February 2023
Thank you to Russell Regnery for our wintry Georgia picture! Join in by submitting your own photo of our Georgia coast to Katie by March 6.
OUR PROGRAMS & ISSUES
Learn about our current projects and opportunities to take action
Spaceport Camden: A Community Victory!
When One Hundred Miles first began working on the proposed Spaceport Camden project back in 2015, we had one simple goal: to help residents and stakeholders make their voices heard to protect our coast.
That’s why we celebrated last March, when Camden residents voted by a nearly 3:1 margin to repeal the County’s option to purchase the spaceport property. It was a monumental and groundbreaking effort never before seen in the state of Georgia: one built by the hundreds of volunteers who stuffed thousands of envelopes, gathered petition signatures, spoke at hearings, and educated their friends and neighbors—and ultimately, the thousands who showed up to vote.
In an attempt to override the will of their people, Camden County took this vote to the Georgia Supreme Court. They argued that “Georgia’s state constitution doesn’t allow citizens to veto decisions of county governments.” But earlier this week the court upheld the vote as constitutionally authorized.
One Hundred Miles has been actively standing alongside the residents of Camden County and celebrates this latest ruling. Quoted in Georgia Recorder, Megan Desrosiers said, “The Georgia Supreme Court’s ruling shows that the Justices took both sides’ arguments very seriously. […] They took the amount of time they needed to issue a decision that was fair and right according to the state Constitution and for the benefit of all Georgians.”
Some Camden County commissioners continue to search for ways to launch Spaceport Camden. But the people have spoken. If and when they need to speak again, we’ll be there to shout with them, every step of the way.
Celebrate & Fight for the Okefenokee at the Capitol
Youth Environmental Leadership Program: Apply now!
Stop the Warehouse Takeover: Comment on Liberty County Plan Before Feb. 13th
Events
Opportunities to Explore, Experience, and Protect our Coast
Dr. Anthony “Tony” Martin is a Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Emory University and author of books such as “Life Traces of the Georgia Coast.” Join us as he teaches us about the geology of our coast and how you can incorporate the art of ichnology into your daily time in nature!
Thursday, February 16 • 7:00 pm
Location: OHM Office (7 Glynn Ave, Brunswick, GA 31520)
This is a free event, but please RSVP so we have an idea of how many people will attend.
Glynn County is home to four Superfund sites—locations polluted with hazardous chemicals that contaminate our communities. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), who oversees the clean up and remediation of these sites, will host an upcoming community meeting to discuss groundwater contamination at the Honeywell-LCP Superfund site. Your presence at meetings like this one will help to hold the EPA and the companies responsible for the pollution accountable for cleaning up the toxins that continue to harm our communities.
Thursday, February 16 • 6:00-8:00 pm
Location: Rise Risley (Jackson Building), 1800 Albany St, Brunswick 31520
The Georgia Water Coalition invites you to attend Capitol Conservation Day at the Georgia State Capitol. Registration is $15 (with discounted tickets available) and includes breakfast, issues briefings, and meetings with your legislators. This is a fantastic opportunity to engage in our state government—and encourage our leaders to protect the Okefenokee Swamp!
Tuesday, February 21 • 8 am – 1 pm
Meet at: Central Presbyterian Church, 201 Washington St SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
Help us get to 100 Coastal Champions!
Coastal Champions are among our most passionate and steadfast supporters, giving monthly donations that directly support our work to protect Georgia’s coast. Currently, we have 91 Coastal Champions and we are hoping you will help us get to 100 by the end of February! These monthly commitments—however big or small—create a consistent and reliable foundation that sustains our work year-round.
Show your love for our coast by making a monthly commitment. Monthly giving is convenient and simple; membership automatically renews. It’s flexible; the amount you give can be changed or canceled at any time. Most importantly, your contributions sustain our work, allowing us to respond quickly to threats as well as plan ahead with confidence and invest in long-term strategies. Become a Coastal Champion today!
To all of our Coastal Champions, present and future: thank you for your support.
Become a Coastal Champion by Feb. 28 and receive your own copy of Cumberland Island: A Place Apart by Thornton W. Morris.
IN THE NEWS
Keeping you up-to-date on the latest news about our coast
Savannah Morning News 2/2/2023: Environmental work is about sea turtles, trees—and people too. It’s about industrial regulations and accountability. Racial justice and equity. Healthcare and historical narratives. It’s about the stories we choose to remember—and those we fight to not forget.
The Brunswick News, 2/2/2023: Last week, the Partnership for Southern Equity, an Atlanta-based nonprofit, held a listening session at the College of Coastal Georgia in Brunswick. Attendees were encouraged to participate in Emory’s Human Exposure Study to determine if Glynn County residents are more at-risk from harmful contaminants than other locations.
WABE, 2/2/2023: We celebrate this bipartisan support for the Okefenokee. Designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site would not automatically protect the Okefenokee Swamp from development and industry, but it would encourage protection of this “national treasure.”
Atlanta News First, 2/8/2023: House Bill 71 (Okefenokee Protection Act), proposed by Rep. Darlene Taylor, has received great bipartisan support at the State level. Click to watch the full report, including insight from Alice Keyes about the potential environmental devastation caused by mining along Trail Ridge.
GA DNR, Wildlife Resources Division, 2/6/2023: “North Atlantic right whale no. 1218, an adult male nicknamed Argo, has a new chance at life after being freed from lobster pots and commercial fishing rope tangled around his tail.” Read about this daring rescue and learn why preventing entanglements in the first place must be our goal.
Georgia Recorder, 2/8/2023: The Georgia Supreme Court has upheld the constitutional validity of the 2022 referendum in which Camden County residents overwhelmingly voted against bringing in the Spaceport. After years of battling, protesting, petitioning, and then voting, this ruling comes as a huge win for the people.
February Trivia
We at OHM love to read—so this month, we thought we’d share the joy of reading with you!
In “9 Rules for the Black Birdwatcher” (Orion Magazine, 2013), author, birder, and recent MacArthur Genius Grant winner Dr. J. Drew Lanham calls out structural inequities plaguing birding culture while celebrating the power of the black birder. Hear him share more on PBS NewsHour.
Our trivia this month invites you to take a few minutes to read Dr. Lanham’s piece, a few more minutes to contemplate his ideas, and a few minutes to send us your answer to the following:
Name a bird Dr. Lanham may be referring to in Rule #5.
Send your answer to Katie for a chance to win free OHM swag. Winner will be announced before the next edition of our Monthly Mile. Congratulations to Ruth McMullin, our first Monthly Mile trivia winner, who correctly identified the American oystercatcher!
Sending Love from Our Crew to Yours
The Monthly Mile is our newsletter connecting you to One Hundred Miles and our work along Georgia’s coast. We’re grateful for the time you take to educate yourself about issues affecting our coast; the energy you give by volunteering with us and our partner organizations; and the generosity you exhibit through your financial support. We cannot do our work without you!
If you have any questions about The Monthly Mile or other OHM communications, please contact Catherine.
