Hands Across Sand reaches community
Nearly 1,000 people joined hands for 15 minutes on Fort Myers Beach Saturday to oppose offshore drilling and make a stand for clean energy for the future.
“I think it was a great turnout,” said Beach resident, organizer, and Oil Coalition by the People member John Heim. “People really get the idea that with unity and community combined we can overcome any disaster thrown our way. We’ve been resilient through hurricanes and now with this oil spill.”
Heim believes awareness is key to an event of such dynamic proportion. He mentioned continuing education programs through the Environmental and Peace Education Center which is located in Fort Myers.
“I think people are really buying into the concept that it’s basically us who need to be the human line of protection when it comes to the island itself,” he said. “I’m very appreciative to the amount of people that get involved in this venture. We’ll be making announcements to the media about the ongoing continuation of education. We totally promote and support our friends at Ostego Bay when it comes to getting signed up for clean-ups.”
Cape Coral resident Megan Kuzyk, lead organizer of the Beach rally and a volunteer working with Oil Coalition, was also excited about the event. Hands Across the Sand began as Florida movement and quickly expanded to other states and internationally as well.
“I was very pleased with the turnout,” she said. “Everybody came here with one goal in mind, and that was to send a message that we need to get off of the fossil fuel mind set and move on to clean and renewable energy. It’s great to see all of the families out here to support this event.”
Unofficially, the final ground count on the Beach was 978 people for the environmental event. Other notable rally participants included FMB Chamber of Commerce President John Albion who said the local chamber took a position more than a year ago opposing offshore oil drilling, and Chuck Myron, director of media relations with EPEC in Fort Myers.
“It’s great to see this many people come out and make a statement,” said Myron. “This just shows you what kind of a problem that BP and the government have in the Gulf and how many people want a solution and want it now.”
The high tide line which forced people to form the line with their feet in the Gulf showed irony to the cause.
“It’ll just show everybody that we still have clean water in the Gulf,” said Heim.