Joining Hands Across the Sand

On Saturday, June 25, thousands of people across the globe will gather on beaches and coastlines to stand in solidarity and support a clean energy future. They will all be taking part in the second Hands Across the Sand, an idea conceived last year by a Florida restaurant owner and surfer in response to the Florida state legislature’s decision to lift the long-standing ban on near-shore oil drilling.

Last February, thousands of Floridians gathered on beaches across the state, united to oppose oil drilling off their coast. After the BP spill began, a global Hands event was organized to raise awareness of the dangers of offshore drilling, with over 1,000 events in 40 countries. This weekend, participants will join together peacefully in coastal areas – those most vulnerable to the damages of offshore drilling – to demand clean energy solutions. Hands Across the Sand aims to protect vulnerable coasts and ecosystems, prevent future oil spill disasters and say yes to a clean energy future.

People all over the world will hold Hands Across the Sand events, with U.S. events happening from coast to coast in places like Santa Monica and Del Mar, CA, and Myrtle Beach, SC. Events will take place across the Gulf Coast – in Grand Isle, LA, Biloxi, MS and Dauphin Island, AL – as citizens call for government action to protect and restore the Gulf.

As one event organizer explained, “Once again, we are drawing a line in the sand against drilling along America’s beaches across the nation and around the world.  Our coastlines, marine life and tourism industry are too big of a risk to take.”

Learn more about Hands Across the Sand and see photos and video from 2010.