Floridians and residents in other gulf coast states had for weeks been looking on as oil and dispersants caused immeasurable havoc on the environment and the mere perception of oiled beaches tanked the tourism industry.
In the years that ensued, people still attended Hands Across the Sand events, but as the specter of offshore drilling began to diminish thanks to efforts to curb it at the state and federal levels, so, too, did the the sense of urgency underpinning the event.
Well, this year is a little different, and elected officials, tourism leaders and others are joining environmental advocates Saturday to call attention to the possibility of another Deepwater Horizon, given the Trump Administration's recent rollback of Obama-era rules that had effectively limited oil drilling in the gulf and other coastal areas.
"This year’s Hands Across the Sand comes just weeks after an executive order directing the Secretary of the Interior to revisit the five-year drilling plan of proposed oil and gas development in parts of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic," notes Environment Florida's Jennifer Rubiello in a media release.
The event starts at 11 a.m. with a press conference on the beach behind the Bilmar Beach Resort on Treasure Island (10650 Gulf Blvd.).
Among the roster of slated speakers is St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman, State Rep. Kathleen Peters (R-Treasure Island), Bilmar Beach Resort's Clyde Smith and Frank Jackalone, Florida Director of the Sierra Club.
The joining hands part will take place at noon.
This article appears in May 18-25, 2017.