Hands Across Sand to stretch next weekend
For the second time in five months, environmentalists and concerned residents and visitors will be joining hands next weekend to protest oil drilling off the coast of Florida. But, unlike the last event on Feb 13, when the focus was to raise awareness about the pending Florida legislation to drill oil in our coastal waters, Hands Across the Sand is conducting a larger protest and in direct response to the devastating effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill -which is expected to impact our area in some way- and support for alternative energy in response of it.
On Saturday, June 26, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., many participants will form a human chain on Fort Myers Beach as well as several Gulf front locations on Sanibel, Bonita Beach and Naples. The local action is a small part of more than 100 similar protests being organized in Florida. Tens of thousands are expected to attend gatherings across the country.
The Environmental and Peace Education Center, a Fort Myers-based nonprofit organization, is teaming with a group of Fort Myers Beach activists called Oil Coalition by the People to sponsor the event locally. Those who want to participate should meet at the Beach Pier at 11 a.m., sign up and join hands for 15 minutes beginning at noon.
EPEC President Jessica Mendes believes now is the time to pressure all lawmakers including those in Washington, D.C. and Tallahassee to preserve Florida’s great environmental assets.
“We need to insist the government to look at the subsidies that essentially our tax dollars are paying for, and instead of putting them into oil companies, put them into renewable energies,” Mendes said. “It’s going to take a lot of time and a lot of planning, but if not now, when?”
Cape Coral resident Megan Kuzyk, who is co-organizing the Beach event, has been attending environmental club meetings as well as informational sessions with Beach businesses. She said Chapel by the Sea and Topps Supermarket have offered their parking lots for event goers.
“We’re asking everybody to meet around the pier area, where we’ll have a table set up to register,” said Kuzyk. “We’ll also have certification information for anybody who is interested in getting certified to help with the cleanup. All you have to do is show up.”
Kuzyk will be assisted by long-time Beach resident John Heim.
“Our goal is say ‘No’ to offshore drilling and ‘Yes’ to clean energy,” said Kuzyk. “Obviously, it is happening in the face of the disaster that just happened. It has spawned a lot of participation and is definitely a direct result of the spill.”
If you are closer to or in the Bonita area, organizers are meeting on the beach front just to the left of Doc’s Beach House on Bonita Beach Road. Bobbie Lee Gruninger of the Calusa Group-Sierra Club is the organizer of the event at Bonita Beach. She said the gatherings are intended to make a huge statement worldwide and hopes that a change will be made for a sustainable future.
“Hands Across the Sand is a movement made of people of all walks of life and crosses political affiliations,” said Gruninger. “This movement is not about politics; it is about protection of our coastal economies, oceans, marine wildlife, fishing industry and coastal military missions. Let us share our knowledge, energies and passion for protecting all of the above from the devastating effects of oil drilling.”
According to Gruninger, the Feb. 13 event saw thousands of Floridians representing 60 towns and cities and more than 90 beaches join hands to protest the efforts by the Florida Legislator and the U.S. Congress to lift the ban on oil drilling near the shores of Florida.
“Florida’s Hands Across The Sand event was the largest gathering in the history of Florida united against oil drilling,” said Gruninger. “Thousands joined hands from Jacksonville to Miami Beach and Key West to Pensacola Beach.”
Organizers hope to convince state legislators, governors, members of Congress and President Obama to stop the expansion of offshore oil drilling and to adopt policies encouraging clean and renewable energy sources.
“It’s my hope that everybody will come early and enjoy a day at the beach with their families,” said Kuzyk. “I’d like to encourage everyone to try to carpool, bike, walk or take the trolley and clean up as they leave. We really want to get the community educated, prepared and informed.”
Go to www.handsacrossthesand.com for more information.
Hands Across Sand to stretch next weekend
For the second time in five months, environmentalists and concerned residents and visitors will be joining hands next weekend to protest oil drilling off the coast of Florida. But, unlike the last event on Feb 13, when the focus was to raise awareness about the pending Florida legislation to drill oil in our coastal waters, Hands Across the Sand is conducting a larger protest and in direct response to the devastating effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill -which is expected to impact our area in some way- and support for alternative energy in response of it.
On Saturday, June 26, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., many participants will form a human chain on Fort Myers Beach as well as several Gulf front locations on Sanibel, Bonita Beach and Naples. The local action is a small part of more than 100 similar protests being organized in Florida. Tens of thousands are expected to attend gatherings across the country.
The Environmental and Peace Education Center, a Fort Myers-based nonprofit organization, is teaming with a group of Fort Myers Beach activists called Oil Coalition by the People to sponsor the event locally. Those who want to participate should meet at the Beach Pier at 11 a.m., sign up and join hands for 15 minutes beginning at noon.
EPEC President Jessica Mendes believes now is the time to pressure all lawmakers including those in Washington, D.C. and Tallahassee to preserve Florida’s great environmental assets.
“We need to insist the government to look at the subsidies that essentially our tax dollars are paying for, and instead of putting them into oil companies, put them into renewable energies,” Mendes said. “It’s going to take a lot of time and a lot of planning, but if not now, when?”
Cape Coral resident Megan Kuzyk, who is co-organizing the Beach event, has been attending environmental club meetings as well as informational sessions with Beach businesses. She said Chapel by the Sea and Topps Supermarket have offered their parking lots for event goers.
“We’re asking everybody to meet around the pier area, where we’ll have a table set up to register,” said Kuzyk. “We’ll also have certification information for anybody who is interested in getting certified to help with the cleanup. All you have to do is show up.”
Kuzyk will be assisted by long-time Beach resident John Heim.
“Our goal is say ‘No’ to offshore drilling and ‘Yes’ to clean energy,” said Kuzyk. “Obviously, it is happening in the face of the disaster that just happened. It has spawned a lot of participation and is definitely a direct result of the spill.”
If you are closer to or in the Bonita area, organizers are meeting on the beach front just to the left of Doc’s Beach House on Bonita Beach Road. Bobbie Lee Gruninger of the Calusa Group-Sierra Club is the organizer of the event at Bonita Beach. She said the gatherings are intended to make a huge statement worldwide and hopes that a change will be made for a sustainable future.
“Hands Across the Sand is a movement made of people of all walks of life and crosses political affiliations,” said Gruninger. “This movement is not about politics; it is about protection of our coastal economies, oceans, marine wildlife, fishing industry and coastal military missions. Let us share our knowledge, energies and passion for protecting all of the above from the devastating effects of oil drilling.”
According to Gruninger, the Feb. 13 event saw thousands of Floridians representing 60 towns and cities and more than 90 beaches join hands to protest the efforts by the Florida Legislator and the U.S. Congress to lift the ban on oil drilling near the shores of Florida.
“Florida’s Hands Across The Sand event was the largest gathering in the history of Florida united against oil drilling,” said Gruninger. “Thousands joined hands from Jacksonville to Miami Beach and Key West to Pensacola Beach.”
Organizers hope to convince state legislators, governors, members of Congress and President Obama to stop the expansion of offshore oil drilling and to adopt policies encouraging clean and renewable energy sources.
“It’s my hope that everybody will come early and enjoy a day at the beach with their families,” said Kuzyk. “I’d like to encourage everyone to try to carpool, bike, walk or take the trolley and clean up as they leave. We really want to get the community educated, prepared and informed.”
Go to www.handsacrossthesand.com for more information.