Stand Up In Largest Unified Stand Against Offshore Drilling

As you may be aware, Florida’s oceans are as fragile as a delicate new bloom of a flower. The intricate ocean ecosystems are susceptible to the negative effects of civilization, people and pollution. Not only does litter such as plastic serve as an extremely dangerous and potentially hazardous entanglement, but it also promises to subsist there for hundreds of years to come. The many populations of dolphins, sea turtles, manatees and fish life depend upon their waters to grow and flourish.

Last year, when 206 million gallons of oil leaked in to the Gulf of Mexico during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, our era experienced one of the greatest environmental- and human-impacted catastrophes to our wildlife. Our American dependency on oil has only furthered these dangers and, although I believe Congress has not responded to this catastrophe with real and impactful policies concerning renewable energy, there are ways for you, as citizens, to become involved. On Saturday, join me and millions of others as we “draw lines in the sand” at the Hands Across The Sand event.

Hands Across the Sand is a movement happening around the world where people come together in unison against big oil. We are not radicals out there on the shores protesting; we are simply trying to come together to show our Congress and state representatives that Florida is fragile. The day will bring much conviction to the truth behind dirty fossil fuels and oil drilling and bring light to the need for a more sound and comprehensive energy, not only for the greater good of humans but also for the safety of our earth.

According to the Hands Across The Sand Mission statement, we would like to convince “state legislators, governors, Congress and President Obama and world leaders to adopt policies encouraging the growth of clean and renewable energy sources in place of oil and coal.” That seems like a feasible action, so won’t you come and join us, too?

There are hundreds of beaches, rivers, streams and coastline locations being organized, and there is certainly a beach near you that is participating. In light of the current renewable energy initiatives happening in the state of Florida, there should be no reason why we can't lessen our dependency on oil and ban offshore drilling entirely along our coasts. Myself along with field organizers and nonprofit organizations have been working hard to implement good messages to the community, hoping to gain participation and educate everyone on the issues at hand.

Please check out the Hands Across the Sand website to find a beach near you. All you have to do is arrive to the location of your choice by 11:50 a.m. Saturday. Join hands with your neighbor at noon along the shore and smile for the camera.

Where to go in Dunedin:

• Where: Meet at the Dunedin Causeway just off Alternate U.S. 19 before Honeymoon Island State Park. The group meets on the west side of the Causeway.
• When: Saturday; meet at 11 a.m., joining hands starts at noon for 15 minutes
• Contact: Christine Wall at Wavemakerc@gmail.com or 813-785-5453.
• Facebook invite

We want to sanctify this precious earth and protect our natural resources. Join us and help us celebrate tourists, not drilling.

More Resources:

• RestoreTheGulf.gov
• Natural Resources Defense Council
• Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement 
• Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill documents
• Office of Inspector General/U.S. Department of the Interior report: "A New Horizon: Looking to the Future of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement"
• Environmental Protection Agency
• BP "Restoration Quick Links for Deepwater Horizon Accident"
• BP "Florida Gulf Response"

Florida Resources:

• Protect Florida's Beaches 
• Environment Florida
• Suncoast Sierra Club
• Tampa Bay Watch