The Sierra Club will hold a day-long Summit on Big Sugar June 20 in West Palm Beach. Ahead of the summit, we’ll take a closer look at the history and growth of Florida’s $500 million a year sugar industry. We’ll also explore the industry’s impact on the health of Floridians and the Everglades Ecosystem through nutrient-laden runoff, the regular burning of cane fields, and the altered natural flow of water south from Lake Okeechobee through the glades. We’ll also explore opportunities state lawmakers could take to boost Everglades restoration efforts through the purchase of sugar land as well as the sugar industry’s political influence.
Guests:
Daren Bakst, Research Fellow in Agricultural Policy, Institute for Economic Freedom and Opportunity, the Heritage Foundation
David Guest, Managing Attorney for the Florida Office of EarthJustice
Frank Jackalone, Senior Organizing Manager for the Sierra Club and Summit Moderator
Thomas Lodge, Ph.D., Wetlands and Wildlife Ecologist, Thomas E. Lodge Ecological Advisors, Inc.
