(Above) The three-member delegation spent several days in Northwest Florida.
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The July 2009 Project on Protection of the Environment
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In July we had the pleasure of hosting three state and federal level Brazilian environmentalists who were traveling throughout the country to examine the US experience with environmental protection, park management, and protected area conservation. Specifically, their goal was to learn more about the adminstrative structure of federal parks, the structure of education programs, intergovernmental conservation efforts, ecotourism, US environmental legislation, biodiversity collection methods, grassroots environmental preservation efforts, and carbon emissions capture & regulation. Their national program took place in Washington, D.C., New York State, Washington State, Oregon, and Miami.
Keith Wilkins, Deputy Bureau Chief of the Neighborhoods & Community Services Bureau of Escambia County, oriented the group to the area with a presentation on local environmental conditions and challenges. Chips Kirschenfeld, Senior Environmental Programs Manager, continued the introduction with a presentation on ecotourism and the Jones Creek Stream Restoration Project. He next accompanied them to Project Greenshores where he explained its environmental and economic significance. Robert Turpin, Manager of the Marine Resources Division, continued the overview with a site visit to Little Sabine Bay which included discussion on post-Ivan challenges and the balance between conservation and recreation.
Jerry Eubanks, Superintendent of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, hosted a roundtable discussion where delegates and park service personnel examined the administrative structure of the park service, financing of the national seashore, and the deforestization of Brazil. Participating staff members included Nina Kelson, Deputy Superintendent, Gail Bishop, Chief of Interpretation, Richard Clark, Chief of Science & Resource Management, and Park Ranger Steamer Lawhead. This meeting segued nicely into their next appointment with Ed Schroeder, Director, and Lori Coppels, Group Tour Manager, of the Pensacola Bay Area Convention & Visitors Bureau which covered marketing efforts for regional ecotourism.
To answer any further questions on the local environment and to learn about the University of West Florida's Center for Environmental Diagnostics & Bioremediation, the Brazilians met with Dr. Richard Snyder, Professor and Director of the Center. Dr. Snyder also highlighted the science education programs that the Center offers for K-12 students.
To discuss carbon emissions, regulations, and renewables, Gulf Power invited the group to meet with Jim Vick, Director of Environmental Affairs, Sandy Sims, Manager of Public Affairs, and Carl Punyko, Governmental Affairs Manager. Joining the discussion via speakerphone was Ray Harry, the Governmental Affairs Representative of Southern Company in Washington, D.C. Together, the group examined global climate change, cap and trade programs, energy legislation before the US Congress, and the energy industry in Brazil.
Downtime in Pensacola included dinners in the homes of council members Susan Smart, Bradley Proctor, and Sam & Diana Hall. Council member Dr. Allan Ford also met the group at Aegean Breeze for lunch one day, and the delegates enjoyed numerous trips to the beach and to Cordova Mall.
Council member Keith Wilkins and friends of the Council Pat Chunn and Marcie Whitaker helped present the delegates with Honorary Citizenship to the City of Pensacola and with special momentos of their stay.
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| At Project Greenshores |
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| At Little Sabine Bay |
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| Discussion at the Gulf Islands National Seashore |
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| Discussing Brazil with the Park Service |
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| Delegation with GCCDC intern Charla Hough |
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| At the National Seashore |
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| Free time at the National Seashore |
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| At the Convention & Visitors Bureau |
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| At Gulf Power |
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| Receiving Honorary Citizenship |
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| Receiving Honorary Citizenship |
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| Final evening on the beach |
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To see all of our delegation photos, go to www.pnj.com & enter "citizendiplomacy" (one word) under the "Search People" feature. Once on our page, select the photos box to find photo folders organized by event.
Visit our calendar to view upcoming events and to see how you can become involved with the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council.
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