What did you think of “Hands Across the Sand”?

Posted on June 30, 2010 by Al Bergstein

Did you participate in last weekend’s Hands Across the Sand? If so, what did you think about it? Did it achieve anything? The last article discusses that issue. What’s your thoughts?

Filed under: Around the Sound |

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5 Responses

  1. Liz, on July 2, 2010 at 6:25 am said:

    Hi Carrol,

    Thanks for explaining the purpose of Hands across the Sand to me. Creative acts of symbolism that allow people to get together in communities, cities, countries, and globally to share common interests are definitely important. I did not understand that was what this was.

    However, I disagree that politics will trump science on almost any given subject. For a recent example, see the controversy and inevitable changes forthcoming with the International Whaling Commission. Originally created to oversee the conservation of whales at the global level, as more countries joined the IWC, this body moved from becoming scientifically-based to politically-based.

    In becoming a politically based body, the IWC lost credibility, authority and respect. The outcry against the IWC is now so loud that a move is afoot to disband and transform the IWC into something more like the way the Regional Fisheries Management Programs are set up – with one advisory body to report to.

    Other groups, agencies, commissions, etc. who base their decisions more on politics and less on science should (in my opinion) follow the story of the IWC.

  2. 8string, on July 1, 2010 at 8:52 am said:

    It has been interesting being involved in the Puget Sound Partnernship’s Strait steering committee. One of the things we have discussed as we help to drive priorities for the PSP out here, is the balance between scientific information and policy. Science is “malleable” as is policy (read politics). I think that public opinion matters. The vast majority of the public cares little for the details, and only wants to see the *right thing* being done, whatever that may be. That people came out, probably did more to try and help educate those that didn’t, than actually sway the policy makers. But keep up the efforts. Changing perception on how to stop things like Gulf Oil Spill, takes time. We are only now getting all double hulled tankers in place in our waters, twenty years after the Exxon Valdez! But we did get tug escorts immediately. Demand action by policy makers. Real action.

  3. Liz, on June 30, 2010 at 4:29 pm said:

    Honestly, I did not understand how joining hands on the beach was going to stop offshore drilling. Washington already has a moratorium in place, and it was just renewed. If it were ever threatened, I feel directly working with state and Congress would be more effective.

    Washington state has been working hard at developing clean energy technologies, and we are lucky that we already depend upon hydropower for most of our electricity needs, instead of coal-driven states in the east.

    I would urge people to support academic programs that help develop those technologies (don’t slash higher education and learning), support our local entrepreneurs who venture to test this technology, and become engaged with the state and federal agencies who are helping to coordinate pilot projects that are planned for testing new water, biomass, and continued wind technology.

    • Carrol Hull, on July 1, 2010 at 8:01 am said:

      350 is an international organization that sponsored this event all over the world. It was a symbolic act. I wish our country had has much faith and confidence in science as you do. We seem to continue to ignore and even defy what is so obvious to rational and scientific thinking. Politics will trump science on almost any given subject.

  4. Carrol Hull, on June 30, 2010 at 8:24 am said:

    We had twenty people plus a few pups hold hands and paws in Sequim along the Dungeness Bay last Saturday. It was reassuring to meet neighbors who shared the same concerns and who are committed to fight for our environment.

    We managed to get a photo in our town weekly, but saw very little news about this event in on-line news outlets or national papers.

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