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An Everglades Providence:. Grande Dame. By 1980’s Douglas Was an Activist. She traveled to speak on behalf of environmental causes. East Everglades protection from Miami development Sea turtles Kissimmee River Lake Okeechobee A coal fired power plant. Used Her Age.
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An Everglades Providence: Grande Dame
By 1980’s Douglas Was an Activist • She traveled to speak on behalf of environmental causes. • East Everglades protection from Miami development • Sea turtles • Kissimmee River • Lake Okeechobee • A coal fired power plant
Used Her Age • Though Douglas had become old and frail, she did not slow down but used her age as a tool • She discovered that using wheel chairs she received special treatment and got through air ports quicker. • When being warned she spoke over her allotted time, she pretended deafness • She once told Time Magazine, “They can’t be rude to me. I have all this white hair. I take advantage of everything I can- age, hair, disability- because my cause is just.” • At 95, when asked about working full time at her age, she said, “Of course I don’t get tired of it… I don’t get tired of breathing either.”
Feminist • Douglas saw herself as a modern woman. • Women activists during her day were still happily dependent on their husbands. • She was independent of a man and though she was more advanced because of it. • “I think that primarily I’m an individual…I think I’m something of my own, but I couldn’t characterize it. I’m not a conformist. Frankly, I’m a pretty modern woman… In fact, in some ways I’m ahead of some people.”
Doing What She Loved • Douglas enjoyed speaking out on environmental issues. • She no longer was burdened by writing deadlines and now did what she loved to do. • She once said about her protest of a coal fired power plant South of Orlando, “I got a new lease on life just learning about the damn thing. One way to stay alive is to get good and mad now and then.”
Six Part Strategy- Protect Environment • Join local environmental society • Form group w/ few neighbors and friends • Study legislation: city, county, state, federal • Do what you do best to help • Know your region • Rivers, lakes, coasts, roads, cities, climate, soil, plants, animals… • Speak up • Learn to talk clearly and forcefully in public • Simply and not longwinded • From sound preparation and knowledge • Be a nuisance but not a bore • Ok to be depressed & discouraged @ failures & effects of ignorance, greed, corruption, & bad politics • But never give up!