Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Santa Rosa, California
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110625/ARTICLES/110629601?Title=Advocates-speak-up-for-the-Sonoma-coast
Advocates speak up for the Sonoma coast
Published: Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 6:05 p.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 6:05 p.m.
Conservationists, surfers and hikers, all united in a desire to protect the Sonoma coast, gathered Saturday at Doran Beach for the annual Hands Across the Sand effort sponsored by Surfriders Foundation.
The ocean was the focus, from concerns about plastic trash in the sea to sonic oil exploration disrupting sea migration patterns. Offshore oil drilling and last year’s BP spill on the Gulf Coast drew extra interest.
“The Sonoma coast has never been in more jeopardy,” said activist Richard Charter who lives at Duncans Landing. “The House is behaving like it’s a wholly owned subsidiary of the oil companies, and only a narrow margin in the Senate is preventing drilling right now.”
Richard Stocker of Ocean Conservation Research spoke about noise pollution. “Oil exploration using sonics creates explosions that can be heard 2,000 miles, and they happen every 10 to 15 seconds,” he said.
Sonoma County Supervisor Efren Carillo noted green initiatives the county is taking. “We need renewable energy and initiatives that move us in that direction, move us away from oil,” he said.
— Andrea Granahan
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http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en-us&q=Hundreds+unite+on+Fort+Myers+Beach+to+support+our+shores&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
News Press
Hundreds unite on Fort Myers Beach to support our shores
Hands held to fight drilling, protect water
6:12 PM, Jun. 25, 2011 |
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Hands Across the Sand
About 400 people lined the shores of Fort Myers Beach on Saturday, hand in hand, to voice opposition for expanded offshore drilling and to support clean energy solutions.
People in almost 40 states participated in the second annual Hands Across the Sand event.
The movement started in Florida in 2010 to protest efforts by state government to lift the ban on near and offshore oil drilling.
On Fort Myers Beach, the line of people stretched from the pier to the Lani Kai resort.
Residents all over the state recognized the event, from Key West to Pensacola.
Naples, Cape Coral and Sanibel also had their own observances.
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http://www.760kfmb.com/story/14976657/offshore-oil-drilling-protest-in-pacific-beach
KFMB
760 am
Offshore oil drilling protest in Pacific Beach
Posted: Jun 25, 2011 4:36 PM
Updated: Jun 25, 2011 6:25 PM
SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) – Dozens of people lined up along pacific beach Saturday to protest new offshore oil drilling in the United States.
Protestors chanted: “What do we want? Clean energy. When do we want it? Now!!!”
Protestors say Saturday’s “Hands Across the Sand” event was designed to raise awareness about the dangers of offshore oil drilling– and end our country’s dependence on oil.
“We support green energy. We don’t want to see off-shore drilling continue. We don’t want to see spills like what we saw in the gulf. We want to see our leaders investing in newer sustainable energy,” said Haley Haggerstone of the Surfrider Foundation San Diego.
Several “Hands Across the Sand” events were held across the U.S. Saturday.
For more information, visit www.handsacrossthesand.com for more.
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http://hamptonroads.com/2011/06/protesters-va-beach-push-wind-energy-over-drilling
Pilot Online
Virginian-Pilot
Protesters in Va. Beach push for wind energy over drilling
People take part in the Hands Across the Sand rally on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront on Saturday, June 25, 2011. Participants formed a human chain and chanted for wind energy, not offshore oil drilling, to be developed. They set small pinwheels in the sand to represent the windmills they favor. (Amanda Lucier | The Virginian-Pilot)
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By Mike Hixenbaugh
The Virginian-Pilot
© June 26, 2011
VIRGINIA BEACH
Tamarah Williams supports a federal ban on drilling for oil off Virginia’s coast.
“I think it’s great what they’re doing,” she said, pointing to a crowd of about 75 who had joined hands Saturday at the Oceanfront in opposition of offshore drilling and in support of wind energy. “But I have to meet somebody for lunch.”
A year ago, more than 1,000 people linked hands in Virginia Beach during the inaugural Hands Across the Sand protest, staged at coastal cities around the world in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. If Saturday’s protest and Williams’ reaction were indications, some of the outrage over the spill has dissolved.
“We knew it would be difficult to duplicate last year’s crowd,” Eileen Levandoski of the Virginia Sierra Club said. “The story has probably faded from some people’s minds, but it’s no less important.”
High gasoline prices have put pressure on President Barack Obama and Congress to increase domestic oil production, Levandoski said, but it would be up to 10 years before any oil is be pumped out of new offshore wells. It’s not worth the risk, she said.
“We could drill everywhere including Gov. Bob McDonnell’s backyard, and it wouldn’t have a major impact on fuel prices,” Levandoski said, taking a jab at the Republican governor for his support of offshore drilling.
Franco Sferrella, a 17-year-old student at Kempsville High School, attended the protest because he fears a major spill could ruin the beaches.
“I believe you’ve got to protect those with no voice,” he said. “Not just for the ocean and beaches, but for wildlife and future generations.”
Ed Paul attended the protest with mixed views. The 36-year-old pastor said he supports wind energy but also thinks offshore oil drilling could be done without harming the environment.
“I support an all-of-the-above approach,” he said.
Attendees at the rally signed two petitions, one demanding Congress turn down efforts to expand domestic oil production and another urging Dominion Virginia Power to invest in offshore wind farms.
Participants chanted “mills, not drills” and “save our beaches” for 12 minutes as they held hands along the beach at 24th Street.
“We have a great resource off the coast of Virginia, but it’s not oil,” event organizer Rebecca Glenn shouted into a megaphone. “Wind does not spill.”
Mike Hixenbaugh, (757) 222-5117, mike.hixenbaugh@pilotonline.com
Special thanks to Richard Charter