June 28, 2010 - On an overcast morning Saturday, 23 people gathered at the 4th Street lifeguard tower to take a stand against the harmful effects of offshore oil drilling and to support clean energy. As the group linked hands for 15 minutes, two oil rigs north of the Manhattan Beach pier could be seen from the shore.
Manhatttan Beach resident Tory Haslinger organized the event as part of Hands Across the Sand, a group that supports the protection of coastal economies, marine wildlife and the fishing industry. More than 650 Hands Across the Sand sites around the world were reported to have participated simultaneously.

Concerned for California's coast, Haslinger and boyfriend Jacob Watt took action after seeing the devastation of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

"I can't go out there and fix the pipeline," said Haslinger, "but I can make our leaders aware that they need to find alternative energy sources or at least have safety procedures in place so this doesn't happen again."

Participants were hopeful the event would help increase awareness and that eventually the government would implement clean energy solutions that do not harm the environment.

"Tragedy wakes people up," said Rita Powell, who came to the gathering from her home in Long Beach. "It raises people's consciousness of their lifestyle and the marine life."

Residue from offshore oil tankers ends up on California beaches, said Chris Gray, a Manhattan Beach lifeguard who sometimes sees tar washing up onshore.

"It's a bummer that [the spill] happened," Gray said. "It ruins beaches, the town, the whole vibe."

Other participants acknowledged their own continued dependence on oil, especially in Southern California, where getting anywhere without driving is difficult.

"We all use a lot of oil and energy," said Shannon Schaefer, who drove from Echo Park. "We all need to find ways to reduce the amount."
source: manhattanbeach.patch.com