Kathy Selvage of Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards wrote this powerful op-ed for her local paper:
Recently, coal and oil have totally saturated our public conversation. Whether by choice or by tragedy, we cannot escape it.
Sometimes it is an environmental controversy that demands space on the printed page, but as of late, it is all about tragedy. When 29 miners were killed in a mining accident in West Virginia, many of us fell silent. We were paralyzed by how many lives were lost and marveled at how quickly the breath of life can be snatched from us.
Each of those 29 men was someone’s father, son, brother or uncle, and we could only think “How would we feel had that been our own father?” since many of us are the sons and daughters of coal miners.
That tragedy followed another terrible accident that has not yet faded from our memory: The tragedy at Sago mine, where 12 miners gave their lives for the energy needs of this country. Then, as now, we suffered, empathized, imagined it was our own, and developed a deeper thoughtfulness and admiration for life.
Neither can we forget the huge coal ash spill that occurred outside Kingston, Tenn., in December 2008. The image of the home with a Christmas wreath adorning the door, partially buried in coal ash, sticks with us.
And yet again now, we face an ecological tragedy of epic proportions in the Gulf of Mexico that will likely remain visible and haunt us for a very long time. Human lives were also lost there.
The Gulf Coast residents are having their lives affected by an incident beyond their control. Desperate measures to stop the spill have played out before our very eyes: Setting the oil on fire, “top kill,” “slice and cap” and more. All have failed.
These failed measures are leaving deceased animals everywhere, oil invading the marshes, the smell of oil permeating the senses of inhabitants, and those glorious fishing waters (once full of redfish, red snapper, shrimp and oysters) being desecrated and fouled for generations.
Now we see that those in the Gulf region are intricately laced to their environment.
How large must the tragedy be? Tragedy abounds and speaks loudly and clearly; but are we listening? Can we yet hear the gurgle of the ocean floor or the faint heartbeat of the planet? How will we react?
Our addiction to fossil fuels has put us all at risk on so many levels: Our health, our economy, our climate and even the livelihoods of affected community members in the Gulf Coast.Entire portions of this magnificent country are at risk for catastrophes such as we are witnessing.
Is there anyone who can argue that the never-ending oil gusher in the Gulf is not doing great and grave environmental damage? In addition, coal-fired plants and coal ash storage facilities make us particularly vulnerable to a disaster or long-term chronic health problems. The long term viability and future of our planet is at risk.
What should be our reaction? The immediate reaction should be about health and safety precautions to protect the lives of the energy workers in this country, coal miners included. We should understand the sacrifices that energy workers and their families are making so your lights can be bright and pledge to do everything humanly and legislatively possible to secure their lives and health while we transition to other methods of producing electricity.
For those whose responsibility it is to enforce safety and health regulations, they should be empowered to enforce the letter of the law. It saves lives.
As a way to transition away from mountaintop removal coal mining, we should consider returning to underground mining for the fuel necessary for the coal-fired plants presently on line, while reducing the electricity demand through various measures. This would boost the economic well-being of our region, and protect other mountains. However, we should not advocate for underground mining except during a transitional period to switch to other methods of generating electricity.
We must work diligently to move away from our dependence on fossil fuels and to invest the capital outlay to secure a clean energy future for our planet and our posterity, creating millions of new energy jobs right here at home. We should also use the full benefits of the Clean Air Act to reduce carbon emissions and create more livable communities for everyone.
America must be freed from her addiction to fossil fuels. It is time for us to grow up, be more respectful of our water, our air, our planet, and our fellow human beings. It is time to move on to the future of energy production. It is time.
OVEC members join with West Virginians and others in mourning the death and remembering the life of Senator Robert C. Byrd. We extend our deep sympathies to his daughters and his staff. West Virginians are only beginning to process what his death means for our state.
The US Army Corps of Engineers has decided to suspend the “streamlined” Nationwide Permit 21 in Appalachia.
