Media Advisory
 
For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                     Contact: Cathy Harrelson, 727-415-8805
February 9, 2010                                                                                                                                                              Phil Compton, 813-841-3601
Hands Across the Sands Saturday
Pinellas Legislators, Coastal Businesses and Residents Join Together &
Speak Out Against Threat of Big Oil to Way of Life on Gulf Beaches
 
Florida’s beaches today face an unprecedented threat from Big Oil’s determined drive to drill in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Saturday February 13th thousands of Floridians from every walk of life and political persuasion will join hands at 1:30pm on more than 80 Florida beaches to defend those beaches from the threat of offshore & nearshore drilling to our coastal environment and economy.
 
Prior to the Hands event, Pinellas County elected officials will join with local businesses at noon to explain why Florida’s coastal economy must now be protected in both Tallahassee and Washington
 
WHEN:           Saturday February 13, 2010, 12:00 noon
WHO:             Pinellas County Elected Officials
WHAT:           Hands Across the Sand press conference with Pinellas elected officials
WHERE:        Sirata Beach Resort, 5300 Gulf Blvd. St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
Scheduled to speak at the noon press conference at the Sirata Beach Resort are:
·        Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch, District 7
·        Senator Dennis Jones, D.C., Florida District 13 (R-Seminole)
·        Senator Charlie Justice, Florida District 16 (D-St. Petersburg)
·        Rep. James C. “Jim” Frishe, Florida District 54 (R-St. Petersburg)
·        Rep. Rick Kriseman, Florida District 53 (D-St. Petersburg)
·        Shahra Anderson, Regional Director, office of U.S. Senator Bill Nelson
·        St. Petersburg City Councilman Karl Nurse
Rep. C.W. “Bill” Young, Florida 10th Congressional District (R-St. Petersburg), has also been invited.
 
Drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico has been considered for years, but never more seriously than today, with debate in both the US Senate and Florida State Legislature to occur in the next few weeks. Floridians are sounding the alarm statewide and joining hands in an outpouring of support to protect America’s best beaches and the $65 billion tourist industry sustained by our coastal environment.
 
Directions to press conference at Sirata’s beachfront North Deck: Enter Sirata Beach Resort entrance, turn right, driving under registration portico. Right, then left past Avis building, another left to park near yellow wall with sign for “north deck” on left (beach access is on the right).
 
Visuals: Bi-partisan unity among local elected officials, joined by business leaders and owners from Gulf Blvd.’s beach resorts, on issue of defending Pinellas beaches from oil drilling, standing together on world famous St. Pete Beach at Sirata resort, with view of Tradewinds resort next door.
 
Note: Hundreds of participants in nearby Hands Across the Sands events will begin gathering at 1:00 pm to join hands from 1:30 – 1:45. Separate advisory will highlight local events.
 
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
 
 
 
Phil Compton, Regional Representative, Sierra Club Florida Regional Office
111 2nd Ave. NE, Ste. 1001, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
727-824-8813, ext. 303      813-841-3601: cell