Protesting to Protect: Hands Across the Sand

By Sherry Londe
February 4, 2010 Issue

How many times have you heard the expression, “If you want something done, just ask a busy person”? This indeed applies to the hard-at-it Dave Rauschkolb, who has taken on the global Goliath, oil companies and their support industries, in a heroic effort to keep drilling off Florida’s coastline. His passion against any legislation that flashes a green light to drill for oil has grown into a grassroots movement called Hands Across The Sand, which is hosting a statewide event Feb. 13 at noon for one hour.

Currently, the event involves 60 beaches from Jacksonville to Miami on the east coast, and from Key West up the Gulf Coast to Pensacola. Sponsors in the Tallahassee and St. Augustine areas are also included in the long list of names wishing to help raise awareness and protect our shorelines. Rauschkolb is interested in local folks drawing a line in the sand, having their voices heard and stopping any legislation that encourages offshore drilling along the Florida coast.

Locals know the hometown life-long surfer and energetic entrepreneur Rauschkolb as owner of Bud & Alley’s, Bud & Alley’s Taco Bar, and Bud & Alley’s Pizza Bar, all in Seaside. But an epiphany came to Rauschkolb outside the restaurant business while listening to Florida House of Representatives District 7 hopeful David Pleat discuss his position against oil drilling. Rauschkolb was inspired and came up with the idea for Hands Across the Sand.

It just takes one person with a computer, cell phone, even a new baby in their lap, to begin the ripples. Rauschkolb believes this issue is not about one political agenda or only for the tree hugging environmentalists among us. “It concerns local businesses and any commercial enterprise dependent on visitors who come to Florida for the sunshine and white sand,” he says. “All become vulnerable if we open our shores for exploration.” Rauschkolb sprung into action and immediately set up a Web site for anyone wishing to help.

Hands Across the Sand has become a network of like-minded individuals and organizations against drilling. “We need all legislators on board,” says Rauschkolb. “This is a step-by-step process, and the February event is a beginning. We are hoping to get the national press to cover what we are about down here. Why not turn this around and make our state a center for solar power? After all, we are the Sunshine State.”

With all of the lofty work that Rauschkolb and others are doing, they still need your help. Anyone can go to www.handsacrossthesand.com to get involved. In the meantime, show your love for the beach and show up at noon Feb. 13 on any participating beach near you. Open your heart and hands to reach across and join Hands Across the Sand and be counted among opposed to the devastating effects of offshore drilling.

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