Gearing Up for Hands Across the Sand in Florida; Virginia Senate Says 'Not So Fast' to Governor McDonnell

Florida

Florida beach towns plan protest against oil drilling
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/1472187.html

Offshore oil drilling forum draws more than 125 on both sides of the issue (includes video)
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/feb/09/offshore-oil-drilling-florida-forum-naples-news/

SWFL leaders back and forth on offshore drilling
http://www.nbc-2.com/Global/story.asp?S=11959158

Florida Today Editorial: Hands Across the Sand (reefrelieffounders.com)
http://www.reefrelieffounders.com/drilling/2010/02/10/florida-today-editorial-hands-across-the-sand/

Hands Across The Sand Offshore Oil Drilling Protest (Eye on Miami)
http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2010/02/hands-across-sand-offshore-oil-drilling.html


Virginia

State Senate defeats bill on offshore drilling
http://www2.wsls.com/sls/news/state_regional/govtpolitics/article/state_senate_defeats_bills_on_offshore_drilling_changing_budget_timeline/80421/
"There [was a] major setback today in the Virginia Senate for Gov. Bob McDonnell, with the Democratic majority defeating legislation endorsing offshore drilling for oil and gas..."

Offshore Oil - Bad Deals, Bans and Protests

California

Don't trade oil for parks
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_14352149

Oregon

Oregon House votes for 10-year ban on off-shore oil and gas drilling
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/02/oregon_house_votes_for_10-year.html

Florida

A 'human line in the sand'
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/columnists/a-human-line-in-the-sand-216473.html
“Floridians who don't want oil drilling as close as 3 miles head for the beaches this Saturday for the simplest demonstration ever.”
Also: Join hands to prevent Gulf drilling
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100207/LETTERS/100209780?Title=Join-hands-to-prevent-Gulf-drilling
“Our goal is to persuade legislators and Gov. Charlie Crist to drop the folly of offshore oil drilling. All it takes is one accident -- one oil spill. It is just not worth the risk to our environment and coastal tourism industry.”
Also: Protest aims at oil drilling
http://keysnews.com/node/20676

Virginia

Virginia's misguided rush to drill offshore
http://www.dailypress.com/news/opinion/dp-op_drilling_0207feb07,0,6391655.story
“In the heated debate over offshore drilling, policymakers have […] largely ignored the coastal environment and economies that would be subjected to potential harm from new offshore drilling such as off Virginia's coast. […] It is disturbing that in their rush to drill, oil and gas drilling advocates in Virginia would oppose prudent studies on the impact of drilling on our precious Chesapeake Bay, our sensitive coastal wetlands, and our highly lucrative tourism and fishing industries that are completely dependent on clean beaches and healthy ocean waters.”

In Virginia, offshore drilling a bipartisan goal
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-drilling-virginia8-2010feb08,0,3211440.story
The space agency, which operates a launching facility on the Virginia shore, says drilling would pose a safety risk because of the rigs' proximity to where rocket components fall into the Atlantic."You'd think 50 miles out would not be a problem," NASA spokesman Keith Koehler said. "But for us, it is. It's right in the middle of our launch range."