Asheville Protest / Rally - Hands Across The Sand - This Saturday

Ashevillians to Join Hands As part of The Largest Gathering against Offshore Oil Drilling In History

On Saturday, June 26, Asheville will participate in the largest gathering against offshore drilling in the US. At noon, in Carrier Park, participants will join hands along with participants on beaches and in parks and cities all across America as well as the Ireland, Dominican Republic, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. All participants of “Hands Across the Sand” will be united against the dangers offshore oil drilling present to our oceans and marine wildlife, fishing industries and coastal economies.

Hands across the Sand's mission is to steer America's energy policy away from its dependence on fossil fuels and into the light of clean energy. The aim is to convince our leaders to abandon expanded offshore oil drilling and adopt policies that encourage clean and renewable energy sources. In Asheville, on Sat. June 26 from 11am to noon, speakers and musicians will talk about the Gulf disaster and offer ways for participants to reduce their dependence on oil and encourage renewable energy.

"The image is powerful, the message simple,” said event founder Dave Rauschkolb. “No to offshore oil drilling, yes to clean energy. 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. No one industry should be able to place entire coastal economies and marine environments at risk with dangerous, dirty mistakes."

Hands across the Sand was founded by Dave Rauschkolb, a restaurant owner in Florida, in October of 2009. He organized a statewide gathering on February 13, 2010, to send a message to Florida's legislators and Governor Crist that Floridians did not want them to lift the bans on near and offshore oil drilling. Ten Thousand Floridians joined hands, from Jacksonville to Miami Beach and Key West to Pensacola Beach, to protest the efforts by the Florida Legislature and the US Congress to lift the ban on oil drilling in the near and off shores of Florida. Shortly after the event the Florida Legislature tabled the effort.

Hands across the Sand is endorsed by numerous national environmental organizations including: Sierra Club, Audubon, Greenpeace, Defenders of Wildlife, Alaska Wilderness League, Ocean Conservancy, Friends of the Earth, Environment America, 350, MoveOn.org, Center for Biological Diversity and CleanEnergy.org

What: Gathering to show solidarity for the Gulf Region, protest off shore oil drilling and promote clean energy
Where: Carrier park at the French Broad River
When: Saturday, June 26, speakers and displays-11am-noon, Joining hands by the river- noon to 12:15

Please see our website: http://www.handsacrossthesand.com/

Facebook: Hands Across the Sand - Asheville
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Hands-Across-The-Sand-Asheville/133652279982187?ref=ts

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