LIHU‘E — Kauaians are invited to join Surfrider Foundation organizers from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday at Lydgate Beach Park and Hanalei Bay to say no to offshore drilling and yes to clean energy, states a press release. They will
LIHU‘E — Kauaians are invited to join Surfrider Foundation organizers from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday at Lydgate Beach Park and Hanalei Bay to say no to offshore drilling and yes to clean energy, states a press release.
They will take part in “Hands Across the Sand” activities that are taking place across the state and country.
“Kauaians will hold hands to stand together for clean energy, stand together for our love and respect for the ocean, stand together for peace and healing for ocean life, stand together and share our deep sadness for all the harm and suffering humans have created, stand together and promise to find a better way, stand together in deep gratefulness for all the ocean has given, and stand against the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and to offshore oil drilling,” the release states.
Kaua‘i citizens are being asked to go to the beach to link hands to stand together against the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and to offshore oil drilling in the United States, states the release.
The purpose is also to organize a national movement to oppose offshore oil drilling and champion clean energy and renewables, the release states.
“These gatherings will bring thousands of citizens to our beaches and cities and will draw metaphorical and actual lines in the sand, human lines in the sand against the threat oil drilling poses to America’s coastal economies and marine environment,” states the release.
Participants are asked to wear lei, car pool, ride bikes or walk, and bring their own bags to pick up trash.
In reaction to the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the Surfrider Foundation’s Hawai‘i chapters are working with other environmental groups to organize “Hands Across the Sands.”
“We are drawing a line in the sand against offshore oil drilling along America’s beaches and in solidarity events across America and around the world,” said event founder Dave Rauschkolb.
“No one industry should be able to place entire coastal economies and marine environments at risk with dangerous, dirty mistakes,” he said in the release.
“Hands Across The Sand” is endorsed by national environmental organizations including Sierra Club, Audubon, Surfrider Foundation, Oceania, Greenpeace, Defenders of Wildlife, Alaska Wilderness League, Ocean Conservancy, Friends of the Earth, Environment America, 350, MoveOn.org, Center for Biological Diversity and www.CleanEnergy.org.
Surfrider’s Hawai‘i chapters are helping to organize “Hands Across the Sand” on O‘ahu, Maui and the Big Island as well. See www.handsacrossthesand.org for more details.
“Before BP’s Deepwater Horizon platform exploded and began spewing millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, the Surfrider Foundation had already begun a national campaign to restore the moratorium on offshore drilling,” says Stuart Coleman, Hawai‘i regional coordinator.
“We believe that our nation’s coastlines are vital recreational, economic and ecological treasures, and we cannot risk destroying these valuable natural resources to feed our addiction to oil. Offshore drilling is clearly ‘Not the Answer’ to our energy needs, and we in Hawai‘i must seek cleaner, more sustainable sources of energy,” said Coleman.
See www.NotTheAnwer.org for more information.
Steve Benjamin, surfriderkauai@gmail.com or 639-5397, is Kaua‘i chapter chair of the Surfrider Foundation, and Diana LaBedz of the Surfrider Foundation on Kaua‘i, 337-9977 or dianalabedz@aol.com, is the Lydgate Beach Park organizer.
The Hanalei Bay organizers are Fred Voigtel, 1-808-779-1501 and vorico@yahoo.com, and Rebekah Haroldsen, 647-4950 or littlemiss4747@yahoo.com.
See http://surfriderkauai.ning.com for more information.
