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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
55,002 views
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
MattLorton avatar
MattLortonBeach Comber
#52
count me and my family in the line. You don't hear of people traveling to TX to vacation on the beach for good reason. This must be protected.

I know what you mean... I've been there before.

I will definitely show up for this event.
DavidD avatar
DavidDBeach Fanatic
#54
If any graphics need to be produced to help the cause, I willing to donate my efforts.
I don't want my kids growing up with drilling platforms sitting on the horizon.
Dave Rauschkolb avatar
Dave RauschkolbBeach FanaticAuthor
#55
Hands Across The Sand is is coming to a beach near you

In the near future The Citizens of Florida will have an opportunity to show their opposition to near shore oil drilling 3 miles off our coast. This movement will be made of people of all walks of life and will cross political affiliations. This movement is not about politics it is about protection of our shoreline, our tourism, our valuable properties and our way of life.

Hands Across the Sand is coming to a beach near you.

It's simple

Step 1. Go to the Beach

Step 2. Hold hands forming lines in the sand against Oil Drilling in our Coastal Waters

Step 3. Leave only your footprints. (forgive the pun)

The date and time of this event will soon be released
Geo avatar
GeoBeach Fanatic
#56
I'm in...
Geo avatar
GeoBeach Fanatic
#57
Dear Don,

I had an opportunity to read your position on oil drilling in Florida, which you shared with your long time friend, Dave Rauschkolb.

While this might not be a straight forward "bumper sticker" issue for you, I can assure you that it is a very straight forward issue for millions of Florida voters who love our beaches.

Let me be clear. If you vote to allow for drilling of any kind off the coast of Florida you will lose your job as our Senator.

I urge you to do the right thing and reconsider your strategically ambiguous position on this issue.

-GW

Edited

Grayton Girl avatar
Grayton GirlBeach Fanatic
#58
"Protect Florida's Beaches" Website

Hello Everyone:

Please check out this great website: Protect Florida's Beaches from Oil Drilling

It's full of information about why there should be no oil and gas exploration off of Florida's coast. It is a very comprehensive site, it references blogs and newspaper articles on the subject, it gives the history of why drilling is bad for beaches, it has a listing of all "no drilling" resolutions recently passed by local governments, etc.

Dave, this would be a great place to put the word out about the Hands Across the Sand protest when all the dates, times and details are worked out!

If you are interested in this issue - and we ALL should be - you need to see this website.
Walton Outdoors avatar
Walton OutdoorsBeach Fanatic
#59
Walton Outdoors fully supports the efforts, and please keep us posted on info and dates for the event, as we will be delighted to post on WaltonOutdoors.com
Geo avatar
GeoBeach Fanatic
#60
Greatest Love of All...

I've thought about this issue a lot this weekend while enjoying our lovely beaches...

Ask yourself a question. What do you love most about living or visiting here? Is it an active lifestyle? Is it the weather? Is it the restaurants? We love all of these things. But when you get to the heart of the question, odds are your answer is that your greatest love of living/visiting here is the beach.

Hold that thought for a minute...

Now ask yourself-
In general what is your greatest love of all. Odds are you would answer that it is your spouse, your children, your family and dear friends.

So what if someone came along with an offer to address any short term monetary/budgetary issues you might have. But there was a risk, albeit a small one, that your greatest love of all could be killed or severely harmed. Would you take the money?

You would not. Because no amount of money is worth putting your greatest love of all in harm's way.

Despite what the corporations, the lobbyists and the politicians say, this really is a simple issue. They are considering putting our greatest love of all in harm's way.

This isn't about energy independence, this isn't about lowering anyone's cost at the pump. This isn't about creating jobs. This is about the rich and powerful wanting to become more rich and powerful.

The oil companies will parade their experts in front of our elected officials. They will present data that says drilling is safe because of advancement in technology and technique. They will make many promises and entice us with legal tender.

No. Not here. There are some things more precious than money.

Let's send a message to our elected officials that we will hold them accountable. As far as I am concerned, any politican who is seriously considering putting my greatest love of all in harm's way should be aggressively campaigned against. They lack judgement or their priorities are misplaced. They don't represent our best interests but rather- they represent the interests of oil companies. They are in it for only the legal tender.

End rant.

G

Edited

Dave Rauschkolb avatar
Dave RauschkolbBeach FanaticAuthor
#61
Great Rant!

Very well spoken and well thought out!

Bravo.


I've thought about this issue a lot this weekend while enjoying our lovely beaches...

Ask yourself a question. What do you love most about living or visiting here? Is it an active lifestyle? Is it the weather? Is it the restaurants? We love all of these things. But when you get to the heart of the question, odds are your answer is that your greatest love of living/visiting here is the beach.

Hold that thought for a minute...

Now ask yourself-
In general what is your greatest love of all. Odds are you would answer that it is your spouse, your children, your family and dear friends.

So what if someone came along with an offer to address any short term monetary/budgetary issues you might have. But there was a risk, albeit a small one, that your greatest love of all could be killed or severely harmed. Would you take the money?

You would not. Because no amount of money is worth putting your greatest love of all in harm's way.

Despite what the corporations, the lobbyists and the politicians say, this really is a simple issue. They are considering putting our greatest love of all in harm's way.

This isn't about energy independence, this isn't about lowering anyone's cost at the pump. This isn't about creating jobs. This is about the rich and powerful wanting to become more rich and powerful.

The oil companies will parade their experts in front of our elected officials. They will present data that says drilling is safe because of advancement in technology and technique. They will make many promises and entice us with legal tender.

No. Not here. There are some things more precious than money.

Let's send a message to our elected officials that we will hold them accountable. As far as I am concerned, any politican who is seriously considering putting my greatest love of all in harm's way should be aggressively campaigned against. They lack judgement or their priorities are misplaced. They don't represent our best interests but rather- they represent the interests of oil companies. They are in it for only the legal tender.

End rant.

G
Cool Breeze avatar
Cool BreezeBeach Crab
#62
Unfortunately, although I am generally a positive person, I have always been a believer that Big Oil would eventually have their way with our state regardless of its citizen's wishes.

However, I will do what I can to stand up and fight this cause!! Count me in for whatever you need and I will certainly be writing my congresspeople and governed.



Edited

Grayton Girl avatar
Grayton GirlBeach Fanatic
#63
Please sign this Petition

If you are opposed to oil and gas exploration in Florida's waters, please take a moment and sign the petition that is posted on the right hand side of the home page of this website: Protect Florida's Beaches from Oil Drilling

You will get an automated "thank you" response and a request to add them to your facebook links (or something like that).

This is just a start, but I predict that if we can get the groundswell started, there will be no stopping us. I am looking forward to seeing some serious "back-pedaling" by those State representatives who voted in favor of the HB 1219 last session.

Let's hold these folks accountable for their actions and make them re-think their positions on drilling in our waters!
Lake View Too avatar
Lake View TooSoWal Insider
#64
Has anybody thought about an actual, physical "hands across the sand"? A chain of people holding hands along the Emerald Coast from, say, Destin to Panama City... The TDC could get involved and get untold publicity when it got covered by CNN... just a thought...
Grayton Girl avatar
Grayton GirlBeach Fanatic
#65
Has anybody thought about an actual, physical "hands across the sand"? A chain of people holding hands along the Emerald Coast from, say, Destin to Panama City... The TDC could get involved and get untold publicity when it got covered by CNN... just a thought...


That's what Dave is talking about! See his earlier post. I think it's a great idea!
Dave Rauschkolb avatar
Dave RauschkolbBeach FanaticAuthor
#66
Yes!

WE ARE WORKING ON THE WEBSITE. This could be on all Florida Beaches. Look for it soon.



Has anybody thought about an actual, physical "hands across the sand"? A chain of people holding hands along the Emerald Coast from, say, Destin to Panama City... The TDC could get involved and get untold publicity when it got covered by CNN... just a thought...
Dave Rauschkolb avatar
Dave RauschkolbBeach FanaticAuthor
#67
Hands Across The Sand is is coming to a beach near you

Hands Across The Sand is is coming to a beach near you
In the near future The Citizens of Florida will have an opportunity to show their opposition to near shore oil drilling 3 miles off our coast. This movement will be made of people of all walks of life and will cross political affiliations. This movement is not about politics it is about protection of our shoreline, our tourism, our valuable properties and our way of life.

Hands Across the Sand is coming to a beach near you.

It's simple

Step 1. Go to the Beach

Step 2. Hold hands forming lines in the sand against Oil Drilling in our Coastal Waters

Step 3. Leave only your footprints. (forgive the pun)

The date and time of this event will soon be released

Coming Soon...










That's what Dave is talking about! See his earlier post. I think it's a great idea!
Lake View Too avatar
Lake View TooSoWal Insider
#68
Sorry, Dave, I dropped in on the tail end of the thread. You've got a great idea.
Andy A avatar
Andy ABeach Fanatic
#70
another article. Federal scientists say limit drilling

Federal scientists: Limit offshore drilling plans -- latimes.com

I have to point out the obvious;

Why does it seem that all the republicans in the country want to rape the planet as quickly as possible, and use fear to convince us to fall in line?
As a member of the Republican party, I take great offense at your supposition that all Republicans want to "rape the planet as quickly as possible, and use fear to convince us to fall in line".
I believe we, as an individual, party member or anything else you wish to mention, can be concerned with our environment and our support of the issues concerning it without totally losing our common sense. There is room for compromise concerning the production of fossil fuels. This particular issue is not one of them, IMO, but to trash the entire Republican party over the issue is not only unfair but without merit and completely biased without reason as well. Just my opinion but a very strong one! That said, I will do anything I can to support Dave's "Hand Across the Sand" project.

Edited

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