Hands Across the Sand to stage worldwide beach protest Saturday

Members of Hands Across the Sand will gather today on Emerald Coast beaches to protest off-shore drilling.

Participants are asked to meet at 11 a.m., wear black and join hands at noon for a 15-minute vigil.

“This is a vigil for people all over the world,” said Chris Larson, a member of Hands Across the Sand. “People are gathering, holding hands and wearing black in memorial for the wildlife and the waves that are being destroyed.”

People will gather not just along the Gulf Coast, but in such far-flung locales as Zanzibar, Tanzania and Cali, Columbia, according to the group's website.

Okaloosa County residents can meet at Beasley Park, The Boardwalk or beach access No. 7. Navarre residents will meet at the Navarre Beach pier. Walton County residents will gather at Seaside Beach between Sea Grove and Grayton Beaches.

Dave Rauschkolb, founder of Hands Across the Sand, said the gathering is an opportunity not only for area residents but people across the nation to come together and protest offshore drilling.

“This is a time where we can draw a literal human line in the sand against drilling in our waters and a time to make a statement to our elected officials to stop drilling,” Rauschkolb said.

Larson said the event is a time for the last generation to see the waters of the gulf before there destruction to mourn the loss those future generations will have to endure.

“We are the last generation to know paradise,” Larson said. “Paradise is gone. The Gulf of Mexico is probably going to be gone for the next seven generations. Just put some oil in a glass of water and try to get it out – you can’t, no matter how hard you try.”

For more information about the Hands Across the Sand event, call Chris Larson at 598-6182.