Hands Across the Sand: August 4th

Hands Across the Sand: August 4th

Background: 
        
In Florida on Saturday, February 13, 2010, a statewide gathering against offshore oil drilling occurred. 10,000 Floridians representing 60 towns and cities and over 90 beaches joined hands to protest the efforts by the Florida Legislature and the U.S. Congress to lift the ban on oil drilling in our coastal waters. The event was the largest gathering in the history of Florida against expanding oil drilling near our shores.

Then on June 26, 2010, in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, Hands Across the Sand went national and global. It became the largest gathering of people in the history of the world united against expanding offshore oil drilling and championing clean energy. Events took place in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Events were also held in 42 countries outside the U.S. Over 1,000 events were held worldwide.

The mission:

The first goal is to bring together like-minded individuals and organizations with the conviction to organize a global movement to promote a clean energy future for our earth and end our dependence on dirty fuel sources. These gatherings will bring thousands of people to our beaches and cities and will draw metaphorical and actual lines in the sand; human lines in the sand against the threats fossil fuels and offshore oil drilling pose to our present and future planet.

The coalition also hopes to convince our State Legislators, Governors, Congress, the President and other world leaders to adopt policies encouraging the growth of clean and renewable energy sources in place of oil and coal.

What to do on August 4:

STEP 1:
Find an event near you by clicking your state on the map located here.

STEP 2:
Go to the beach at 11 AM in your time zone for one hour, rain or shine.

STEP 3:
Join hands for 15 minutes at 12:00 PM in your time zone forming lines in the sand against oil drilling in your coastal waters.

STEP 4:
Leave only your footprints.

STEP 5:
Share pictures and press coverage of your event on our Facebook group.