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Hands Across the Sand-Join us to stop near shore Oil Drilling In Florida Waters

Dave Rauschkolb avatar
Dave RauschkolbBeach FanaticLocked
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Hands Across the Sand
-Join us to stop near shore Oil Drilling In Florida Waters

The Florida House of Representatives has already passed a bill that would allow NEAR SHORE oil drilling, that’s within 3 miles of our beaches. The bill would allow pipelines to run to the shore as well. Texas Oil interests have bought off every lobbyist and politician against near-shore oil drilling in our waters. Unless something is done we will have Oil derricks in sight of and fouling our beaches in the near future.

David Pleat is running for District 7 House of Representatives, and we had a meet and greet at Bud & Alley's on October 1. While the election is far off, David is bringing attention to the fact that we may soon have Oil platforms off our coast unless something is done. David spoke eloquently about the importance of stopping Texas Oil interests from fouling our beaches.


The politicians are promising to fix all the states ills, you name it, as a sweetener to get it passed fully. Don Gaetz, our Senator is advocating it. (SEE CLARIFICATION BY SENATOR DON GAETZ AT BOTTOM OF THIS POST) Every representative in our area already voted for it. They had a quick vote at the end of session and the public hardly knows what happened. In the near future they will be trying to pass this fully by tacking it on the gambling pact that is up for a vote with the Seminole Tribe.

This issue affects our quality of life and tourism. This could happen as soon as December or sooner. Most politicians are trying to divert attention to the fact that they voted for this bill, many are already backpedaling. If we make this issue visible and create a groundswell of opposition the bill could be stopped but we must act quickly.

This is not a partisan issue this is a Florida issue. Our beaches are sacred no matter what your race, religion, sex or political affiliation. We need to come together on this issue for our children and grandchildren. Thank you for your help in passing this along to all Florida citizens. A website will be coming out soon, handsacrossthesand.org.

This is what I am suggesting we do.

Hands Across The Sand

Premise:

Initiate a movement to encourage the Concerned Citizens of Florida on a chosen day to join hands on the beach along the 1197 statute miles of Florida Coastline or the Florida Gulf Coast (779 miles) for 15 minutes to create a human line in the sand for the purpose of opposing the eminent legislation to allow near shore oil exploration along the pristine coast of Florida.

This is an effort to "Draw a line in the Sand" against near shore oil drilling in our waters. "We have a choice. Do we want a pristine white line or an oil-drenched polluted one? Believe me, it will be black as oil if this bill passes"

All we have to do is simply go to the beach and join hands for 15 minutes, simple right? This could happen as soon as next month so we need to get the word out. We will be choosing the day next week.

This should get national attention and we very well could stop this legislation in its tracks.

Number of People needed for the whole state
1056 people per mile (one every 5 feet) x 1197 miles = 1,264,032 people

Number of People needed for the Gulf Coast of Florida only
1056 people per mile (one every 5 feet) x 770 miles = 813,120 people

Thanks for your support,


Dave Rauschkolb

A clarification from Senator Don Gaetz

I received a call from Senator, Don Gaetz in the past hour and would like to clarify his position on this Bill. He felt I mischaracterized his position having stated he was among politicians "advocating" the bill. I apologized to him and asked him to state his position on near shore oil drilling.

Don told me his voting history speaks for itself and that he has not voted on the bill and would consider the bill if it is brought to the Senate taking into regard the economic, military and environmental impacts. He verified his position stated in the article below.

Don will be emailing me on Monday with a more in depth statement regarding his position on the matter. I have known Don personally for the past 24 years and it is my sincere hope when all is said and done he will stand with us in opposition to near shore drilling.

The fact remains that all of our local representatives in the House voted for this bill and this article confirms that it is being considered if certain issues regarding the military are satisfied. At some time in the near future a version of the house bill could go before the State Senate. As concerned Floridian's we should follow this matter very closely.

Local lawmakers: oil drilling bill must include military protections
Comments 2 | Recommend 1
September 12, 2009 05:50:00 PM
By MATT DIXON / News Herald Writer
PANAMA CITY — In April, the Florida House passed a bill that would allow the governor and cabinet authority to accept applications for oil and gas drilling as close as three miles off Florida's beaches.

Both area House members supported the legislation, which was never considered by the Senate, but only after provisions were made to protect the Panhandle’s five military bases.

“Jimmy Patronis and I both worked together to ensure that the bill had language that explicitly protected the area’s military interests,” said Rep. Marti Coley, R – Marianna.

With speaker-designate Rep. Dean Cannon, R – Winter Park, and Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R – Merritt Island, in line to become Senate President, set to co-author a similar piece of oil drilling legislation, the topic of oil drilling near the beaches of Bay County, and other coastal areas statewide, is again fast approaching.

Area lawmaker’s priorities, however, remain unchanged.

“If there is any type of military mission that could be affected by a drilling plan, I won’t support it,” Patronis, R – Panama City, said.

Because last session there was no companion to the House bill in the Senate, and Senate President Jeff Atwater, R – North Palm Beach, citing time restraints, refused to take up the House bill, Sen. Don Gaetz, R – Niceville, never got the opportunity to officially chime in on the issue.

He says, however, that he stands in lock step with Coley and Patronis.

“I am with the military,” he said. “If a bill would make us vulnerable in any way, or put us in danger of having any missions being picked off by Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid. … I will be the loudest voice saying, ‘Let’s slow down.’”

Gaetz said he thinks the issue will inevitably re-appear during the legislature regular session, but that talks of offshore oil drilling coming up during a potential two-day special session in October are pre-mature.

“I think it will come up again, and I think there will be companion bills with strong sponsors,” Gaetz said. “But it will not be a special session issue unless it’s a special session devoted entirely to the topic.

Coley said that talks she has had with House leadership about protecting military interests have gone well.

“I actually spoke with the speaker-designate about protecting the military when considering drilling off of our coast,” she said. “He told me. ‘That’s a given.’”

Edited

Replies

338
Gidget avatar
GidgetBeach Fanatic
#327
We've met previously at a contractor's house though I doubt if she remembers. No, it isn't gated and is next to White Cliffs.

Thanks Andy!! :wave:

G
Matt J avatar
Matt JSWGB
#328
We've met previously at a contractor's house though I doubt if she remembers. No, it isn't gated and is next to White Cliffs.

Was that the Hill's Christmas party?
Dave Rauschkolb avatar
Dave RauschkolbBeach FanaticAuthor
#329
Hands Across the Sand-Headlines across the sands/State

Florida beach towns plan anti-oil drilling protest MiamiHerald.com - ‎Beachside communities and environmentalists have planned a statewide protest against offshore oil-drilling for Saturday. ``Hands Across the Sand'' calls for ...

? 'Hands Across The Sand' to protest drilling Cape Coral Daily Breeze - Bob Petcher, Jeff Lysiak - ‎Charlie Crist and state legislators to oppose any legislation that would allow oil drilling as close as three to 10 miles off the Florida coastland, ...

? Perdido Chamber backs Feb. 13 Hands Across the Sand protest Mullet Wrapper - ‎... protest will convince the Florida Legislators and Governor Crist to drop any and all legislation that would allow oil drilling on Florida's Coasts. ...

? Oppose offshore drilling with strong show of hands Tampa Tribune - Cathy Harrelson - ‎We want to let our state leaders know that we don't want them to open Florida's waters to offshore oil drilling. We're going to wear black to symbolize an ...

? Offshore oil drilling foes to protest on beaches Tampabay.com - Craig Pittman - ‎Organizers are asking opponents of drilling to dress in black ? the color of an oil spill ? and gather at their designated beach at 1 pm They want them to ...

? Things to do in North Pinellas from Valentine's Day dances to boating classes Tampabay.com - ‎Hands across the sand: A gathering to oppose oil drilling off Florida's coasts begins at noon at the northwest corner of Fred Howard Beach, ...

? Massive Protest To Pack South Florida Beaches CBS 4 - "Hands across the sand" is planning a massive statewide gathering to protest expanded offshore drilling in Florida's waters. Organizers say that the protest ...

? Offshore drilling opponents plan beach lineup Daytona Beach News-Journal - Dinah Voyles Pulver - ‎Volunteers are expected to line up along the coast Saturday in Florida to protest proposals for oil drilling in the state's offshore ...

? Tiffany Jackson: Join the fight for Florida's coasts TCPalm - ‎Everyone is urged to come out and ?draw a line? in the sand against the devastating effects that oil drilling would have on our beaches, tourism and our way ...

? The good times roll this weekend for Mardi Gras Gulf Breeze News - ‎Have a negative opinion on the oil drilling to be conducted in the Gulf of Mexico? Come and support the others who seek to drive out the drilling at 12 p m. ...

? JACKSONVILLE JOURNAL: Activist group to protest drilling off Florida's coast Florida Times-Union - ‎Opponents of plans to allow oil and gas drilling off Florida's coast have scheduled demonstrations Saturday at Jacksonville Beach. ...

? Anne Schultz: 'Hands Across the Sand' stands for solidarity in beach protection Tallahassee Democrat - Anne W. Schultz - ‎For Rauschkolb, as for many others, protecting these waters from oil drilling means far more than economics or politics. Many speak in reverence of the ...

? Drilling opponents mounting 'Hands Across Sand' protest Tallahassee.com - Bill Cotterell - ‎Black-clad opponents of offshore oil drilling hope to mount the biggest protest in Florida ...
GoodWitch58Beach Fanatic
#330
way to go...it's a statewide "line in the sand"...! Congrats Everyone.
See you on the beach tomorrow! And, they will "see" us in the halls of Tallahassee.
Andy A avatar
Andy ABeach Fanatic
#331
Was that the Hill's Christmas party?
I think so.
Andy A avatar
Andy ABeach Fanatic
#332
Since it now appears all coasts are involved, the time should be clarified. 12PM local, central or eastern.
sunspotbaby avatar
sunspotbabySoWal Insider
#333
Since it now appears all coasts are involved, the time should be clarified. 12PM local, central or eastern.

12 noon your time Andy. :wave:
Lake View Too avatar
Lake View TooSoWal Insider
#334
Dave: Since it's gonna be kinda cold, can we change the configuration from holding hands facing the gulf to maybe a conga line, so we can shake our booties to keep warm? :blink:
Matt J avatar
Matt JSWGB
#335
Word came in that the helicopter won't be flying. Apparently it's going to be too gusty tomorrow.

If anyone has a private helicopter feel free to PM me.
GoodWitch58Beach Fanatic
#336
Word came in that the helicopter won't be flying. Apparently it's going to be too gusty tomorrow.

If anyone has a private helicopter feel free to PM me.

Or a connection to a satellite uplink ....
Lake View Too avatar
Lake View TooSoWal Insider
#337
Word came in that the helicopter won't be flying. Apparently it's going to be too gusty tomorrow.

If anyone has a private helicopter feel free to PM me.

Sorry, I loaned mine to Stephen Colbert to shoot shots of the skiiers in Vancouver. :floor:
GoodWitch58Beach Fanatic
#338
where is Singin Chicken and his jet?
Kurt avatar
KurtAdmin
#339
This thread closed for awhile. Post today's Hands Across the sand activities on this thread > http://www.sowal.com/bb/all-about-sowal/44952-hands-across-sand-today-no-oil-drilling-gulf.html

Please post which beach you are headed to.

Post from the beach on your smart phone - bookmark www.SoWal.com/bb

Let us know afterward what you saw.

Email photos to hands@SoWal.com - or post on this thread, or the gallery.
Your photos may be published in news sites and publications anywhere in the world, including SoWal.com - include your name if you would like credit.


​
Thanks Everyone!!! 😀 Time to draw the line!

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