Email from VoteWater Suit claims sugarcane burning not consistent with slowing climate change BECOME A MEMBER Harmful discharges cut; tell the Army Corps they must stop for good! The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has cut discharges to the Caloosahatchee (down from 2,100 cubic feet of water per second to 1,400 cfs) and the St. Lucie (from 1,400 cfs to 500 cfs) as Lake Okeechobee has fallen below 13 feet. That's good, but while the remaining west coast flows are necessary to balance salinity, the St. Lucie isn't in the clear; it needs NO discharges and every drop of water from Lake O to the river inflicts harm. TAKE ACTION: Complete this letter to Col. Brandon Bowman with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; or email Bowman at [email protected]   SUGAR SUED: Florida Crystals target of class-action suit claiming company misleads on climate change impacts  A California woman has filed a class-action lawsuit against Florida Crystals, claiming the company’s practice of sugarcane burning contradicts claims that its farming practices fight climate change. As the Palm Beach Post reports, “The lawsuit, filed on behalf of California resident Macy Merrell, said the West Palm Beach-based Florida Crystals promotes its sugar as environmentally friendly — a practice known as ‘greenwashing’ — while contributing to climate change, air pollution and soil degradation.” The Post continues: “According to studies cited in the complaint, preharvest burns generate more emissions than green harvesting methods, which involve cutting the cane without burning away the outer leaves. Merrell argued that by burning sugarcane while touting its environmental commitment, Florida Crystals intentionally misleads consumers who are willing to pay a premium for sustainable products.” Florida Crystals did not respond to the Post's requests for comment. Whether or not the suit is successful, we’ve called “bullsugar” on sugarcane burning for years. Our “No Big Sugar” page features photos of cane fields set alight, our open letter to policy-makers details how “Big Sugar burns nearly half a million acres of sugarcane for eight months of the year, poisoning the air in blue-collar, predominantly Black communities. And our friends at Friends of the Everglades have done extensive work documenting the harm of sugarcane burning. Yet the burns continue — only when the wind is blowing away from the wealthy coastal communities and toward those blue-collar communities. Other sugar-producing nations have transitioned away from burning, but not Florida’s Big Sugar companies. It will be very interesting to see if this lawsuit gets to the discovery stage, when Florida Crystals might be compelled to divulge what it knows about the true impact of burning on nearby communities. Stay tuned. MORE SUGAR NEWS: Hey DOGE, wanna cut waste? Kill the Sugar Program New report details number, clout of sugar industry lobbyists SUPPORT OUR WORK Calling all water warriors: become a WaveMaker! Water warriors aren’t shy about speaking out when it comes to our cherished waterways — and thank goodness for it. They're determined to make waves. Now water warriors can do even more to affect change by channeling your passion — and becoming a WaveMaker. Your $1,200 membership entitles you to exclusive briefings with Executive Director Gil Smart, and keeps you in the know about the latest clean-water news and views; you’ll even have a chance to help VoteWater evaluate political candidates in your community. If you value VoteWater’s in-depth reporting on Florida’s sugar industry, “Dirty Money” and other clean-water topics, help us take our advocacy to the next level and have a greater impact on water policy — become a WaveMaker today! BECOME A WAVEMAKER Come out April 5 & 6 to show your love for our state parks! On Saturday and Sunday, April 5 and 6, we'll gather at state parks across Florida to send a message: Our state parks are for nature, NOT for development! Check out SaveFloridaParks.com for more details and to find an event near you! BECOME A MEMBER DONATE NOW     VoteWater | 3727 SE Ocean Blvd. Suite 200A | Stuart, FL 34996 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice