Hands Across the Sand: Green activists call for permanent state drilling ban

Recent news intensified the cause for those who came out for the second annual Hands Across the Sand demonstration. News that Governor Rick Scott and Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos want to open up state waters to offshore oil drilling.

State Representative Rick Kriseman, a Democrat from St. Petersburg, called it a bad episode ofBuffy the Vampire Slayer – a vampire that won’t die, but eventually might if the protagonist puts up a good fight. Admittedly, he said, that fight got tougher in the wake of the 2010 elections.

“We don’t have a governor anymore who will veto what passes in the House and Senate,” he said.

The event brought out a broad range of people who are against drilling.

“Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, here they come again,” said Patricia Hubbard of Hubbard’s Marina on Madeira Beach at a press conference ahead of a demonstration that drew hundreds. “This is our home. We’d been promised repeatedly this wouldn’t happen.”

The fight to fend off drilling in Florida waters is a cause that seems to unify business owners, environmentalists, and elected officials of nearly every political stripe.

“It’s sort of stunning that a year after we went through the most dangerous thing for our economy, that we’re looking at these things again,” said St. Petersburg City Council member Karl Nurse.

The move to open up Florida’s coastline to offshore drilling is part of Scott’s proposed comprehensive energy policy. Supporters cite economic benefits – including jobs and lower gas prices.

Those who gathered Saturday don’t buy it.

“The risks far outweigh the rewards,” said Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch. “We’re talking pennies a gallon.”

Former governor Charlie Crist was in office when the Deepwater Horizon oil rig blew out. He had been open to offshore drilling prior to the blowout, but after flying over the slick. He and his wife Carole came out Saturday partly because he’s worried about the new proposal.

“Obviously, it concerns me, or Carole and I wouldn’t be here now,” he said. “I’m hopeful that members of the House and the Senate will understand how important and precious Florida is and how much we all love her and need to protect her.”

Outside, hundreds were gathered to join hands in a line that seemed miles long – something demonstrators on beaches throughout the Tampa Bay area, the state, and nation were doing to protest offshore drilling.

“We love our beaches, and don’t want to see them sullied or have oil on our beaches,” said Lynn Bosco of Clearwater.

Massachusetts resident Cherie Brooks said she made the event a part of her vacation.

“We usually go to Cape Cod, and decided to try Florida for a week,” she said. “And we saw (Hands Across the Sand) online, and we knew it was important, so here we are.”

Not everyone agreed. Cedar Key resident Frank Kozak walked up and down the line attempting to debate demonstrators.

“Ten dollars a gallon too low for you?” he said. “Fifty thousand people laid off in the Gulf of Mexico. Obama, start drilling!”

He did not respond to the question of whether he was aware that President Obama’s administration has issued several deepwater drilling permits for federal water in the gulf since last year’s catastrophic well blowout, including one for a well some 2,000 feet deeper than the one at Deepwater Horizon.

One local legislator said he’s confident that, despite the support of the governor and Senate president, drilling in state waters won’t see the light of day – at least for now.

Republican State Representative Jim Frishe said State House Speaker Dean Cannon assured him that legislation paving the way for offshore rigs a couple miles out wouldn’t see the light of day on his watch.

“He and I talked about the ramifications. (Cannon) bashfully said, please don’t repeat this, but you were right,” Frishe said. “We talked about the ramifications for the tourism industry and the general economy all around. And he committed to me that we would not see any offshore oil drilling while he was speaker. I was very pleased to hear that from him, and I think that he’s a man of his word.”