A Gadfly's Memoirs

About the Book

The power of one person is unbelievable. The power of many individuals can be explosive-making history and stopping massive destructive projects. This happened in coastal Alabama.

A GADFLY'S MEMOIRS documents 30 years of "people power" making significant changes and saving the integrity of Mobile Bay!

> stopped drilling operations in Mobile Bay for ten years.

> stoped a badly planned industrial/domestic wastewater outfall in the middle of the bay

> stopped the Corps of Engineer's plans to destroy valuable wetlands and bay bottoms

> changed Alabama State Dock's destructive way of taking and destroying public lands. Came up with less costly, less destructive alternatives, saving taxpayers monies and public lands and helping keep Mobile Harbor competitive as an International Port

> saved coastal barrier island tracts of land now known as the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge

This isnot fiction, but fact.

Myrt was called a Gadfly by a state Senator and found that she was in good company, as Socrates was teh first Gadfly.

As E.O. Wilson succinctly says:

In democratic societies people may think their government is bound by an ecological version of the Hippocratic Oath, to take no action that knowingly endangers biodiversity. But that is not enough. The commitment must be much deeper...to let no species knowingly die, to take all reasonable action to protect every species and race in perpetuity.

WE NEED GADFLYS! GADFLY: An intentionally annoying person who stimulates or provokes others by persistent irritating criticism.

About the Author

"What is the use of living if it not be to strive for noble causes and make this muddled world a better place for those of us who will live in it after we are gone."

                                               Winston Churchill

Environmental activist, Myrt Jones never spoke those words, but she believed in them.

In the '70's Myrt Jones joined the Mobile Bay Audubon Society and was PRESIDENT for 30 years. While reading the local newspaper a small article "popped up"of Mobil Oil's plans to obtain an exploratory permit to drill in Mobile Bay. Something dormant was triggered that day in Myrt which was beyond her control... Myrt realized she had a mission and also "AN INNER STRENGTH"--A GUARDIAN ANGEL. This "GUIDING FORCE" kept her safe and led her to the right info at the right time.

In her only visit to the Morgue at the local paper she found "dynamite articles". An oil spill had occurred in a bay similar to Mobile Bay causing catastrophic kills to marine and bird life. Chevron's blowout off Santa Barbara's coast led to years of "oiled birds" and the daily killing of marine life. Myrt combined info from both incidences regarding "DIRTY OIL" into aslide program which helped stop Mobil Oil for 10 years.

David and Goliath- Myrt Jones and Mobil Oil

David slew Goliath using a slingshot- Myrt overcame Mobil Oil using facts and she was just getting started.

Myrt Jones received numerous local, state and national recongnition for her volunteer services those 30 years.

With boldness and determination, she and others fought against the RAMPANT GREED AND IGNORANCE WHICH THREATENED MOBILE BAY WITH DESTRUCTION. These people made a difference because they became involved.

Coastal lands were saved and they became the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge.

The Corps of Engineers planned to destroy the major wetlands and public resources in Pinto Pass. Myrt "snapped her fingers" and a 6'-8' alligator rose to the occasion. The project was stopped.

Dirty Industry and uneducated politicians planned an industrial/domestic outfall in the middle of the bay and Myrt needed a "gimmick" to show seriousness at a Public Hearing. The outfall was stopped.

Myrt had brought in a "coffin" as the gimmick.