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'No Drilling Beach Party? a serious protest

Protesters gather at Pinellas County beach to decry last week’s approval by the U.S. House of a measure open the

By MELANIE AVE
Published July 1, 2006

ST. PETE BEACH — The message of the day, preached by politicians, beachgoers and environmentalists, was direct: Do not open the coasts to oil and natural gas drilling.

“Let me remind this current administration that when God saw that the Earth was dark and needed energy, he said let there be light,’’ shouted St. Pete Beach Commissioner Nancy Markoe through a bullhorn as she stood near a mock oil spill on Pass-a-Grille Beach. “He did not say let’s put oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico!’’

The crowd of about 125 cheered wildly as Markoe told oil companies to “stay away from our coast.’’

She was one of several speakers at a “No Drilling Beach Party’’ held Saturday morning. Organized by the Sierra Club, members hoped the event would draw attention and public opposition to last week’s approval by the U.S. House of a sweeping measure that could allow increased drilling off the nation’s coasts.

The protests were planned nationwide. Another took place in Tarpon Springs Saturday. All were intended to build resistance to the House bill.

 The measure would allow rigs as close as 50 miles offshore, while giving states the option of voting to keep them as far as 100 miles offshore or as close as 3 miles.

The Senate still must vote on the bill.

People at the south Pinellas County rally handed out bumper stickers and bright green T-shirts reading, “Protect Florida’s Coast. Say No to Offshore Oil Drilling.’’

 Passersby signed postcards that will be mailed to Republican Sen. Mel Martinez.

Above their heads, a plane circled carrying a banner with the message: “Clean beaches = No drilling.”

St. Petersburg resident Marolyn Dente,  55, interrupted her shell picking to sign a postcard and put on a campaign T-shirt.

She was so upset at the thought of the beaches being tainted, she recruited other beachgoers to sign up.
“I don’t want the beaches to become ruined from drilling,’’ she said. “I think it’s terrible. There would be no more picking shells because they would be covered with oil.’’

Missy Pike, president of the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce, stood before the crowd and asked why Floridians would want to jeopardize the tourism industry.

Organizers said if there were oil spills or rigs visible from the beach, fewer tourists would come to the area and to Florida, which would hurt the state’s economy.“When you call our chamber, it says, 'Welcome to the beautiful beaches of Tampa Bay,’ ” Pike said. “Let’s keep it that way.’’

Susan Glickman, with the Natural Resources Defense Council, said lawmakers should focus on developing alternative fuels and raising the auto fuel standards to 40 miles per gallon instead of drilling.

“The United States of America has only 3 percent of the world’s oil reserves,’’ she told the beach crowd. “Drilling off the Gulf of Mexico or all the coasts of the United States or Alaska will do absolutely nothing to lower gas prices.’’

After the event, Sierra Club senior regional field representative Frank Jackalone said he felt encouraged about the possibility of thwarting the drilling, and was pleased with the event’s turnout, which was more than double the expected number.

“It takes action like this to make sure the beaches are protected,’’ he said. “I think the Senate will stop the foolish action of the House.’’

Melanie Ave can be reached at (727)893-8813 or mave@sptimes.com.

[Last modified July 1, 2006, 21:57:53]