Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council

The Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council welcomed two visitors from Vietnam who arrived to learn about Pensacola’s environmental protection efforts.

Shawn Hamilton of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection met with the delegates to provide an overview of state environmental laws, how they are enforced, and to discuss how oil spills are contained and cleaned.  Next, J.D. Brown of the Bream Fisherman’s Association discussed the role of nongovernmental monitoring groups.   

Later that afternoon, the group met with Keith Wilkins of the Escambia County Neighborhoods & Community Services Bureau to highlight habitat restoration, collaboration between local governments and businesses, and eco-tourism.  Chips Kirschenfeld and Brent Wipf took the group to on environmental site visits around the county, including a visit to Project GreenShores, a public-private habitat restoration project.   Special thanks go out to Pat Chunn for arranging these meetings.  

Friday morning, the group traveled to the Creative Learning Academy to discuss Vietnam’s culture and environmental issues with students.  We would like to thank Lindsey Windrow and Jennell Peteranecz for making this visit possible.   

Greg Terry of the Gulf Power Environmental Affairs Office then introduced the group to the work of the Gulf Power Mercury Research Institute and gave them a tour of the plant.  This was followed by an afternoon visit with Dr. Dick Snyder at the University of West Florida which highlighted the work of the Center for Environmental Diagnostics & Bioremediation.