Protest against offshore drilling includes some North Slope residents

June 27th 11:24 am | Alaska Newspapers Staff

Anchorage - As part of a national Hands Across The Sand day of action on Saturday, 85 Alaskans met at Point Woronzof and joined hands against offshore oil drilling. 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, a Sierra Club press release said.

"In just the last year we've seen what offshore drilling has done to the Gulf Coast, and we cannot repeat that disaster in the Arctic Ocean where we do not know how to clean-up and oil spill," said Mae Hank, tribal member with the Native Village of Point Hope. "The ocean is part of our spirit, and it provides our food. If an oil disaster killed the whales and we could not hunt, it would destroy our whole culture. I cannot imagine our grandchildren not hunting and eating our whales because without it their spirits would be broken."

The Hands Across The Sand events are aimed at steering America's energy policy away from its addiction to dirty 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.

"This nationwide event is a powerful demonstration of our commitment to protecting our air, land, and water," said Kate McKeown, Clean Energy Coordinator at Alaska Conservation Alliance. "While fossil fuel prices rise and natural gas resources diminish, energy efficiency and renewable energy will play a key role in producing local, reliable and clean energy in Alaska. Thanks to the negotiations to get Fire Island wind, that will be the start of a diverse energy portfolio for the Railbelt."

Hands Across The Sand was founded by Floridian Dave Rauschkolb in October of 2009. In Alaska, this Hands Across The Sand event is endorsed by organizations including Alaska Marine Conservation Council, Alaska Center for the Environment, Alaska Youth for Environmental Action, Eyak Preservation Council, Alaska Wildlife Alliance, Alaska Women's Environmental Network, National Wildlife Federation, Alaska Wilderness League, Alaska Big Village Network, The Wilderness Society, and Sierra Club.