Opponents of Florida Power and Light Go to Jail

Palm Beach County, FL- After being found guilty of misdemeanor
trespassing, blocking traffic in an act of civil disobedience duringthe February 2008 protest against Florida Power Light's West County
Energy Center, Lynne Purvis and Panagioti Tsolkas are sentenced to 30
and 60 days in jail.

During their court case, Purvis and Tsolkas argued that the
environmental damages caused by FPL's power plant necessitated non-
violent civil disobedience. Scientist Dr. John van Leer and Dr.
Sydney Bachus testified in defense of Purvis and Tsolkas, arguing
that the completion of the FPL West County Energy Center could lead
to higher levels of Mercury in the Loxahatchee Preserve area and
aquifer contamination; in addition to the acceleration of global
warming. The State Attorney's Office contested the environmentalists'
claims, arguing that proposed power plant impact on global warming
was not an imminent threat.

Once open, the Florida Power and Light West County Energy Center will
be the largest fossil fuel burning power plan in the United States,
emitting twelve million tons of potentially toxic carbon emissions
and dispensing 13.5 million gallons of contaminated water into
Florida's aquifer every year.

In addition to jail, Judge Johnson sentence restrains Purvis and
Tsolkas from coming within 500 feet of FPL property. Both remain
committed to protecting Palm Beach County's natural resources.

Co-defendant Russell McSpadden responded to the Judge's sentence
stating, "The FPL West County Energy Center poses an imminent and
severe threat to our quality of life in Palm Beach County. We are
dissapointed with the Judge's decision to jail environmental
activists who took action to stop FPL from contaminating the air and
water of Palm Beach County. We believe during this time of global
climate change that average citizens must step up and take action to
address the impacts large corporations are having on our
environment. "

Who: Opponents of Florida Power and Light's West County Energy Center
What: Discuss the excessive sentencing of Lynne Purvis and Panagioti
Tsolkas
Where: At the Main Entrance to the Palm Beach County Jail on Gun Club
Road
When: 8:30 AM

For More Information:
Russell McSpadden
Palm Beach County Environmental Coalition
561-584-2644