The Alliance for Appalachia

We need your help to bring an end to mountaintop removal coal mining.  Join us today as part of a national day of action to end mountaintop removal coal mining.

This week, nearly 200 citizens from Appalachia and across the US are gathering in our nation’s capital as part of the 5th Annual End Mountaintop Removal Week in Washington – and hundreds more will show support by making a simple phone call.

Mountaintop removal coal mining is one of the most egregious environmental and social justice disasters in America today — more than 500 mountains and 1.5 million acres of land have already been destroyed by this practice.  Residents and supporters from across the US are asking for an end to mountaintop removal and an investment in sustainable economic alternatives for Appalachia.

This issue is urgent and the coal industry is working overtime to block the passage of this bill.  That’s why we need people like you to take a stand for the mountains.

Please take a moment to visit www.ilovemountains.org/call-your-rep — we have a special call-in tool there that will allow you to make a phone call to your Representative - if you’ve never called your Congressperson before - this is the easiest way to do it! We’ll walk you through the steps and help you know exactly what to say.

Thanks for taking action - because of people like you, we’re as close as we ever have been to ending mountaintop removal.

Post By Junior Walk, Whitesville, Coal River Valley, West Virginia

Hi, my name is Junior Walk, and my family has lived in the coal fields of southern West Virginia for generations.  It pains me to see my heritage destroyed and defamed, and to see my friends and family poisoned by unclean water.   So, I decided to take a little trip to Washington D.C. to put a stop to it.

Today, I’m in our nations capitol to stop the heinous practice of mountaintop removal coal mining.  I’m here with the Alliance for Appalachia, as an employee of Coal River Mountain Watch; I’m here as an environmental activist; I’m here as an affected coal field resident; but I’m mostly here as someone whom cares about people, and all other living things.

My meetings today were cordial, I met with the offices of three different congressmen.  The first one was on the fence about the Clean Water Protection Act, the second one will probably co-sign, and the third was already a co-signer.  I think we’re making serious progress here, we already have more than 160 co-signers, and we only need 40-50 more co-signers.

When this bill becomes a law, it will effectively end mountaintop removal by making valley fills illegal (which they were in the first place).  This would greatly benefit the people of Appalachia, save lives, and open up mountains like Coal River Mountain for use as wind farms.

So, here I am, I’ve never been into any city, never really had any experience outside of my neck of the woods, and I’m walking up the stairs to the legislature to talk to our representatives about what’s going on in out back yards.

I care about mountaintop removal, and by extension this bill  because it affects me directly as someone who lives in the coal fields, and someone who has seen and worked in the devastation.  There are plenty of people here  with me though that don’t live in the thick of it, or aren’t from Appalachia, and I am very grateful to them.  You can help too; call and urge your congressman to co-sign the Clean Water Protection Act – HB 1310.  Then call and urge your senator to act on the Appalachian Restoration Act – SB 696.  Also, to learn more about mountaintop removal and get involved, click here.

When I think of Denver’s classic song, “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” (which was co-written with Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert) I think about the things that make West Virginia so unique. First, of course, is the kind and generous nature of the people of our beloved state. Next, I picture the beauty and serenity of our mountains. They seem sacred, and, in fact, mountains are a frequent location for events in the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments. It was on Mt. Sinai that God revealed himself to Moses and gave Him the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19:16 and 20:17). God allowed Moses to view the Promised Land from a mountain. It was on Mt. Carmel where Elijah challenged the false prophets of Baal, and, on Mt. Ararat that Noah’s Ark came to rest (Genesis 8:4).

Some of the most important teachings of Jesus, as well as the critical events in His life took place in the mountains. The Transfiguration of Jesus, one of the most important Miracles, took place on a mountain, probably Mount Tabor (Luke 9:28-43). It was on Mount Olives that Jesus instructed His disciples (Matthew 24:3). The third temptation of Christ took place on a mountain, so that Jesus could see the kingdoms of the world. (Matthew 4:8-9). And, of course, Jesus delivered perhaps His most important Sermon, the “Sermon on the Mount,” from a hillside, where he also gave us the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 5-7). Jesus gave His life for our salvation and was crucified on a hill, Golgotha (Calvary).

Throughout the Bible, examples of the powerful and mystical significance of mountains can be found. For example, Isaiah 25:6 tells us of the celestial banquet on Mount Zion that is a symbol of eternal happiness, and the coming of the Kingdom of God. And one of my favorite passages from the Bible, Psalm121:1, reads: “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.”

Please call Dana Kuhnline at (304) 546 8473 if you would like any additional information regarding the 2010 End Mountaintop Removal Week in Washington.

Press Packet for the 2010 End Mountaintop Removal Week In Washington:

Press Release 3.7.2010

Description of The Alliance for Appalachia

Basic Lobby Packet with General Information on Mountaintop Removal and the Legislation

Information Regarding the Clean Water Protection Act

Clean Water Protection Act (HR 1310) List of Co-Sponsors as of 3.4.2010

Clean Water Protection Act (HR 1310) Dear Colleague Letter

Clean Water Protection Act (HR 1310) Bill Text

Visit www.musicsavesmountains.org to learn more about this exciting project coordinated by NRDC. From the website: 

Tickets go on sale Friday, March 5th at 10:00 a.m. by phone, the Ryman box office, andwww.ryman.com, and all Ticketmaster locations, www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

On May 19th at 8:00pm a star-studded line-up will take the stage at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium for the Music Saves Mountainsconcert, presented by the Natural Resources Defense Council. This will be the biggest gathering ever of music stars coming together to raise awareness about mountaintop removal coal mining, which is devastating Appalachia. Featured performers include Dave Matthews and Emmylou Harris, along with special guests Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, Patty Loveless, Kathy Mattea, and more.

Visit www.appvoices.org for the full story…

Ben Sollee along with fellow Kentuckian, Daniel Martin Moore, will be donating their artist proceeds from their new album, Dear Companion, to Appalachian Voices in support the national campaign to end mountaintop removal mining.

The album is a collaboration between Ben, Daniel, and producer/recording artist Yim Yames. Recorded in the first half of 2009 in Kentucky, the album explores the Appalachian home they love and aims to draw attention to the issue of mountaintop removal coal mining and its impact on the people and heritage of Central Appalachia.

Listen online: Something, Somewhere, Sometime

Buy it: Your local music store, Amazon.com, or donate to Appalachian Voices to receive a free copy!

See Them Live: Tour Dates

For the video and complete report - please visit www.kftc.org

NASA has posted this powerful images of the Hobet mountaintop removal complex in Boone and Lincoln counties in West Virginia - be sure to watch the mine grow over the last 15 years at this link: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/WorldOfChange/hobet.php

The Hobet Mine has been notorious for it’s water quality violations - including quantities of selenium high enough to cause mutations in fish - such as a twisted spine or two eyes on the same side of the head.  The permitted area above recently received final approval by the EPA.

Read more and see the videos at KFTC.org

As part of this year’s “I Love Mountains” day, more than 20 KFTC young people – all between the ages of 5 and 25 – met with five members of Governor Beshear’s staff.  The purpose of the meeting was to discuss concerns about the harm that mountaintop removal coal mining creates as well as talk about creating a transition towards a clean and sustainable energy economy.  The KFTC meeting was entirely youth-planned and youth-led.

Six-year old Makayla Urias from Pike County shared what it is like living next to a mountaintop removal operation.  She talked about her polluted water, being scared from the large blasting noises, and having to cover her face when going outside because of the dust pollution.  She even brought some of her dirty water to share with the Governor’s office.

The young KFTC members presented scientific information about the pollution and destruction created by mountaintop removal coal mining.  They also presented information about the economic benefits and jobs that could be created in Eastern Kentucky and the rest of the state if Kentucky chose to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy alternatives.