Representatives from Jewish, Catholic and Protestant faith communities across Georgia gathered at the Okefenokee Swamp on Wednesday for a prayer vigil urging lawmakers to enact Georgia House Bill 71, “The Okefenokee Protection Act,” as part of their upcoming legislative session. The bill would restrict the issuance of mining permits on nearby Trail Ridge.
That’s where Alabama-based Twin Pines Minerals is seeking to mine for titanium dioxide. HB 71 would not apply to Twin Pines’ application, which is already in process. While the mining company insists its activity will not harm the swamp, scientists, including academic hydrologists from several states, disagree. They fear the mining could alter the flow of water in the Okefenokee, the largest wildlife refuge east of the Mississippi.
The vigil was organized by Georgia Interfaith Power and Light, a nonprofit organization that aims to mobilize Georgians of faith toward environmental action.
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