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

The Everglades Caucus recently issued a letter to the US Department of the Interior, the US Department of the Army for the Army Corp of Engineers, and the US Environmental Protection Agency, bringing attention to an on-going and immediate environmental threat to the Everglades:  the L-28 Interceptor Canal -- a canal that brings "dirty water" with high levels of phosphorus onto Federal Reservation Lands.

The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida maintain traditional villages -- which they use for a number of cultural practices -- in the area that is directly and negatively impacted by this farm runoff.  In fact, their access to sacred sites become impeded by the proliferation of flora spurred by the fertilizer runoff.

The image at the top of this document illustrates the impact of high and unnatural levels of Phosphorus on the Everglades terrain.  The green areas are the dense overgrowth of cattails and other plants.

The Miccosukee concerns surrounding the L-28 Interceptor Canal are coinciding with a broader discussion on Everglades Restoration, especially as it relates to current events surrounding the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP).

CEPP is concerned with delivering "New Water" through a series of projects that would bring water from Lake Okeechobee south to Everglades National Park.  As these projects come online over the next decade, there is still the glaring refusal to address the 40% of the total waters coming into the system brought by the L-28 Interceptor Canal.

Today, Miccosukee homelands are being sacrificed for the benefit of Everglades National Park -- as if the Everglades eco-system is limited to the boundaries of the National Park.  As the waters coming into Water Conservation Area 3A make their slow journey south, the high Phosphorus levels are filtered out significantly -- and what this means is that Miccosukee homelands are functioning as a de facto Stormwater Treatment Area.

The Everglades Caucus are not only honoring their Trust Responsibility to the Indigenous Sovereingty, but they are also honoring their commitment to the American Public by speaking up to protect these vital natural resources.

Signatories for the Everglades Caucus include:

• Mario Diaz-Balart
• Alcee Hastings
• Debbie Wasserman Schultz
• Patrick Murphy
• Ted Deutch
• Joe Garcia
• Lois Frankel
• Frederica Wilson

Read the letter in its entirety:

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

One of our objectives for the Movement is to advocate for respect of Miccosukee Sovereignty.  This is because the Miccosukee Tribe is one of the few communities who actually live in the Florida Everglades -- so they witness, everyday, the effects of environmental degradation.

By listening to and incorporating the Miccosukee message into our Everglades Advocacy, we begin to do the work of Environmental Justice and express our solidarity with this indigenous community.

The Miccosukee community has a Way of Life that is intimately connected with the vitality of the natural world -- indeed, their philosophy is expressed in a beautiful symbol that is maintained in the heart of every village -- the Circle of Life.

The Miccosukee Tribe has also been an important catalyst for much of the progress achieved so far regarding Everglades Restoration.  This is due in large part to the greater legal framework and promises made by the US Federal Government to the indigenous sovereignties, known as the Federal Trust Responsibility.  Although the historical record reminds us that there has been much discord between the United States and the sovereign indigenous communities of this continent, we can also find evidence of great friendship and prosperity.  So we look forward to honoring our friendships with the Miccosukee community and how we can build on that to achieve environmental/Everglades goals that benefit everyone -- including the people that live there.

Recently, the Miccosukee Chairman, Hon. Colley Billie, addressed the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee during the Public Witness Hearing on Native American Issues.

Chairman Colley Billie's statement was concerned with Everglades matters, and it's such a revealing statement about Miccosukee concerns for the Everglades, that it's worth sharing in its entirety.

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

I was really looking forward to connecting with the broad community of Everglades Activists from up north near Lake Okeechobee and beyond when I attended the SFWMD Governing Board meeting last week.

Thanks to Mary Jo Aagerstoun of EcoArt South Florida for being my guide when it came to meeting everyone and for all the suggestions she made of people to connect with.

As a consequence of those connections, the RIVER JUSTICE LEAGUE (Link) has invited me and the LOVE THE EVERGLADES MOVEMENT to initiate discussions and to brainstorm solutions for our common environmental problems.

One of our goals and prayers is for the growth of the community concerned with Everglades Matters -- because the Everglades matters!

JOIN US!  E-mail to RSVP, or for more info:  LoveTheEverglades@gmail.com

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

My name is Yahaletke, aka Houston Cypress and I'm from the Otter Clan of the Miccosukee Tribe, and I'm representing the Love The Everglades Movement.

I live on the Miccosukee Reservation on the border of Everglades National Park and Water Conservation Area 3A.  I maintain ancestral villages in the Central Everglades, on those disappearing hammocks that were mentioned earlier in this meeting -- hammocks where I conduct gardening, hunting, and spiritual practices.

My support of CEPP is buttressed with a critique of the inadequacies of CEPP, it doesn't do enough.

CEPP is a good step forward, but it is inadequate.  We need a holistic view and concerted action when it comes to Everglades matters -- because the Everglades matters.

A holistic view brings us to the Western Basin of the Everglades Agricultural Area and the ongoing and immediate problem of the L-28 Interceptor Canal, which is bringing waters that average 60 parts per billion of Phosphorus and spikes as high as 100 parts per billion of Phosphorus and this is happening every day!

By the time that the waters pass through the Water Conservation Area and arrive at Everglades National Park the waters nearly reach the Holy Grail and target of 10 parts per billion of Phosphorus.

This means that Miccosukee homelands and the Water Conservation Area become a de facto Stormwater Treatment Area.

With such a close margin, there's the potential for waters exceeding the Phosphorus target to enter Everglades National Park.  We must be wary of any requests for waivers to exceed the Phosphorus limit.  No waivers.  No exceedances.

CEPP is about "new water," but what about the 40% of waters being brought into the system by the L-28 Interceptor Canal and the high Phosphorus waters that it delivers?

This seems like the next big project to be undertaken to address the on-going problem of the L-28 Interceptor Canal.

And I also want to admonish the Board and the District for condoning the display of racist imagery with the display of the FSU mascot during the earlier PowerPoint presentation.

by Houston Cypress,
Coordination Circle, Love the Everglades Movement.

Opportunities for participation include:

• Sponsorship and/or Donations
• Vendor Booths
• Speakers Welcome
• Performances Welcome:  Music, Poetry, etc.
• Environmental Art Exhibition:  Artists Welcome

Environmental Art Exhibition

• We are extending the submissions for the Environmental Art Exhibition through Mon, Mar 31.
• Please send images to:  gallery@mokshafamily.org
• We have some great pieces already and we are looking for a few more.  All mediums considered.
• The exhibition opens on Fri, Apr 18 - with Moksha Roots Live.
• Please spread the word.  Thanks!
  

https://www.facebook.com/events/839603659389807/

On Saturday, May 10, 2014 Ploppy Palace Productions and The Miccosukee Tribe will be hosting a concert to raise awareness and funds for Everglades protection and public education. As part of this three stage extravaganza, some of South Florida's top bands, spoken word artists and community activists will join together to raise awareness for this vital natural resource.

There will be musical performances by Boxelder, Afrobeta, Sweetbone, Franklin's Wheel, Aaron Lebos Reality, Nature's Fury, Teri Catlin, Super Fuzz, Cog Noman, Nag Champayons present the Prolific Minimalists, Kuyayky, The Osceola Brothers Band, Mr. Grim Reapa, Orion, Val C. Wisecracker, Grant Livingston, Anthony Nelson and more.

Spoken word by Alonso, Oscar Fuentes, Rebecca "Butterfly" Vaughns and more.

Dance and performance by Elviza's Rockabelly Hippies, Feiruz Asaad, Melody Gedeon and more.

Live art by Eva Ruiz, Anibal Fernandez, Linx and more.

Face painting by Them There Eyes.

Community speakers include FL State Senator Dwight Bullard, South Miami City Mayor Phil Stoddard, Houston Cypress from Love The Everglades Movement, Laura Reynolds - Executive Director for Tropical Audubon Society, Matt Schwartz - Executive Director for South Florida Wildlands Association and other concerned citizens.

In addition there will be an Environmental Art Exhibition featuring a selection of distinctive artists including Kiro Fox Ace, Eva Ruiz, Peter Barreda, Margrit-Rose People, Abdiel Acosta, Anibal Fernandez, Jean Sarmiento, Lauranda Hook, Rei Ramirez, Wesley Geometry, Mike Jones, Aeric Moskowitz, Jorge Muriel, Flex Maslan, Mike Matthews, Jake Cordero, Alissa Christine, Brian Call, 
Chia Ortegon, Stephanie McMillian and more.

One of the reasons why this is an Environmental Art Exhibition, rather than an Everglades Art Exhibition is because we want to reach out to more people and see how they connect with the environment, ecology and nature in general. Many people do not get to experience the Everglades and their relationship to the region is limited, yet everyone should have some sort of environmental awareness and some understanding of what it means to have clean air, clean water and an area that is pollution free. We want to reach out to more people and share environmental consciousness - and that happens many ways. 

DONATE NOW: http://www.gofundme.com/EVGConcert7

Currently, the Everglades is one of the most threatened natural habitat in the western hemisphere.  Residential development, water management and agricultural use have shifted natural water patterns and have altered the vitality of the ecosystem.  With an alarming number of people moving into South Florida every year, we need to come together and help to protect the Everglades for our survival.

There will be information booths from Love The Everglades Movement, Tropical Audubon Society, Legalizepot.us (voter registration) and other organizations.

In addition there will be vendors and small businesses promoting and selling their merchandise, including The Wallflower Gallery, the Moksha Boutique, Lotus in Hand and others.

The 7th Annual Everglades Awareness Benefit Concert at 7th Circuit Productions is sponsored by Ploppy Palace Productions and The Miccosukee Tribe.

7th Annual Everglades Awareness Benefit Concert
Saturday, May 10, 2014
6:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m.
7th Circuit Productions
228 N.E. 59th Street
Miami, FL 33137
305-757-7277
www.7thcircuit.tv
www.facebook.com/7thcircuit

This is an all ages event
Admission is $ 10.

DISCOUNT ADVANCE TICKETS AVAILABLE
@ www.ploppypalace.com

** Sponsorship and vending opportunities are still available.**

Donate here: http://www.gofundme.com/EVGConcert7

For more information, please check out www.ploppypalace.com or e-mail Ploppy Palace Productions at events@ploppypalace.com or call 305-579-0069.

by Jean Sarmiento,
Coordination Circle, Love The Everglades Movement

Date:  Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Time:  3:00pm
Address:  Doc Thomas House, 5530 Sunset Drive, Miami, FL
OPEN TO ALL

Submit Agenda Items by 9am on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 via e-mail:  LoveTheEverglades@gmail.com.
If you can't submit your discussion items by the deadline, just bring your concerns to the meeting anyway, and we'll make sure to include it in the General Discussion section.

Some items of interest will include:

• Scheduling next 6 months of Airboat Excursions
• Scheduling next dates for Everglades Prayer Circle in the City events
• Update on Benoit Izard's Everglades Love Project
• Planning for the 7th Annual Everglades Benefit Awareness Concert
• Community Outreach
• Collaboration with Miami Theater Center
• Supporting Seminole Tribe's Opposition to proposed FPL Power Plant
• Protest March with Seminole Tribe on April 17, 2014
• Discuss anti-oppression policies, non-racist organization models, etc.

Same Day
Same Place
Time:  7:00 pm to 9:00pm

An interfaith ceremony which will include a designated space for prayers, and a separate space for discussion and socializing.  For more information, please contact Rev. Houston Cypress via e-mail:  LoveTheEverglades@gmail.com

by Geovanny Perez
Coordination Circle, Love The Everglades Movement

“True love is born from understanding” – Buddha

“The world isn’t all rainbows and ponies, but there are rainbows and ponies in the world” – Unknown

I think I can be way too idealistic, so much so that sometimes when I witness things that do not live up to my standards, I can become distraught.  So working in Everglades matters has been a nightmare at times, because it is easy to become overwhelmed with grief and pessimism for the future once you start to uncover the intractable politics, the barriers to progress, and the logistical holes in the process (lack of coordinated effort and leadership, for instance).

How dreadful to start a blog post, no?  Well, I take this approach because my struggle in Everglades matters has mirrored my personal/spiritual growth.  Struggling with attachment, ignorance, anger, sadness, laziness, heart break etc. – in short, the human condition – is very much like struggling to restore the Everglades, because it feels like you’re ever-surrounded by hope, loss, gain, setbacks, contradictions, and opportunities.  As it turns out – and to the dismay of my idealistic-self—politics, even those that have to do with such a no-brainer issue, is not so straightforward.  But the sage in me can handle this at times, because, after all, it is what it is and it is what it can be: we can understand how things are and work within those parameters and even make parameters of our own.

The Everglades Coalition Conference can be properly understood if viewed through such lens and as part of a larger narrative (and not just an isolated weekend event).  That is, judging the conference as either “good” or “bad”, or giving a rating of X out of 10, can be fruitless because it does us, the movement, no good to see it in such simplistic terms.  Instead, we can see it as a multi-faceted event with problems and opportunities in a larger series of events geared toward fixing the Everglades.

Houston Cypress (on Left) and Geovanny Perez (on Right).

Photo by Stephan Wright.

The trip to the conference served as a reminder to what we’re struggling for.  Personally, traveling with Houston and Jean helps me keep focus, even if we tend to veer off into silliness and absurdity at times.  After all, Houston is deeply invested in this endeavor as a concerned member of the Miccosukee Tribe, and Jean is deeply invested as a very spiritual person unravelling his place in creation.  Furthermore, driving through the Everglades and then Big Cypress with such great company is cleansing and gets your mind right.  So when I listened to speakers or talked to folks about their endeavors, I felt properly oriented.

The conference was set at the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club in Naples, FL.  Immediately I was struck by the wasteful opulence of the setting:  resorts, strip malls, and golf courses.  This sort of juxtaposition seems to be typical for the conference which was set in the Biltmore Hotel last year.  Access to the conference is limited in part by the cost of the conference (it was $200 alone for all the meals available).  The third day we were there, I found out from a Sierra Club member that a group of activists were dissuaded from protesting the conference because of inaccessibility the cost creates.  As Laura Reynolds of Tropical Audubon and the Everglades Coalition explained, the resort is the sort of place that will be to the liking of high-profile politicians who have to take this issue seriously.  I could tell she wasn’t very comfortable with the place, but that she also thought it was necessary to get things done. 

Nonetheless, the conference did provide opportunities to understand the latest on the Everglades in the areas of ecology, economics, legal policy and litigation, and politics, and to meet wonderful people.  The second and third days began with breakfast hosted by an organization that was given the podium to address the topic of their choice (nothing like starting off the morning having the Army of Corps of Engineers and politicians scolded, but also heralded).  Afterward, there would be plenary sessions, covering large issues, such as the opportunities for land acquisition, followed by breakout sessions.  The hallways leading to the various rooms were circumscribed by booths from various government agencies and NGOs, each providing information on topics such as how to handle endangered species, what’s next for project construction, and considering light pollution as a serious problem for our Floridian ecosystems.  We would all take a break for lunch around 2 pm, again hosted by a speaker, and we would round out the day with dinner where a guest politician would speak about the latest endeavor they’re going to tackle and would provide motivational words for us.

While listening to the various speakers, there seemed to be a distinguishing factor in rhetoric.  I’m not quite sure what it indicates, but there certainly were some people that spoke in very optimistic, energetic, and accomplished terms while there were others that spoke in terms that alluded to a dire state of affairs, where urgency was necessary, and the process was problematic at times.  Anecdotally, if you’re in agriculture or project construction, you’ll say that things are going according to plan, and if you’re in activism, things aren’t looking so great.  I think this is a careful balance to maintain, because we want a sense of urgency to stoke action, but also want to maintain support from congress and the public. 

Being involved in Everglades restoration in any capacity means that you’re going to have to deal with really complicated issues on multiple levels.  Fortunately, there are people that have identified problems and are working on them, even if those orientations and priorities are disparate and conflicting at times.  We’re probably a big mess, but we’re a big mess getting things done.  Such is the human condition, I suppose.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014
7:00 pm -- 9:00 pm

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What once was, will be again!
Ehyah Asher Ehyah
That which I was, I AM no longer; That which I AM, I AM becoming!
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In the heart of South Miami -- amidst the hustle & bustle of commerce, entertainment & education -- is a verdant oasis at the gardens surrounding the Doc Thomas House on Sunset Drive & 55th Avenue.

Doc Thomas House
Home of the Tropical Audobon Society
5530 Sunset Drive
Miami, FL 33143

PARKING AVAILABLE ON-SITE

As a Full Spectrum Movement, we at "Love The Everglades" are doing the work of Everglades Restoration Activism on the Physical, Mental, Emotional & Spiritual levels.  We honor the Circle of Life by working to maintain the integrity of all life, including the most fundamental element: the sacred water.

Join us as we come together in a Prayer Circle on behalf of Everglades Matters. Our intentions for this ceremony will be:

1) Purity of the water flowing from the Kissimmee River Valley down through to Florida Bay;
2) Compassion flourishing in the hearts of the decision-makers and stakeholders associated with Everglades Restoration;
3) Growth of the community concerned with Everglades Matters;
4) Integrity & Vitality of the Circle of Life.

As a Universalist ceremony, you are welcome to pray according to your own traditions.  Other than the intentions listed above, we are open to the unique expression of your Love & Light.  Tap into Universal energies and contribute to an eternal ceremony which honors the Circle of Life.

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