Amelia Island and St Mary’s EarthKeepers join hands across the river to protect and preserve coastal areas

Submitted by Karen Thompson
Features Reporter

Photo courtesy of Jane Griffin Hoskins
July 17, 2015 11:28 a.m.

Hands across the River
Vice Mayor Johnny Miller speaks to residents from a diverse range of environmental interest at an organizational meeting of Amelia Island EarthKeepers.

The environmental and quality of life future of Amelia Island became a lot brighter last night as more than 75 people packed the upper deck at Sandy Bottoms for the inaugural meeting of The Amelia Island EarthKeepers.  The meeting was organized by Fernandina Beach Vice Mayor Johnny Miller and Alex Kearns, Chair of the St. Mary’s, GA EarthKeepers. The St. Mary’s group has been successful in stopping Kinder Morgan’s effort to appropriate private land via eminent domain to build its Palmetto Pipeline. The merger with the newly formed Amelia Island Earthkeepers will focus on “level-headed, responsible and effective environmental cooperation,” said Kearns. “We’re supporting one another for common causes, we’re watchdogs, alarm bells and cheering squads as we unite in our efforts to protect and preserve our coastal environment and quality of life.”

Residents from a diverse range of environmental interest groups on Amelia Island and in Nassau County were in attendance at the organizational meeting including Port Alert! Amelia Island Turtle Watch, Bag the Bag, Tree Conservancy, RiverKeepers, Prevent Seismic Testing and the Sierra Club. Three commissioners from St. Mary’s and a reporter from the Brunswick News were also in attendance to show their support for the EarthKeepers collaboration.

Map 1Miller aptly called the effort “one team, one fight,” others called it a “coalition with teeth,” “the power of change,” “a common cause.” “It’s time to stop the self-defeating, territorial tug-of-war games being played between cities and states,” said Kearns. “Environmental pollution does not recognize state lines,” said Miller. “Amelia Island, Cumberland Island, St. Mary’s and other Florida and Georgia communities up and down the coast are worth protecting from industrial growth.”

Action items from the meeting included a Facebook page-Amelia Island EarthKeepers; an email [email protected]; a Twitter account-Twitter@AI Earthkeepers. Petitions are being circulated to oppose any off-loading of coal from ship or barge at the Port of Fernandina by port operator Kinder Morgan and requesting that the Ocean Highway and Port Authority of Nassau County pass a resolution opposing coal transfer through the Port of Fernandina.

Karen Thompson 2Editor’s Note: Karen moved to Fernandina Beach four years ago after working in Chicago as a senior public relations specialist for the Midwestern regional office of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. Prior to that, she was an editor, columnist and writer for a chain of Chicago newspapers , an account executive for several Chicago public relations agencies and proprietor of her own pr/marketing business. She grew up and earned her journalism degree in Wisconsin.

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Marlene Chapman
Marlene Chapman(@crew2120)
8 years ago

It was great to see so many involved and concerned people! The meeting was informative and got us all thinking even more about the environment in general. We learned also that St Mary’s has about a 72% recylce rate while we’re at only about 32%…that is very sad. Hoping that more will get involved in this very worthwhile and earth saving mission.

Steven Crounse
Steven Crounse (@guest_40407)
8 years ago

Ms. Alex Kearns and Three St. Mary’s Commissioners took the Time to join us for the Inauguration of our group. To me that speaks volumes for their dedication to our environment and quality of life that we enjoy on this Coast. Please look for Amelia Island Earthkeepers on Face Book. In the last 24hrs. we’ve grown to 185 members, St. Mary’s has 285 members. I told them we would surpass that by Weeks end. Please Join if you are passionate about our incredible Island. By joining with St. Mary’s we have a much louder voice on issues that should concern all of us. People who make decisions as to the Destiny of our Island, Rivers Marches, and the Health and well being of it’s Citizens need to hear us. “ONE VOICE”

Mrs. D. Hunter
Mrs. D. Hunter (@guest_40410)
8 years ago
Reply to  Steven Crounse

Let’s just make it easy and give the Amelia Island Earthkeepers Facebook link right here [if that’s OK w/ FO]!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/107134962965522/

Kimberly Bedwell
Kimberly Bedwell(@kimberly-f-bedwell)
8 years ago

Enjoyed this wonderful meeting that brought together many people with one goal…to help…to spread information…and to educate. My family and I learned a great deal in just this one meeting. We look forward to many, many more.

Alex
Alex (@guest_40411)
8 years ago

The St. Marys EarthKeepers membership is thousands-strong…and I anticipate that the newly-launched Amelia Island EarthKeepers will quickly attract similar numbers. One clarification: the article states “The St. Mary’s group has been successful in stopping Kinder Morgan’s effort to appropriate private land via eminent domain to build its Palmetto Pipeline.” While we certainly lent our voices and efforts to that fight, we were by no means alone! Organizations and individuals throughout Georgia mounted an impressive and cohesive campaign against the pipeline – and it continues still.

Karen Thompson
Karen Thompson (@guest_40419)
8 years ago

Thanks for the clarification. I thought I read that in one of the many (yea!) FB posts circulating the last couple days. Your experience is truly valued by our new EarthKeepers group.

Medardo Monzon
Medardo Monzon(@mmonzon)
8 years ago

Kudos to Alex Kearns and John Miller for organizing this meaningful event. I was impressed with three commissioners from St. Mary’s took the time to attend, thus expressing their commitment to this important issue. Sadly, only ONE of the five Fernandina Beach commissioners showed up. Johnny Miller has consistently showed up at public hearings and others similar events always eager to listen and learn about citizens concerns. Congratulations Johnny Miller!

Steven Crounse
Steven Crounse (@guest_40428)
8 years ago

The success in Georgia to stop Kinder Morgan’s Palmetto Pipeline was a collaboration of many organizations like the St.Mary’s Earthkeepers, Riverkeepers and sustainable Coast Groups. It really helps when the most Powerful Man in Georgia, Owner of the Savannah Times, and the Governor. Stand up to Kinder Morgan and say NO. The Guy that owns the Savannah Times, Jacksonville Paper and a whole lot more, Had Kinder Morgan’s surveyors arrested on this land for Trespassing. Kinder Morgan made a statement that the “surveyors just pulled off the main road” The county sheriff said he found them one and a half miles into the man’s property pounding stakes. That all happened, before Kinder Morgan was issued any permit from the State to Start surveying right of way’s. Corp. Lawyers are swarming in Georgia as we speak to get permits to use Eminent Domain. So the Battle continues.

Jim Weinsier
Jim Weinsier (@guest_41016)
8 years ago

I’m a founding member of the Nassau Family Coalition. While our member Organizations, such as Barnabas Center, Boys and Girls Clubs, Family Support Services, Florida Blue, Florida Community Prevention Center, FSCJ, 4-H Youth Development, Journey Church, Nassau Libraries, NACDAC, Nassau EM, Nassau Sheriff Dept., TAS, Take Stock in Children, YMCA to name some, may have a different focus and goals the strength in unity thread is common to both. We would love to include EarthKeepers as a member organization.