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<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=black
face="Lucida Sans"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Lucida Sans"'>To all interested:<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>After receiving the latest list message, I felt compelled to
write my governor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>None of you
know me or who I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have no
acronyms behind my name, nor do I have any scientific credentials of any
kind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I joined this list in the
hopes of learning something more about the reefs I had fished above as a child,
the animals I learned about in high school, and the inhabitants I have/plan to
have in my aquarium one day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Not
to mention, maybe I would learn for later reference good places to dive.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=black
face="Lucida Sans"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Lucida Sans"'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=black
face="Lucida Sans"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Lucida Sans"'>This list has given me so much more though.<span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It has opened my eyes to the gravity of
the reef situation around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>I had no idea the problems that exist are so profound and severe.<span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The list has also given me a bit of
insight as to what scientists look for in the way of reef damage, by whatever
means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Perhaps what I have learned
thus far and what more I may learn until then will make me a more conscientious
and courteous diver and a better reef aquaria keeper.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=black
face="Lucida Sans"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Lucida Sans"'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=black
face="Lucida Sans"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Lucida Sans"'>Anyway, here is a copy of what I sent to my
governor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It may seem rather
elementary, but I actually let my emotions about the subject get in the way of
my writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That isn’t something I
usually do; but maybe that emotion as a citizen will make it seem more real to
the man, vs. someone putting me up to it or a group lobbying for it.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=black
face="Lucida Sans"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Lucida Sans"'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=black
face="Lucida Sans"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Lucida Sans"'>I welcome any thoughts any of you might want to
send.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am just trying to do my
part, no matter how small.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=black
face="Lucida Sans"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Lucida Sans"'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=black
face="Lucida Sans"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Lucida Sans"'>Patricia Hunt<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=black
face="Lucida Sans"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Lucida Sans"'><a href="mailto:gigi101@bellsouth.net"><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>gigi101@bellsouth.net</span></font></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>Dear Mr. Governor,<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>My
name is Patricia Hunt and I live in Jacksonville, FL.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>I am just your average citizen.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>I am a 27-year-old wife and a mother of a 2 year old.<span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have served in the US Army for 4 years
(Ft. Hood, TX) and other than those 4 years, I have lived here my whole life.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>As
a child, my father took me fishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>We fished from beaches and from docks until he was able to afford a
boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I spent most summer weekends
offshore from the age of 6 to 17.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>During those years on the water, my father taught me about safety and
about conserving our resources.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If
we had no intentions of eating whatever fish we caught, we threw it back.<span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If it was too tired to swim on its own,
I watched my father get into the water with it (once, a 6’ female tiger shark
in addition to others) in order to assist its breathing until it could swim
away on its own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I learned about
the dangers of plastic bags floating in our waters and that sea turtles eat
them – mistaking them for jellyfish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>I learned that the plastic rings that come around soda 6-packs can get
caught around birds’ and other animals’ necks, strangling them to death – so I
rip them apart before throwing them away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>I learned not to anchor on reefs because it tears them up, killing the
very place that fish hide in, swim in, and feed in.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>I also watched my father capture a pelican that had a hook
caught in its skin, just below its bill, so that we could take the hook (still
attached to fishing line) out of him.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>From
a very young age, a love for the marine environment has been instilled in me
and nurtured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I may not have a
boat yet, but when I do go to the beach with my husband and baby, I find myself
picking up trash others have left behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>I want the marine environment to be healthy and enjoyable for my son
when he is my age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If I am lucky,
he will learn from my example to care for his environment the same way my
father taught me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I cannot afford
to obtain diving certification yet, either.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>So instead, I have started up my very own marine
aquarium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I want to one day keep
corals and other invertebrates in my aquarium and have been doing a tremendous
amount of research on the subject on the Internet.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>That is how I became a part of<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes">
</span><a href="mailto:coral-list@coral.aoml.noaa.gov"><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>coral-list@coral.aoml.noaa.gov</span></font></a>
.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>I
am not a scientist nor am I even in any profession associated with the marine
environment, but because I am fighting an algae bloom in my aquarium, I found a
particular article from this list interesting. It spoke of an alleged algae
bloom that is allegedly killing off some of Florida’s coral reefs and a
possible reason behind the algae bloom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>All that was needed was some more money from the state in order to research
this reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You vetoed this
funding, according to the article, because the research wouldn’t provide a
statewide benefit.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
class=EmailStyle18><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><span style='mso-tab-count:
1'> </span>As
a Florida resident and a registered voter, I am completely appalled with this
decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The last time that I
checked, tourism is Florida’s number one industry and I am sorry to say, Mickey
Mouse isn’t Florida’s only tourist attraction.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span></span></font></span><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Divers,</span></font><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>snorkelers, fishermen, and tourists enjoy healthy reefs and the
diverse population of fish and other marine life the reefs support. The
reef-lovers <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>buy</span></b> dive and snorkel
gear, <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>rent</span></b> boats, <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>hire</span></b> guides, <b><span style='font-weight:
bold'>stay</span></b> in hotels, <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>rent</span></b>
beach houses for weeks and months at a time, <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>eat</span></b>
in restaurants, not to mention they spend money on their “land-based”
entertainment as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Fishermen
spend money on many of the same things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>The “snowbirds” spend their money in the winter; the rest of us spend
our money in the summer months.</span></font><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;
mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>If
that is not “statewide” enough to reconsider giving these scientists some
funding to do their research on my behalf, your behalf, your family’s behalf,
my son’s behalf, and his children’s behalf, then I truly don’t know where your
priorities lie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You say it is on
education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We live in Florida and
I assure you most of our natural sciences curriculum in high school consists of
knowledge of what is around us locally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>I am still young enough to remember my high-school days and learning
about turtle nests, manatees, fire coral, Portuguese-Man-O-Wars, and octopus.<span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Helping to fund this research will be
funding long term and real life education. If we don’t have much of a
reef-ecosystem left later to educate our children or our grandchildren about,
there goes most of my most memorable school lessons right out of the education
system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If that happens, have we
really done our job?</span></font><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>Another
thing, I cannot speak for the rest of the residents that enjoy nature in all
forms, but after living in Killeen for 3 years I assure you I wanted nothing
more than to come back to Florida when I got out of the service.<span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I needed to be near the ocean.<span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have plans on diving in the
future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If I don’t have anything
to look at but dead stuff when I do finally get down there, I might have to
move to Australia or something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If
you don’t reconsider funding this research project, I assure you, if <b><u><span
style='font-weight:bold'>Janet Reno does run for your position, I will vote for
her in a heartbeat.</span></u></b></span></font><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;
mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]></span></font><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>I
am sorry this has turned out so long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>I felt the need to fully explain my position and why I stand where I do.<span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I would appreciate a response, even a
short one; but please do not send me a typical form letter.<span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Thank you for your time.</span></font><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]></span></font><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Patricia Hunt</span></font><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:3.0in;text-indent:.5in'><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>Jacksonville, FL</span></font><span class=EmailStyle15><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
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