Rally with a cause
Despite a deeply disappointing legislative session, local environmentalists have not given up their quest for improved water quality.
This Sunday, a clean water rally will be held at Crescent Beach Family Park at noon in memory of one of Lee County’s quiet heroes, Jo Finney of Fort Myers Beach.
Ms. Finney, who is credited with being the behind-the-scenes organizer of numerous such rallies, died in a house fire over the Memorial Day weekend.
The day-long event will feature a hands-across-the-sand line of people, a moment of silence in remembrance of Ms. Finney, a march on the beachfront, a concert to support the cause and activities for children.
Participants are asked to meet at the park between noon and 1 p.m. at which time the “Hands Across the Sand” line will form on the beachfront.
Chants, sign-holding and other peaceful measures will alert people about the need for restoring and protecting the Caloosahatchee River and its estuaries from harmful pollutants caused by high flow regulatory freshwater releases discharged from Lake Okeechobee.
A march down the beach to the Diamond Head Beach Resort will follow about half an hour later. Marchers will then circle back to The Beach Pub to take part in a Clean Water Concert at 2:30 p.m. In addition to the live music, speakers will address environmental issues, pass out literature and pass petitions, including one on how to become part of a class action lawsuit regarding the state’s legislative failure concerning the constitutional mandate provisions of Amendment 1.
For children, there will be an “eco-art” area.
It’s a worthy event for a cause that impacts all of us.
The budget package passed this go-around may have those who voted for The Water and Land Conservation Amendment may be down but it’s events like this that sho they are not out.
We thank the organizers for their efforts and urge Southwest Floridians to get involved, if not in this event then in the effort to force our state representatives to more aggressively deal with both the pollution-laden forced discharges from Lake O that affect local waters and the continued issues that plague the water-starved Everglades.
-Observer editorial