Florida Lessons (inspiration from the sunshine state)
Florida is a fairly large USA state, not far from the Caribbean. Yet despite being thousands of miles away, there is so much that we can learn from ‘the sunshine state’. Not least in its can-do positive attitude of local people.
They are cleaning oil spills, protecting wetlands and creating ‘planned communities’ that are almost perfect places to live!
Floridians Look After Their Wetlands
Floridians preserve their wetlands a lot better than English authorities, in the USA’s most southerly state. These wetlands (the top area flowing into Alabama’s Deep South) are known for pretty flamingos and scary-looking alligators!)
The Everglades has 1.5 million acres of wetlands, mangrove forests and marshes, home to sea turtles, wild dolphins, manatees and over 500 species of birds.
One reason why things get done in ‘the sunshine state’ is often because the people have a pretty sunny positive attitude about nearly everything, something possibly we could learn from in England!
Fight for the things that you care about. But do it in a way that will lead others to join you. Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Learn more on how to restore England’s wetlands.
Beautiful Planned Communities
The USA is way ahead with so-called ‘New Urbanism’, which builds planned communities that are walkable and with beautiful buildings, strong communities, independent shops and public parks.
Seaside (featured in The Truman Show film) was planned by architect Andrés Duany, and although expensive, is a wonderful inspiration on how to build a new town. The beautiful buildings sit on the coast, with old-fashioned porches, to watch the sunrise or sunset.
On Main Street, the post office to the cinema are designed in gorgeous Art Deco style, and the multi-faith church is open to people of all faiths.
Celebration again has a lovely main street and beautiful buildings, and lots of green spaces for people and dogs. The houses are designed so that cars are ‘hidden away’ underground. So unlike in England, where nearly all towns and villages are marred by dozens of cars parked on the street.
This creates walkable communities, lower air pollution and a very low crime rate. Villages Retirement Community has beautiful affordable homes with wide pavements, car-free zones and nature trails.
It has several dog parks (with shady bench areas and water stations), all dogs are microchipped and spayed/neutered to prevent lost pets and dog bites).
There are also social clubs to offer everything from tennis to dance nights. Nobody feels lonely, whether they choose to be an introvert and just enjoy the area, or get involved in everything they can!
Miami’s Free Public Transport Idea
Freebee offers free public transport for locals and visitors, paid for by small shops that advertise on the vehicles, enticing people out of touristy areas, to support local economies. The dog-friendly buses also free up income for users, who can then use the money to support local shops and businesses.
Horseless Carriages (for tourists)
Considering England is supposed to be one of the world’s most animal-batty countries, it’s a mystery why we (unlike New York city) have not yet banned horse carriages for tourists.
Equines are often tired and thirsty while working, and the Central Park ban came after a long campaign, when many were spooked by noise, or injured in traffic accidents.
Old Mount Dora Carriage Company is a Florida company that uses quaint nostalgic carriages to ferry tourists and wedding guests around in the heat, leaving horses back at home in fields and stables. Powered by people and electricity, read more on horse carriage alternatives.
What Not to Learn from Florida
Alas Florida is also the base for SeaWorld, which owns many tourist attractions worldwide. Increasingly people are boycotting tourist aquariums, due to wild creatures being taken from their ocean homes (orcas in the wild stay with their mums for life).
Spaces in these ‘watery zoos’ are so small, that it’s akin to you living in a bath tub for the rest of your life. Also creatures are kept to perform tricks for tourists, but the pools are so shallow in the Florida heat, that often big creatures have sunburn as their backs often stick out of the water. Many creatures have died early, or attacked staff, due to stress which leads to aggression.
There is presently a campaign to rescue 15 penguins housed in a dreary basement in London (in a tourist attraction owned by Sealife).
