Hand To Hand, Floridians Protest Offshore Drilling

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Hundreds of Floridians participated in a "Hands Across the Sand" human chain protest on South Beach on February 13, 2010, opposing President Obama's recent proposal to allow offshore oil drilling. Environmental organizers argue that renewable energy solutions like solar and wind power are better alternatives to drilling, which they say threatens Florida's tourism economy and beaches.

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Hand To Hand, Floridians Protest Offshore Drilling

MIAMI BEACH (CBS4) — It wasn't the cold weather making hundreds of beachgoers hold hands in Miami Beach Saturday, it's their disapproval of the proposal to drill for oil off our coastline.

The protesters created a human chain for the "Hands Across the Sand" event held in South Beach. It's part of a statewide show of support to continue banning offshore drilling. Organizers from various local environmental groups say it's not the solution.

Even though President Barack Obama made a campaign platform out of promoting more environmentally friendly renewable energy, in his recent State of the Union addressed he promoted offshore drilling—something that environmentalists and some Florida politicians see as a threat to the tourism economy.

Participants also lined 50 other Florida beaches Saturday. They say our prized beaches could be destroyed because of drilling that may be as close at three miles offshore.

"There has been a ban and a moratorium on new offshore drilling for years," said organizer Andrea Cuccaro. "It's not going to help us with prices for oil in the near term, and we have a lot of solutions like solar and wind power that are really great solutions that we can give more incentives and tax breaks."

Supporters of offshore drilling say it will help us reduce U.S. dependency on foreign oil.