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Don't Gamble With Florida's Beaches

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By BEV GRIFFITHS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 2, 2008

Why protect Florida's beaches from oil drilling?

It's simple: Florida's beaches are ranked as some of the best in the country for their beauty, accessibility and facilities. For the sixth time since 1992, a Florida beach has been recognized as the "Best Beach in America" by Dr. Steven Leatherman, a.k.a. "Dr. Beach".

This year Caladesi Island State Park located in the Dunedin/Clearwater area ranked No. 1. But that's not all. Siesta Beach of Sarasota ranked third and Cape Florida State Park of Key Biscayne ranked ninth. For a complete list visit http://www.drbeach.org/

With 1,200 miles of coastline Florida is a magnet for tourism, recreation, artists, the fishing industry, and coastal living. We are blessed with the calmer waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the exciting wave action of the Atlantic Ocean. We've got miles of sandy beaches, the surf, coral reefs, seagrass beds, diverse marine life and historical lighthouses.

In 1981 Congress adopted the Outer Continental Shelf Moratorium which prevents the leasing of America's coastal waters for fossil fuel development. Now, 27 years later, some are willing to sacrifice that protection under the guise that increased domestic drilling will bring the price down-even though that argument has already been refuted by experts who agree that in a world market, it's a mere drop in the bucket.

We need short- and long-term solutions to combat the rise in oil prices. Short term: end the practice of giving large tax breaks to the oil industry and instead give tax refunds and low-income energy assistance to hardworking Americans to help offset the rising cost of energy. Long term: a new generation of energy-efficient vehicles; electricity from clean renewable sources; carbon neutral homes and offices; biofuels from native plants that don't require fertilizer and pesticide; and incorporating smart growth principals into land use planning. Research shows that conserving energy and protecting our shoreline is good for our economy.

Take action now. Call or write your elected representatives and tell them not to allow drilling off Florida's coast. Then reward yourself with a day at one of our beautiful beaches.

Bev Griffiths is chair of the Tampa Bay Sierra Club

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