The Florida Everglades:
Florida’s defining landscape
The large sunshine state has many unique qualities, and the most recognized is the Florida Everglades. There is no other place on the earth like the Florida Everglades. It is this habitat that is recognized throughout the world. Although the Florida Everglades is a fraction of its historic size, its wonders are endless. Extending south from Tamiami Trail to the Florida Keys and east from the Gulf Coast to Biscayne Bay, the Florida Everglades are as fragile as they are primitive.
Everglades Betrayal – The Issue that Defeated Al Gore is a tale of a proposal to build an international airport in the middle of the Florida Everglades. Unbelievably, the proposal originated in Miami and received support from the governor. Everglades Betrayal describes efforts of tireless environmentalists, local residents and politicians, the National Park Service, and the Department of the Interior to ensure protection of the fragile Florida Everglades.
In the end, the airport was stopped, but it took eight years, millions of dollars, and influenced the 2000 presidential election. Candidate Al Gore did not want to alienate airport supporters in this important and undecided state. However, his maneuvering did alienate many environmentalists wanting to hear his unwavering support for the Florida Everglades.
It is an interesting story with wonderful characters and twists and turns at every juncture. Everglades Betrayal is worth reading for anyone curious about the context of the infamous Florida vote, interested in preserving the Florida Everglades, or studying conservation or land use planning. In the end, the Florida Everglades was spared another assault, and the story reveals an important lesson that needs to be known.
The Everglades Betrayal – The Issue that Defeated Al Gore is now available to you online.
