Newsletters
In folklore, one feather of the magical firebird can light a room and fill men’s hearts with hope and inspiration. Because of that power, the firebird is symbolic of a difficult quest, to find the firebird, capture its light and inspire others to join the quest.
That is the pursuit of Save the Cape, Inc., to create light where none exists on projects and problems at the Cape Fear, to give the region the benefit of the cleansing power of that light. To illuminate the importance of the unique ecology of the region. To preserve it for generations to come. And to inspire the special human resources of our area to apply their talents to a most satisfying and necessary task.
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To subscribe to the Cape Fear Firebird, send an e-mail to editor@savethecape.org.
June 17, 2013
Area of Environmental Concern Public workshop in Southport, June 26.
May 31, 2013
Shell Game in the Senate Senate budget bill: now you see it, now you don’t.
May 22, 2013
A Plan for a Park A new State park at the Cape Fear?
April 4, 2013
A Plethora of Plans Some context for the Governor’s new 25-year transportation plan.
March 25, 2013
TurtleTalk Loggerhead turtle habitat at the Cape Fear.
March 11, 2013
Tilting at Windmills Wind energy at the Cape Fear?.
February 25, 2013
The People’s Business Senator Goolsby’s bill and meetings of public bodies.
February 7, 2013
Movie, Movie Films, Southport, and the Ports Authority property.
January 4, 2013
Paving Paradise The natural heritage of Brunswick County.
December 19, 2012
Ho Ho Ho Some Christmas thoughts.
October 9, 2012
Behind Closed Doors NC Department of Transportation’s secret maritime planning.
Vision A national seashore at the Cape Fear
What Hath God Wrought? NC Secretary of Transportation chooses not to compete with God.
More for the Corps Serial engineering; a bad project to fix a bad project.
The Final Inning? The scoreboard looks good, but it ain’t over.
Declaration of Indignation. NCDOT Maritime Strategy Study final report.
A Little Good News Today. NC General Assembly prohibits spending on the megaport at Southport.
The Public Be Damned. Concealed changes in the budget bill subvert legislative process to release funds for megaport.
Transparency? We don’t need no stinkin’ transparency. Backroom manipulation of legislative process preserves funding for Southport megaport.
Objectivity, Where Art Thou? Objective analysis in the Maritime Strategy Study yields to “alignment with other priorities.”
Deeper South. A 15-year, $41 million study of dredging the Savannah River has lessons for the Cape Fear.
Who Has the Courage?. We ask the General Assembly to stop spending on the megaport.
A related memorandum for the General Assembly.
Deepwatergate. The draft Maritime Strategy Study report is bent to puff up the benefit/cost ratios for deepwater container port projects.
The Perpetual Study Machine. The draft Maritime Strategy Study has something for everyone.
Comparative Advantage. A basic economic concept to help the ports succeed in their mission to advance North Carolina commerce.
Slush Funds. Federal and State slush funds permit unauthorized spending on the megaport.
Wise Guys. Organized crime and container ports.
Store-Bought Studies. If you want objectivity you won’t find it.
The New Year. Some musings on what 2012 will bring.
The Selling of the Megaport. NCDOT holds public meeting for the Maritime Strategy Study. 376 people attend. 375 stand up to oppose the megaport.
It’s Back. The megaport reappears from hiding in the NCDOT Maritime Strategy Study.
The “On Hold” Hoax. The State Ports Authority keeps the megaport at Southport out of sight. But not out of mind.
An Unfortunate Event. New Zealand’s worst maritime environmental disaster ever is a container ship foundering on a reef, spilling oil and containers.
Compatibility. NCDOT and the Ports Authority ignore the Governor’s Executive Order on port and local economy compatibility.
Save the Cape. The challenge of stopping the feeding of bureaucracy on the megaport.
The Sunk Cost Conundrum. The decision on the megaport site must look forward, not justify a poor past decision.
The Steady Study Smokescreen.
The Governor and the General Assembly agree on one thing–problems can
be deferred by doing a study. While business as usual goes on..
Meanwhile Back in Brunswick. Governor intercedes in Morehead City port sulphur issue but ignores effects of NCIT in Brunswick County.
An Absence of Accountability. The State Ports Authority keeps brimstone, PETN, and a massive container port behind the curtain.
Tick Tick Tick. A radioactive container arrives from the Middle East.
Consultants’ Concerto. Another ports study, this time by NCDOT.
Megaport Money Pit. More spending on the North Carolina International Terminal, and budget bill that opens the door to even more.
Young Minds or Yang Ming. Budget item opens door to huge spending to accommodate ships from Asia–funds that would be better spent on education.
Senate Surprise. Senate version of budget bill includes slush fund for dredging projects and removes restrictions on NCIT spending.
Where have all the ibis gone. The white ibis leave Battery Island.
Reconnaissance Released. A reckless recommendation by the Corps of Engineers.
Dredging in the Dark. Results of our Freedom of Information Act requests.
A Plan for the Land. A plan for disposition of the site of the proposed North Carolina International Terminal.
Sunshine. Trying to discover the scope and estimated cost of the feasibility study for more dredging of the Cape Fear River.
Budget Unbalance. Mismatch between State and Federal budgets for water resource projects.
Note: This newsletter is based on this table of water resource project items from NCDENR and this table of the 2012 budget from the Wilmington District of the Corps of Engineers..
$4.4 Billion. A new estimate of the cost of the North Carolina International Terminal.
Port’s Puffery. Claims of economic contribution.
The Harbor Maintenance Tax.. Large ports subidize the North Carolina ports.
The Sediment Sink. An unstable situation at the mouth of the Cape Fear River.
The Industrial Zone. Smokestack industries in southeast Brunswick County.
The Ports Report. An inventory of ports for NC business.
Crossing the border. What ports do NC businesses use?
Ho Ho Ho. A call for volunteers.
Too Good to Be True. Reports of the death of the NCIT are greatly exaggerated.
Go Fish: Where have all the fishes gone?
A String of Pearls: A plan for a park.
Forecast Folly: The uncertainty of feasibility study forecasts
The Quest: Introduction to Save the Cape.
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* April Fool’s Day
Bumper Stickers and Decals: You can order bumper stickers and decals by using the "Donate" button and specifying which and how many you want on the 'Purpose" line. $2 each.
New: Park lobbied for 'port' site. June 12, 2013
New: Prospectus for a new State park at the Cape Fear, draft, May 17, 2013
New: PowerPoint presentation on Cape Fear National Seashore project.
New: Group wants to preserve 25,000 acres of seashore. March 6, 2013
New: Our View: Cape Fear national park? Tall order, December 27, 2012.
New: Megaport opponents turn to seashore project, December 26, 2012.
Revised: NCDOT's 600 Acres at Southport, Draft, January 28, 2013
Cape Fear Firebird
New: PowerPoint presentation on Cape Fear National Seashore project.
New: Group wants to preserve 25,000 acres of seashore. March 6, 2013
New: Our View: Cape Fear national park? Tall order, December 27, 2012.
New: Megaport opponents turn to seashore project, December 26, 2012.
Revised: NCDOT's 600 Acres at Southport, Draft, January 28, 2013
Cape Fear Firebird
New: Our View: Cape Fear national park? Tall order, December 27, 2012.
New: Megaport opponents turn to seashore project, December 26, 2012.
Revised: NCDOT's 600 Acres at Southport, Draft, January 28, 2013
Cape Fear Firebird
Revised: NCDOT's 600 Acres at Southport, Draft, January 28, 2013
Cape Fear Firebird
Cape Fear Firebird