2010.06.26 Press Release
Citizens of Louisville Participate in Largest Gathering Against Offshore Drilling in History
Contact: Lauren McGrath - 859.309.0214 (office)
Several Dozen Citizens and Families Join Hands at Cox Park in Louisville
LOUISVILLE - On June 26, residents of Louisville joined the largest nationwide gathering against offshore drilling ever held. Citizens, joined by Representative John Yarmuth, met at Cox Park and joined hands as part of a national Hands Across the Sand day of action.
Similar events are taking place from the Pacific to Atlantic Coast, showing thousands of Americans united against offshore drilling and in favor of clean energy in the wake of the BP disaster in the Gulf.
"This spill is not just an environmental issue or a human rights issue - it is an addiction issue. We must break our addiction to the entire concept of an extractive economy”, stated Ben Evans Louisville based film producer/actor. “We will move beyond fossil fuels, there is no question. The only question is, will we have the political courage and vision to move beyond fossil fuels soon enough to protect our future?"
According to “Move UK Beyond Coal” student leader Becca Barhorst, "we need a bold plan to move our nation beyond oil within the next two decades”. Barhorst continued, “Ending our dependence fossil fuels will jumpstart a strong economy with millions of good jobs as our auto industry retools for electric cars and as the wind farms that will power those vehicles hire sheet metal workers and machinists. As a nation, the U.S. needs to be at the forefront of driving this innovation".
The Hands Across the Sand events are aimed at steering America's energy policy away from its dependence on fossil fuels and towards clean energy. The goal is to convince leaders like President Obama to abandon offshore oil drilling and adopt policies that encourage clean energy instead.
"Continuing to fund riskier and more expensive ways to extract coal and oil is a wasted opportunity", said Lauren McGrath, Sierra Club Representative "We should be putting our innovation to work to create a 21st century transportation system that will end our dependence on fossil fuels and protect America's communities and water."
Hands Across The Sand was founded by Floridian Dave Rauschkolb in October of 2009. Hands Across The Sand is endorsed by national environmental organizations including Sierra Club, Audubon, Surfrider, Oceana, 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
For photos of today’s event, please contact Lauren McGrath at lauren.mcgrath@sierraclub.org or call 859.309.0214
www.handsacrossthesand.org
Contact: Lauren McGrath - 859.309.0214 (office)