This year, the Surfrider Foundation again served as an official sponsor of Hands Across the Sand. Nearly 30 Surfrider chapters organized or participated in local events held in Florida, New Jersey, California, Oregon, Hawaii and other states. In many cases, events featured guest speakers, partnering organizations, and a beach cleanup. ”We don’t want to see spills like what we saw in the gulf”, said Haley Haggerstone of Surfrider’s San Diego Chapter. ‘We want to see our leaders investing in newer sustainable energy,”
“Our elected leaders need to understand that new offshore drilling is not the answer to our energy needs,” said Pete Stauffer, Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Ecosystem Manager. “The massive turnout for Hands Across the Sands shows that people oppose the risky practice of offshore drilling and understand that we need to seek real solutions to our energy crisis including increased efficiency, conservation and renewable alternatives.”
(Photos: Francyne Kunkel, Sonoma, CA event)