Hands Across the Sand at Neptune State Park. Photo by Gus Gates, Oregon Surfrider.

If you missed the weekend protest against offshore oil and gas drilling, here’s a way to experience it on your computer.

We’re getting video and photos from some of the Hands Across the Sand events in Oregon. There were 17 of these gatherings in Oregon on Saturday, part of a national movement to draw attention to the dangers of offshore drilling, and to promote clean and renewable energy.

Oregon Surfrider says about 100 people took part in the Hands Across the Sand event at Neptune State Park near Yachats. Gus Gates says they saw whales spouting off the beach, a timely reminder of what’s at stake in this debate.

“The message of the event was clear, NO to offshore oil drilling, YES to clean energy renewables. Oregon’s ocean, waves and beaches are one of our greatest natural resources, one that contributes significantly to our coastal and state economy through recreation, tourism, fishing, and scenic enjoyment,” says Gates.

Meanwhile, we’re getting reports that about three dozen people showed up at the Corvallis event, and that several dozen lined up along the Columbia River in Vancouver.

Video: Hands Across the Sand at Neptune State Park near Yachats, from Kristi Gott.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYpvvkfphLU

Slideshow: Hands Across the Sand events in Oregon, from Flickr.

It’s called Hands Across The Sand. More than a dozen events are planned across the state.

What’s this all about?

The idea is pretty simple.

Starting about Noon on Saturday, people will hold hands, face the ocean and form long lines on the beach. It’s a symbolic “line in the sand” against offshore oil and gas drilling. The event will last about 15 minutes and if enough people show up, should be an amazing site.

Organizers will form lines at ten locations all along the Oregon coast. Another seven “solidarity events” will be held in the Willamette Valley, from Eugene to Portland.

The idea kicked off earlier this year in Florida when thousands of people came together to make a statement against offshore oil drilling in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf.  This was long before the BP fiasco near Louisiana.

Tomorrow, the event goes national. Here along the West Coast, something like two dozen events are planned in Washington. And I can’t even count how many there will be along the California coast.

What’s The Status of Offshore Drilling In Oregon?

There’s not much of a threat here in Oregon.

Several months ago, the legislature passed a law banning offshore drilling in Oregon’s territorial waters for ten years. It was one of the few environmental victories of the special session. The law only protects the first three miles of ocean off our coast. Beyond that, the federal government is in charge.

Even before the spill in the Gulf, the feds were not planning on issuing offshore drilling leases in Oregon and Washington. The last auction was in 1964. There’s so little gas and oil off our coasts that the feds say they’re not going to bother to try again, at least not for the “foreseeable future.”

Environment Oregon has told me that having a state ban in place sends a message to the federal government that offshore drilling isn’t welcome here, and that the are paying attention. Getting thousands of Oregonians to line up on the beach will put some power behind that message.

For More Information:

Hands Across The Sand, Oregon webpage

Hands Across The Sand, Oregon Facebook page

Video: Hands Across The Sand In Destin, Florida from February, 2010.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r54kRnZ1b2k

Governor Kulongoski even had something to say, although it’s hard to tell from the press release if he thinks this is a good or bad idea.

Obama is calling for a major expansion of offshore energy exploration pretty much everywhere in the United States, except for the West Coast.

But while Oregon, California and Washington appear off limits for now, environmental groups are still concerned.

“If Virginia’s shores can be opened up today, Oregon’s coast can be opened up tomorrow,” writes Brock Howell of Environment Oregon. “To build a clean energy economy and ending our oil dependence, we cannot simply dance in place, taking one step forward and one step backward. Not only would we be investing in a dirty fuel when we need to shift to hybrids and plug-in cars fueled by wind and solar, we would damage our coastal fishing and tourism economies with the pollution of oil, chemicals, and heavy metals.  We’re dancing ourselves right of the dance floor for comprehensive clean energy policy.”

During February’s special session, the Legislature approved a ten year ban on offshore drilling in Oregon’s territorial waters. But that only covers the first three miles of ocean off the coast. The next 147 miles is controlled by the federal government.

In his statement, Kulongoski says he was “pleased” to sign the Oregon offshore drilling ban. He also says he’s a strong advocate for protecting the state and federally controlled waters from energy exploration. Then he adds, ““I am encouraged that the President is committed to protecting our ocean’s health while also pursing strong energy conservation and clean energy options for America.”

Here’s another quote:

“Today’s announcement is unfortunately all too typical of what we have seen so far from President Obama – promises of change, a year of ‘deliberation,’ and ultimately, adoption of flawed and outdated Bush policies as his own. Rather than bring about the change we need, this plan will further our national addiction to oil and contribute to global warming, while at the same time directly despoiling the habitat of polar bears, endangered whales, and other imperiled wildlife.”

-Brendan Cummings, Center for Biological Diversity.

Related Stories:

Session Watch: Offshore Drilling Ban Passes Senate
New Report Documents The Threat Of Oil To Oregon’s Coast

NOAA is calling for some pretty tough restrictions on three commonly used pesticides, diazonin, malathion, and chlorpyrifos.

The report, officially known as a Biological Opinion, says these three chemicals can damage or even kill salmon. It describes them a threat to 27 species of threatened and endangered salmon on the west coast.

So what can be done about this?

NOAA says farmers who use these pesticides shouldn’t be allowed to apply them near salmon streams. The report calls for buffer zones of 1000 feet for aerial spraying and 500 feet when these pesticides are applied on the ground. Other restrictions include not applying them during windy conditions, or when a storm is in the forecast. The rain could wash the freshly applied pesticides into the streams.

The report says the chemicals hurt salmon by impairing their sense of smell, making it harder for them to catch prey. It says the pesticides also reduce populations of small fish and insects that salmon eat. And if concentrations are high enough, the three pesticides are outright salmon killers.

For now, these are only recommendations. The Environmental Protection Agency asked for NOAA’s advice as it looks at new restrictions on the use of these pesticides. NOAA says this is only the first in a series of Biological Opinions it will forward to the EPA in the next three years.

No word on when the EPA will issue its final ruling.

2 OCEAN RESERVES FOR OREGON?

A state panel is calling on Governor Kulongoski to establish two ocean reserves, one near Depoe Bay and the other near Port Orford.

Ocean reserves are “fishing free” zones that are set aside as refuges for marine life and areas for scientific research.

The Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) received about 20 proposals for these marine parks, but after a series of public hearings whittled them down to just two. Four other sites were forwarded to the Governor as worthy of further study.

This has been one of the most controversial issues along the coast since Governor K proposed establishing the zones back in 2000. Fishermen are worried that they’ll be kept out from some of their best fishing spots. The pressure was made more intense because they may also be losing other fishing areas to wave and wind energy farms.

Supporters argue that marine reserves can actually boost fishing stocks and note that Washington and California already have similar zones. Our Ocean, a group that has advocated for the ocean reserves, says these recommendations are a “strong first step.” But it adds that a system of nine reserves is what’s really needed.

No word yet on what the Governor will do with these proposals. The Oregon legislature has the final word.