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Everglades Trust

When the human brain meets up with greed. Also the Florida Legislature is cranking up. Here’s what to watch.

Whatever you do, please look up!

The brain is an imperfect organ, but it’s all we’ve got to understand the world around us. You can imagine, then, the challenge you face when you present someone with information about something they’ve never seen before that contradicts their current beliefs. They’re likely to discount or disbelieve it. Our brains can trick us into maintaining our past views or predictions at the cost of recognizing new information.

It gets even harder when there’s a full-court press by special interests involved. So, what happens when our decision makers’ inability to take in new information meets up with the formidable force of greed? Well, you get the destruction of America’s Everglades and natural resources all around you.

Refresher: Definition of Greed

Greed (or avarice) is an uncontrolled longing for increase in the acquisition or use of material gain (be it food, money, land, or animate/inanimate possessions); or social value, such as status, or power. Greed has been identified as undesirable throughout known human history because it creates behavior-conflict between personal and social goals.

Thankfully, it is one of the deadly sins that doesn’t ensnare most of us. Dante’s Inferno likely provides a glimpse of what lies in store for the greediest we deal with. Let’s just say we would not trade places with any of them.

Understand Why Willie Robbed Banks

Are all politicians crooks? Oh, there are some real stinkers, for sure, but most politicians are far from corrupt. Our political system has become a bastion for greed to rule the day, cleverly disguised as a fair process. Politicians throughout Florida are surrounded by greed (polluters and thieves of the public’s resources) because, obviously, greed gravitates to what makes them more money or power or both.

The famous criminal Willie Sutton was once asked why he robbed banks. His response was simple: Because that’s where the money is.

Throw in campaign contributions and an army of “friendly” lobbyists, and the unsuspecting don’t stand much of a chance – greed is very cunning. We cannot excuse this outcome, but it helps to understand the inexplicable. That’s why elected officials need us, all of us. Learn more, speak up more, find a way to get through to them. That’s our collective charge. By the way, we never said this would be easy 😉

EVERGLADES CALL TO ACTION

A revolution of thinking must occur in our state, not with pitchforks, but with every lawmaker concerned about our water and our waterways. From the quality of our water to the quantity and the directional flow of water, protecting our most important resource is the pressing issue of our time. The 2022 Legislative Session in Tallahassee begins tomorrow so now is the perfect time to let them know what’s on your mind. We make it super easy!

Email & Tweet Them HERE

2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS

2022 Florida legislative session: Here are 8 environmental bills we’re watching

These are pieces of legislation TCPalm is following. We recommend Floridians do, as well.

Read Now in TCPALM

Friends of the Everglades 2022 Legislative Preview 

With failing waterways statewide, can you imagine proposing a law where a known polluter starts off with the presumption of compliance? Neither can we, but that’s on the menu this year.

Read Now on FRENDS OF THE EVERGLADES

GREED THAT SURROUNDS US

Taxiway over Everglades wetlands: Homestead air base plan raises new concerns

Developers and powerful interests, like Amazon, won’t be satisfied until every last drop of wetlands and wild Florida are paved. Green-lighting new development to push further into the Everglades, to say we’re disappointed in the Miami Dade County Commission’s decision an understatement. 

Read Now in MIAMI HERALD

Sharks, manatee deaths, goliath grouper harvest: 2021 was unforgettable year in outdoors

“2021 offered hope yet gave us examples of how far we still have to go and how hard we still must work to fix some of our most problematic issues.” We encourage you to take a peek at reporter Ed Killer’s top stories of 2021.

Read Now in FLORIDA TODAY

Burning Sugar Cane Pollutes Communities of Color in Florida. Brazil Shows There’s Another Way.

U.S. Sugar and Florida Crystals claim “cane burns are safe and can’t be stopped without economic harm.” Both assertions are patently false. Not surprisingly, neither company would return calls or go on the record.  Brazil, Thailand, India, and many others have banned it. Only China, Florida Crystals and U.S. Sugar refuse to modernize.

Thank you, ProPublica and Palm Beach Post, for the extraordinary investigative reporting.

Read Now in PROPUBLICA

A Sweet Deal for the Fanjuls: The Royal Family Of Cane Benefits From Political Giving 

Charlotte Ponticelli worked for the State Department under both Bushes (41 and 43), but when she describes a recent visit to sugarcane plantations in the Dominican Republic, owned by the Fanjuls of Florida Crystals, she ditches the diplomat speak. “What I saw made me sick.”

Read Now in ALJAZEERA AMERICA

How Rush Limbaugh and conservative ‘90s media made climate change a partisan issue

It is important to understand how Republicans got tricked into believing climate change was a liberal hoax. The good news is that a growing percentage of registered GOP voters, though clearly not enough GOP politicians, are beginning to see the light.

Read Now in MIC

Leonardo DiCaprio Explains ‘Don’t Look Up’

“Making a film about climate change is a huge task but making it relatable is even harder.” This is a dark satire about a deadly comet heading for Earth. We strongly encourage you to watch this quick interview, then the movie. And whatever you do… Just Look Up!

Watch Now on YOUTUBE

THIS MAKES OUR HEARTS HAPPY

Dear Everglades, We’re Not Giving Up!

We fight for what we love. This might as well be the Trust’s theme song for the Everglades. We double dog dare you to listen to this and not smile and be inspired. 

Watch on OUR FACEBOOK PAGE