Comments on: Coal’s Cloudy Future: The Factors in The Fossil Fuel’s Decline http://appvoices.org/2012/08/08/coals-cloudy-future-the-factors-in-the-fossil-fuels-decline/ Working with YOU to protect the land, air, water and people of Appalachia Wed, 22 May 2013 14:28:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: brian http://appvoices.org/2012/08/08/coals-cloudy-future-the-factors-in-the-fossil-fuels-decline/comment-page-1/#comment-28648 brian Mon, 13 Aug 2012 14:52:05 +0000 http://appvoices.org/?p=26365#comment-28648 Hey Hollins, Thanks for your thoughtful comment. It's clear that you've done your own research, thought critically about the issue and then used that knowledge to brush off the enormous amount of misinformation flooding the areas most affected by coal's downturn. I've been thinking a lot about the power of denial lately, especially after reading an article about prison overpopulation -- the logic being "if we just build enough prisons, we can solve growing crime." Similar to the prison crowding scenario, the coal industry has chosen to deal with a symptom rather than address the root of the problem. This approach would seem simpler in the short-term, after all the EPA is a much easier to point the finger at than say natural gas. Unfortunately, denial's role almost guarantees that this will be very costly in the long run. I couldn't agree more that this is "a time of change that has come about simply by the laws of nature." Now, let us process that change with a clear head, keeping those whose lives will be and are being impacted, not the coal CEO's who want to keep up production and profits regardless of the human cost. I'm also interested in the role that the media plays in either spreading or dispelling myths.. before and since this piece was published, several articles have come out in large newspapers in Appalachia that we think do a good job of operating on fact, not the "he said, she said" bickering between coal and its opponents. Check them out: http://wvgazette.com/News/201208080279 http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/commentary/wb/312492 Thanks again for your comment. Brian Hey Hollins,

Thanks for your thoughtful comment. It’s clear that you’ve done your own research, thought critically about the issue and then used that knowledge to brush off the enormous amount of misinformation flooding the areas most affected by coal’s downturn.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the power of denial lately, especially after reading an article about prison overpopulation — the logic being “if we just build enough prisons, we can solve growing crime.” Similar to the prison crowding scenario, the coal industry has chosen to deal with a symptom rather than address the root of the problem.

This approach would seem simpler in the short-term, after all the EPA is a much easier to point the finger at than say natural gas. Unfortunately, denial’s role almost guarantees that this will be very costly in the long run. I couldn’t agree more that this is “a time of change that has come about simply by the laws of nature.” Now, let us process that change with a clear head, keeping those whose lives will be and are being impacted, not the coal CEO’s who want to keep up production and profits regardless of the human cost.

I’m also interested in the role that the media plays in either spreading or dispelling myths.. before and since this piece was published, several articles have come out in large newspapers in Appalachia that we think do a good job of operating on fact, not the “he said, she said” bickering between coal and its opponents.

Check them out: http://wvgazette.com/News/201208080279
http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/commentary/wb/312492

Thanks again for your comment.

Brian

]]> By: Hollins Corner http://appvoices.org/2012/08/08/coals-cloudy-future-the-factors-in-the-fossil-fuels-decline/comment-page-1/#comment-28565 Hollins Corner Sun, 12 Aug 2012 05:47:59 +0000 http://appvoices.org/?p=26365#comment-28565 Thank you for this clear, factual to the point, honest interpretation of all of the elements that are involved in this issue. I am a political science/pre-law student in Ga. I am from East TN and grew up hearing stories of coal mining. I know how vital the mines have been to providing a source of income to appalachian families for the last 100 years. I have been researching this topic for hours and had come up with a general consensus the same as yours. Many of my friends and family are blaming the federal government for the recent layoffs by ARCH. That blame is very misleading. The Governor of Kentucky admitted that they have known for years this was coming. The federal government is working as fast as they can to create coal technology that will reduce the Carbon omissions. Millions of dollars have been given to the leading research centers to find a solution yesterday. But as you stated all of this is irrelevant. The lay off's are about the competition with natural gas. There are just as many lobbyists and congressmen fighting for the use of natural gas as their are for coal. And unfortunately the coal industry has many things going against it such as safety, environment and health risks. This is unfortunately a time of change that has come about simply by the laws of nature. The company makes no mention of the layoffs on their website other than the same brief statements that can be read in headlines across the region. I also did not find and formal appology or statement of concern about the lay offs on their site. But I did find lots of marketing for investors. I also saw that they are in the top five in the stock market and are grwoing. As for the people facing unemployment I hope they realize that the same President they are mistakenly blaming for their loss of work is the person who will continue to fight for unemployment and welfare programs that keep people in situations like this from suffering. I pray that this information reaches the masses in Kentucky, West Virginia and all of the families and friends of those affected before they go out and vote for a President who will cut the welfare programs, unemployment, social security, medicare etc while he gives compnanies like Arch huge tax breaks so they can put it all back into his campaign 4 years from now. Such a tragedy. Thank you for this clear, factual to the point, honest interpretation of all of the elements that are involved in this issue. I am a political science/pre-law student in Ga. I am from East TN and grew up hearing stories of coal mining. I know how vital the mines have been to providing a source of income to appalachian families for the last 100 years. I have been researching this topic for hours and had come up with a general consensus the same as yours. Many of my friends and family are blaming the federal government for the recent layoffs by ARCH. That blame is very misleading. The Governor of Kentucky admitted that they have known for years this was coming. The federal government is working as fast as they can to create coal technology that will reduce the Carbon omissions. Millions of dollars have been given to the leading research centers to find a solution yesterday. But as you stated all of this is irrelevant. The lay off’s are about the competition with natural gas. There are just as many lobbyists and congressmen fighting for the use of natural gas as their are for coal. And unfortunately the coal industry has many things going against it such as safety, environment and health risks. This is unfortunately a time of change that has come about simply by the laws of nature. The company makes no mention of the layoffs on their website other than the same brief statements that can be read in headlines across the region. I also did not find and formal appology or statement of concern about the lay offs on their site. But I did find lots of marketing for investors. I also saw that they are in the top five in the stock market and are grwoing. As for the people facing unemployment I hope they realize that the same President they are mistakenly blaming for their loss of work is the person who will continue to fight for unemployment and welfare programs that keep people in situations like this from suffering. I pray that this information reaches the masses in Kentucky, West Virginia and all of the families and friends of those affected before they go out and vote for a President who will cut the welfare programs, unemployment, social security, medicare etc while he gives compnanies like Arch huge tax breaks so they can put it all back into his campaign 4 years from now. Such a tragedy.

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