understanding of our concerns and priorities and proposals for action.

Let's also ask for help from our friends, people such as you.

And let's not be afraid to disagree.  Let's welcome disagreements and critiques as opportunities to learn where our proposals can be strengthened and improved.

Let me offer an example of constructive critique within a context of civilized discussion.  Plan 6 and the Southern Flow way -- a very important proposal with definite room for improvement.  The Holey lands are an area designated as O.F.W. -- Outstanding Federal Waters.  From what I've read on Plan 6, there is not enough discussion or information about this important area:  the Holey Lands, an area with very stringent regulations.  Plan 6 would bring MORE WATER at a REDUCED QUALITY than is currently allowed and protected for.  So the question that Plan 6 must answer to move forward with broader support is:  How do you propose to degrade Outstanding Federal Waters with water from Lake Okeechobee?

Picture
I also have a request for my friends:  I need your help to address the L-28 Interceptor Canal.  The failure of CEPP to move forward was very disappointing to all of us.  But CEPP didn't do enough because it failed to address the L-28 Interceptor Canal.  CEPP was concerned with bringing New Water into the system, but the L-28 Interceptor Canal is currently bringing 40% of the waters coming into the area, and it's bringing water in with a disgustingly high concentration of Phosphorus.  By the time the waters pass through the Water Conservation Area 3A, the waters have been naturally filtered out and nearly meet the desired goal of 10 PPB of Phosphorus.  So what this means is that Miccosukee territory becomes a De Facto Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) and that is not right.  So I'm asking for your help to raise awareness and push for action regarding the on-going problem of the L-28 Interceptor Canal.

As for the factionalism within our environmental movements, well those of us from Love The Everglades Movement pledge to work from a place of Love & Respect with each and everyone of you.  WE WILL NOT TAKE SIDES.  We will continue to express our Love and Respect for these waters.

We continue to pray for the purity of the waters flowing from the Kissimmee River Valley, through Lake Okeechobee, over the River of Grass, and out beyond Florida Bay.

We continue to pray that compassion flourishes in the hearts and minds of the decision-makers and stakeholders involved with Everglades Restoration.

We continue to pray for the growth of the community concerned with Everglades Matters -- because the Everglades matters.

And we will continue to stand with you in prayer for the integrity and vitality of the Circle of Life.

These are the challenges we are called to meet -- with hope, grace, and diplomacy.
0 Comments

Ceremony:  Water Reaching the Bay

7/2/2014

0 Comments

 
By Jean Sarmiento,
Coordination Circle, Love The Everglades Movement.

Picture
It was much nicer than I had envisioned, even more meaningful to me than I thought it would be.
        Last year in April we borrowed a few gallons of Water from a sacred island in the Everglades the area is known as "Water Conservation Area 3A" Homeland of the Miccosukee people.  One of big issues we face as Floridians is the unnatural water levels in the Glades and its detrimental effects on the land, where we now see too much Water in the North and not enough Water in the South reaching Florida Bay.
        Our intent is to pray with these waters, caring for them, they have been to many prayer circles, many sweat lodges, many ceremonies, have touched the hands of many different beautiful men, woman and children who each has bestowed their love and gratitude unto these Waters, these very same Waters each and everyone of us depend on everyday to survive.  These very same Waters that will determine our continuation here on Earth.
        So we set out to Florida Bay with love, gratitude, appreciation in our hearts and gently released the Waters in a symbolic gesture of "Water reaching the bay" to connect with the land and offer our love our forgiveness, to hear our pleas and assist us in dissolving the boundaries that hinder humanity's progress, maybe, just maybe, we won't have to learn this lesson the Hard way.
        Let's give this Water the Respect it deserves!  I don't care if you think you're cute or you're a Diva or a tough guy gangster, el guapo, Rick Ross or you work for the government, if you're an Army Corps guy, if you have Money or if you're black, blue, pink.  It doesn't matter:  Appreciate this Water while you have it in such abundance because I guarantee you -- not maybe, or If -- I Guarantee you'll be crying for this water if it wasn't around.
        Thank you to all the men and women and children, past and present, who labor to bring light unto this world. 

Preserve - Restore - Conserve
One Love Florida Everglades
0 Comments

    Author

    So many voices.  So many colors.  So many nations.  One water.

    We are the Movement's many voices -- from the Coordination Circle, from the allies and supporters, and from those who yearn to share their Love of the Everglades.

    Archives

    May 2019
    January 2018
    December 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    May 2016
    July 2015
    April 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014

    Categories

    All
    10ppb
    2014
    7th Circuit
    Aboriginal
    ACOE
    Activism
    Activist Art
    Aesthetics
    Alcee Hastings
    Amendment 1
    Andy Bichelbaum
    Applicable Laws
    Aquifer
    Army Corps
    Art
    Art Basel
    Arthur R. Marshall
    Backbone Campaign
    Beautiful Trouble
    Big Sugar
    Bike Path
    Billy Cypress
    Blessing
    Bobby C. Billie
    Borscht
    Buffalo Tiger
    BullSugar.org
    C4CW
    Caloosahatchee
    Carl Sagan
    Cempoalli 20
    CEPP
    Ceremony
    CERP
    Chela Sandoval
    Children's Books
    Clean Water Initiative
    Climate Change
    Collaboration
    Colley Billie
    Community Events
    Concert
    Conference
    Coordination Circle
    Crafts
    CWIFL
    Data Sovereignty
    Debbie Wasserman Schultz
    Delores Billie
    Dennis Wiedman
    Design
    Diane Arrieta
    Diliana Alexander
    Discharges
    Doc Thomas House
    Donate
    Downloads
    Dreaming
    Dropbox
    EAA
    Earth Ambulance
    EcoArt
    Effie Osceola
    Environmental Justice
    Epyllion Films
    Events
    Everglades
    Everglades Caucus
    Everglades Coalition
    Everglades National Park
    Felipe Marrou
    FGCU
    Film
    Filmgate
    First Nations
    Frank Allegro
    FREC
    Frederica Wilson
    Free Downloads
    Ft. Lauderdale
    FWC
    Gas
    Geovanny Perez
    Gitz Crazyboy
    Green Corn Dance
    Helene Aylon
    Hip Hop
    Houston Cypress
    Howard Osceola
    Illuminator
    Indigenous
    Interview
    Intracoastal
    Janeen Mason
    Jared Jacobs
    Jean Sarmiento
    Jennie O. Billie
    Joe Garcia
    Joe Negron
    John Scott
    Josie Billie
    Ken Carey
    L 28
    L-28
    L 28 Interceptor Canal
    L-28 Interceptor Canal
    Lake O
    Lake Okeechobee
    Legal
    Light Brigades
    Literature
    Lois Frankel
    Love
    Loxahatchee
    Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge
    Lucy Keshavarz
    Marcia Moore
    Mario Diaz-Balart
    Marjorie Shropshire
    Martin County
    Mary Jo Aagerstoun
    Masaru Emoto
    Matt Schwartz
    Miami
    Miami Herald
    Miccosukee
    Miccosukee Simanolee
    Miccosukee Tribe
    Michael Singer
    Miguel Bravo
    Moksha Family
    Moral
    Music
    Music Video
    National Park
    Negron
    Nestor Garcia Canclini
    NoROGG
    Nyla Pipes
    Oil
    Otter Clan
    Painted Intersections
    Painting
    Palm Beach County
    Patchwork
    Patrick Murphy
    Patterns Of Power
    Pdf
    Phosphorus
    Ploppy Palace
    Prayer
    Prayer Circle
    Prophecy
    Public Art
    Publishing
    Quese IMC
    Racism
    Rebecca Coughlin
    Reggae
    Reservoir
    Resistance
    Respect
    Retro
    Rick Ross
    Rick Scott
    River Coalition
    River Of Grass Greenway
    River Rally
    River Warriors
    Robin Haines Merrill
    Robin Merrill
    ROGG
    Sabal Trail Pipeline
    Safety Issues
    Satellite
    SB10
    Sea Level Rise
    SFWMD
    Sierra Club
    Skyway Bridge
    Slow Activism
    Solidarity
    South Florida
    South Florida Water Management District
    South Miami
    Spiritual
    Spirituality
    Sponsor
    SS14
    Star Gala
    Stephen Tiger
    St. Lucie
    Suicide
    Symposium
    Tamiami Trail
    Ted Deutch
    TEK
    Textiles
    Tropical Audubon Society
    Turtle Island
    USACOE
    USFWS
    Village
    Virginia Poole
    Vote Yes On 1
    VTM Productions
    Wallace Heim
    War
    Water
    WCA 3A
    Wildlands
    Wildlife Refuge
    WRDA
    Wynwood
    YES MEN

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly