Hands Across the Sand—an international movement protesting invasive and damaging energy industry practices such as offshore and deep-water drilling—will come to Pensacola Beach and Santa Rosa Beach, among other coastal communities worldwide, on May 20. Coordinated inland events, Hands Across the Land, will take place across the United States and other countries as well.

 

Founded in 2010, Hands Across the Sand/Land grew into an international movement after the BP oil disaster in April of that year. People came together to join hands, forming symbolic barriers against spilled oil, and to stand against the impacts of other forms of extreme energy. Now there’s a rising tide of grassroots activism advocating for a clean energy future over the dangerous and dirty fuels of the 20th century. Global movements like Hands Across the Sand are one way to bring the message of clean energy to local and world leaders, says founder Dave Rauschkolb.

 

“We don’t have to drill our way to energy independence—in fact, we can’t,” he says. “What we can do is support clean domestic energy solutions to meet our energy needs with our own resources and our own people. When activists organize hundreds of events and join hands, that creates a powerful image to send to our elected officials.”

Hands Across the Sand in Pensacola Beach, sponsored by 350 Pensacola, will protest offshore drilling. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. at 20 Casino Beach Boulevard. For more information, contact Christian Wagley at [email protected] or 850-687-9968.

The Santa Rosa Beach event, protesting offshore drilling, pipelines and fracking, will begin at noon at the Ed Walline Public Beach Access at the intersection of Route 393 and County Road 30A. For more information, contact Nancy Meehan at [email protected] or 850-660-1132.

For more information, visit HandsAcrossTheSand.org.