Our Stories

The Latest by David Guest

Managing Attorney

David Guest worked at Earthjustice from 1990 to 2016, as the managing attorney of the Florida regional office. His countless legal battles were, in one way or another, all about water. His motivation to protect Florida’s water came from years of running boats in the state’s rivers and lakes, which convinced him that waterways are many people’s spiritual connection to nature.

The Florida Forever conservation land-buying program was created to set aside funds for conservation to protect coastal areas like this one.
June 20, 2018

Stopping the Big Florida Swindle

By David Guest  /  Florida Office

Florida legislators stole funds earmarked for conservation to pay for salaries and agency-operating expenses. On behalf of millions of Floridians, Earthjustice fought back—and we just won.

Susan Frazier/CC BY-NC 2.0
March 25, 2016

The Massive Fish Kill Florida Could Have Prevented

By David Guest  /  Florida Office

Dead fish cover the beautiful Indian River Lagoon and the Banana River following a fish kill caused by a brown algae outbreak that was sparked by fertilizer, sewage and manure pollution.

Solar panels
March 7, 2016

Fighting for Solar Power in ‘the Sunshine State’

By David Guest  /  Florida Office

Earthjustice is fighting Florida’s anti-solar ballot initiative in the state Supreme Court.

March 2, 2016

South Florida’s Tourist Season From Hell

By David Guest  /  Florida Office

Polluted wastewater from Big Sugar and other South Florida agricultural operations is being pumped onto Florida's coast, killing marine life and tourism business.

Florida wetlands
December 22, 2015

Water Policy Bill Could Be Big Victory–For Polluters

By David Guest  /  Florida Office

Florida's major rewrite of hundreds of clean water regulations is putting the state's water supply in danger.

"Money-Burn" Gavin Fordham Flickr https://flic.kr/p/a2iJqq
December 4, 2015

Sugar Cane Burning Not So Sweet for Florida’s Residents

By David Guest  /  Florida Office

Each year, Florida’s sugar-growing corporations emit thousands of tons of hazardous air pollutants by burning sugar cane leaves, a dirty practice that Earthjustice is working to stop.

Lake Okeechobee, FL
November 2, 2015

Florida Power and Light Wants Expensive Boondoggle

By David Guest  /  Florida Office

Florida Power and Light is trying to get its customers to foot the bill for an expensive and unnecessary power plant near Lake Okeechobee.

Sunset on the Apalachicola River in Florida
July 1, 2015

Protecting Florida’s Apalachicola River from Coal Ash Pollution

By David Guest  /  Florida Office

Piles of coal ash in unlined pits threaten one of the south’s premier rivers. Under our legal settlement, Gulf Power Corp. pledges to take steps to protect the Apalachicola River from coal ash pollution.

Lake Okeechobee, pictured, is facing another green slime outbreak threatening pelicans, dolphins, fish, manatees and Florida's coasts.
May 11, 2015

Proposed Bills Entrust Water Protection to Worst Offenders

By David Guest  /  Florida Office

The toxic green slime that killed pelicans, dolphins, fish and manatees in South Florida two summers ago is back, threatening Florida's coasts.

Florida is trying to buy Everglades conservation land from Big Sugar
April 7, 2015

Caught in the Act: Anti-Conservation Forces Hire Actors for Fake Everglades Protest

By David Guest  /  Florida Office

Florida is trying to buy Everglades conservation land from Big Sugar, but conservative opposition groups are hiring fake protesters to complicate the deal.