Ocean Shores will be included as a site for a global event, Hands Across the Sand, on May 20 to “bring the message of clean energy to local and world leaders.”

Founded in 2010 after the BP oil disaster, Hands Across the Sand is sponsored by the Sierra Club, Oceana, Greenpeace, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Friends of the Earth, South Carolina Wildlife Federation, Gulf Restoration Network, and Urban Paradise Guild.

​Events​ also will be held​ in India, Italy, Cameroon, Morocco, New Zealand, Australia, Algeria and around the U.S. There were 86 events around the world​ in 2016.

“It’s the most important thing we can do as human beings,” said Dave Rauschkolb, founder. Participants join hands, forming symbolic barriers against spilled oil and to stand against the impacts of other forms of extreme energy.

In addition, the events will highlight national and regional issues including: “opposing coastal, offshore and Arctic drilling, and seismic blasting off the East Coast​, Crude by Rail, Oil & Coal Terminals,​ protesting mountaintop removal, tar sands mining, hydraulic fracturing, and LNG export terminals.”

It also will call attention to the impact of climate disruption such as rising sea levels, super storms, drought, forest fires, flooding and ocean acidification.

The event will be staged at noon at the Ocean Shores Jetty​, with parking and carpooling avaiable at the Convention Center. For more information, contact Tammy Domike, (360) 612 378 or by email at cleangraysharbor​@gmail.com.