Hands Across the Sand, a protest against offshore oil drilling, took over part of Hollywood Beach on June 26th. The protest, which was one of more than 800 events scheduled across the United States, began at 11 a.m., when approximately 40 people gathered in front of the Hollywood Beach Theater.
Protesters held up colorful handmade signs with messages like “Ban Offshore Oil” and “BP=Big Problem,” and chanted the slogan, “What do we want? Clean Energy!”
Much like other Hands Across the Sand events around the world, the group then walked onto the sand and stretched out across the shoreline, recruiting unsuspecting locals and tourists alike, before joining hands in a symbolic gesture against offshore oil drilling. By noon, a line of protesters at the foot of the Atlantic Ocean stretched from the Hollywood Beach Theater to Garfield Street.
“There are events happening like this all over the country,” said local protester Rick Esposito. “We need to find another energy source, something that’s environmentally responsible. We need to save and protect our beaches.”
Fellow protester and Hollywood resident Diana Umpierre agreed.
“We’re not supporting offshore oil drilling anymore. We need to find alternative methods,” she said.
Hands Across the Sand, an international movement created to protect oceans and marine wildlife, aims to convince state legislators, governors, congress and President Obama to stop the expansion of offshore oil drilling and to adopt policies encouraging clean and renewable energy sources, according to its Web site.
It is endorsed by national and international environmental organizations like the Sierra Club, Surfrider and Greenpeace, among others, and the organization has had some success in the past. Founded by surfer and restaurateur Dave Rauschkolb in 2009, Hands Across the Sand’s first gathering helped convince the Florida Legislature and the U.S. Congress to forgo lifting a ban on oil drilling in the shores off the Sunshine State.
“We are drawing a line in the sand against offshore oil drilling along America’s beaches and in solidarity events across America and around the world,” Rauschkolb said. “The image is powerful; the message
simple.”
Whether or not this worldwide event accomplishes anything remains to be seen, but standing by her umbrella and looking out into the ocean past hundreds of people holding hands, Neda Pandza, a vacationing Canadian, said only one thing: “I think this is a very touching thing. I really hope it works.”
