Hands Across the Sand Builds Momentum for Action on Climate Change

Though the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico may not be a direct climate change issue, it has introduced new urgency to efforts to pass a federal climate bill by reminding people across the US (and around the world) of the disastrous side effects of our reliance on fossil fuels. Since the oil first began gushing from a well in the Gulf this spring, thousands of people have been raising their voices to demand legislation that reduces US dependence on oil, addresses the root causes of climate change, and invests in clean energy alternatives to fossil fuels. Today saw the most widespread day of action yet with 700 "Hands Across the Sand" events organized around the world—mostly in the US, but some as far away as Britain.

Though concentrated in coastal states, Hands Across the Sand events took place in every state in the US. On beaches and at other strategic locations, groups ranging in size from dozens to several hundred people joined hands and formed a line to symbolize a barrier against oil drilling. The slogan for the day of action was, "No to Offshore Drilling, Yes to Clean Energy." In Santa Monica, California, about 400 people spread that message. In Pensacola Beach, Florida, 450 people rallied at the coast. About 100 people joined hands at Cape May, New Jersey—and the reports of other successful rallies continue to pour in. Event organizers believe they'll soon have an estimate of the total number of people who participated in Hands Across the Sand rallies today.

As the event slogan suggests, today's Hands Across the Sand was about much more than simply protesting the oil industry (though that was certainly part of it). Major media outlets tended to focus on the anti-drilling message, but Hands Across the Sand is as much about finding clean energy solutions to our fossil fuel addiction as it is about saying no to dirty energy. In addition to calling for a ban on oil drilling, the rallies sent a message to Congress and to President Obama: US citizens are ready for climate and clean energy legislation and a permanent shift away from fossil fuels. Many organizations that participated in Hands Across the Sand, such as the Sierra Club, 1Sky, and MoveOn.org, have set their sights on passing comprehensive climate change legislation that includes a cap on carbon this year.

The enthusiasm with which this message was embraced across the country should serve as a warning to elected officials, that failing to act now on climate change could be politically foolhardy. While tighter drilling regulations are a first step, they are not in themselves sufficient. A decreasing cap on carbon with the power to shift the whole economy towards clean energy sources is the only response to the Gulf spill that will satisfy this movement.

As oil pours into the Gulf of Mexico and the burning of fossil fuels pushes us closer and closer to catastrophic climate change, it's inevitable that momentum to end our reliance on fossil fuels will continue to grow. With the US midterm elections coming up, politicians everywhere had better pay close attention to this expanding movement. Voters may not forgive a failure to seize this moment and pass clean energy and climate bill at last.

Photo Credit: Flickr