Showing Up for the Wild
How Your Presence at Public Hearings Can Help Protect Biodiversity
by Panagioti Tsolkas
Photos by Leonard Bryant
It can be hard to turn folks out in-person for public hearings. They tend to run long, and are not many people’s idea of a good time. Add the pandemic years that still have some reluctant to attend packed indoor events, compounded by the last decade of rapidly evolving social media that’s shifted so much activist energy into click-button advocacy. While there is an abundance of urgent actions to take online, we also need to continue meeting our allies and our adversaries offline, in real life.
In the flurry of emails asking us to sign petitions or send letters, there are also invitations to show up and give comments to government agencies in person during meetings orworkshops.
There’s a unique beauty and power that comes from being face to face with decision-makers, and side by side with fellow change-makers.
These events require more effort than a petition — drive time, gas money, scheduling conflicts — but what comes out of them can have major impacts. And the connections between fellow activists get much deeper than they ever will in the comment thread of a Facebook post.
Take for example a workshop on wildlife impacts from phosphate mining in Central Florida, hosted by DeSoto County Commissioners. Local and national orgs have been fighting for years to stop a massive mining plan by Mosaic, perhaps best known for their 2016 industrial waste disaster in Polk County that dumped 215 million gallons of contaminated water into the aquifer.
Local residents and organizations fought for several years to stop the mining, including a major win in 2018 when the County Commission voted down the mine plan after two full days of public comments opposed to it.
Unfortunately, it didn’t end there. As we are so often faced with in the environmental movement: our win was temporary. Mosaic came back with a series of technical workshops to convince the commission that the mining wouldn’t harm land, water or wildlife.
Local neighbors and activists from across Florida have attended the County Commission workshops to reinforce the reasons for the 2018 decision denying the mine and to show Mosaic that we aren’t going anywhere.
Being there together in person has provided a sense of comradery and a display of commitment to the commissioners. It also provided us a chance to catch up with each other, eat lunch together and start planning for the next public hearing regarding this issue (Jan. 31, 2023).
7 Tips for effective public hearing participation
Here are some tips and tricks for anyone considering attendance at a hearing, along with pictures from the abovementioned hearing.
- Invite friends and family
These hearings should be family friendly. Even if kids can’t stay through an hours-long hearing, showing officials that we are a multigenerational force can change hearts and minds. Especially when kids are willing to step up to the mic. Like at the Mosaic hearing where this 11-year-old blew everyone away with her rendition of “Colors of the Wind,” featuring the apropos lyrics: You think you own whatever land you land on, the Earth is just a dead thing you can claim, but I know every rock and tree and creature has a life, has a spirit, has a name.
2. Cover all your legal bases
One of the most important strategic reasons to attend hearings is to create a record for future legal challenges. If there is going to be a formal decision, make sure your comments cover all the points that may be used to appeal that decision. Know what is needed for standing — the legal ability to contest a decision — and be sure some of the speakers have it. It often requires living or owning land in the affected area, but sometimes it can just mean using impacted public land for recreation. Having a lawyer to ask about this is a big help.
3. Bring visual aids
Whether its slideshows or posterboard, giving people something to look at helps make your case. And if you can’t present something, you can wear it on your hat. Or do both, as this March Against Mosaic organizer demonstrates.
4. Document your opponents
Things that your opponents say can fuel your case against them. Look for inconsistencies, inaccuracies, or blatant hypocrisy. Sometimes it’s what they leave out that can be the most damning. Are consultants contracted to argue for them? What are their companies called? What are the names of those making presentations? Are they credible?
5. Coordinate your messages
If there are five main points that need attention, split them up between individuals so each one gets more detailed attention and the redundancy is reduced. Some hearings allow people to cede their time to someone else. While it is good to hear from many voices, it can also help to have several people with the most direct impacts or expertise get more than the allotted 2–3 minutes.
6. Take good pictures and videos
Documenting the experience of a hearing with strong visual and audio media can allow the people who weren’t able to attend also feel the inspiration that comes with gathering to speak truth to power. Candid shots can capture the passion of a moment, putting a human face to movement. A well-arranged group photo of the participants can send a message of solidarity and camaraderie that will leave opposition wondering just how much of a black eye their branding can take before their political support crumbles and their investors start looking elsewhere.
7. Celebrate together
Go out for food or a drink after the hearing, plan a BBQ or a campout for all who attended. Strengthen your bonds and support each other in staying informed and involved.
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Panagioti Tsolkas has been a community organizers for 25+ years, attending countless public hearings. He is also a digital communication associate at the Center for Biological Diversity.
