Politics

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Florida Defenders of the Environment (FDE) began in 1969 and is one of the two oldest environmental groups in Florida. FDE was founded with the principle goal of halting construction on the Cross Florida Barge Canal. The canal was intended to cut across north Florida as a means of providing cheaper transportation for goods. In 1971 the FDE was successful in convincing President Nixon to halt construction on the canal due to its negative impact on Florida’s environment. Marjorie Harris Carr, Florida State College for Women alum (class of 1936), was one of the founding members of FDE and instrumental in the success of the organization. She wrote this letter to Florida Governor LeRoy Collins at the end of her thirty year tenure as president of FDE.