Pictured above is Governor Crist with his wife (left) and me at the “Hands Across the Sand” event on Pensacola Beach 6/26/2010.
Over 700 people joined hands on Pensacola Beach that day.
As the oil reaches our shores here in the Gulf South, our hearts are heavy. The Panhandle’s white sand is quickly cleaned up in the areas that have been effected, yet the reports say that the water though it appears clean, often is not. I had the opportunity to organize the second “Hands Across the Sand” event which took place last Sat., June 26, 2010. The first event took place in Feb. and was held only in the state of Florida. The event was instrumental in halting the drilling for oil off the Florida Coast. The 2nd event included over 600 cities across all 50 states, as well as over 30 countries with a total of over 900 cities! We are promoting the use of clean energy and we oppose drilling for oil off our coasts. The risks are too high. It is time we take seriously the exploration, development and use of clean energy and slowly yet sharply, reduce our dependance on oil.
I will be starting a new series entitled “The Emerald Coast” to help people visualize the incredible beauty we have here on Florida’s Panhandle. It is a national treasure in my opinion…and must be preserved for the wildlife, ourselves and future generations. Once the sugar- white sand here is contaminated…which is happening more and more with each day the Deepwater Horizon continues to leak….it will be gone forever. There is no replacing it. The sand beneath the Gulf is of a different texture and color and the Island is small.
Standing in waist deep water near Fort Pickens Pass, Pensacola Florida, Mid June 2010.
Happy 4th! Be safe and all the best to you and your loved ones,
Margaret