BLOGGER INDEX
Friday, April 17th, 2015 | Posted by Jamie Goodman | No Comments
Appalachian Voices would like to welcome Tarence, Ray, our newest member to the team! Serving as our new Central Appalachian Field Coordinator, Tarence will be working in central Appalachia helping expand our Appalachian Water Watch project and working on federal policy to end mountaintop removal coal mining.
[ Read More ]Thursday, March 19th, 2015 | Posted by Jamie Goodman | No Comments
We’re delighted to welcome two new members to the Appalachian Voices family! Adam Wells will be serving as our Economic Diversification Campaign Coordinator in southwest Virginia, where his roots reach back six generations. Amy Kelly, who traces her roots in the Volunteer state back to the 18th century, will work with local residents to grow energy efficiency programs as our Tennessee Energy Savings Outreach Coordinator. [ Read More ]Friday, February 27th, 2015 | Posted by Jamie Goodman | No Comments
It's official --- Appalachian Voices is partnering with one of the premiere music and arts festivals in the country to spread some serious love for mountains! This year, we were chosen to be Floydfest's featured nonprofit, and together we're cooking up some fun and exciting ways to promote stewardship of the Appalachian mountains during the 5-day extravaganza. [ Read More ]Friday, December 12th, 2014 | Posted by Jamie Goodman | No Comments
This coming Monday, HBO will premiere an entirely new documentary series that celebrates the children who will inherit the planet and their appreciation of the wonders of the natural world. A lyrical mix of science, animation, and music, "Saving My Tomorrow" is a call from kids to kids to help take care of the planet.
[ Read More ]Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014 | Posted by Jamie Goodman | No Comments
We are delighted to announce that all the great content found in the print edition of our beloved bi-monthly publication, The Appalachian Voice, is now available on our website, through our newly revamped online presence. Before diving in to read the latest issue of The Voice online, take a moment to learn about the new features you'll find inside.
[ Read More ]Monday, September 29th, 2014 | Posted by Jamie Goodman | 5 Comments
Thursday, February 27th, 2014 | Posted by Jamie Goodman | No Comments
Appalachian Voices was among a handful of entities invited by Google to provide maps for the Maps Gallery, which launched today. Our offerings include a map that shows how families in the Southeast pay a higher percentage of their income for electricity compared to the national average, one that shows average poverty rate by electric utility territory, and six maps that highlight the connection between mountaintop removal coal mining and poverty and health issues. In conjunction with the Maps Gallery launch, we also released a new report explaining in detail the data we pulled from to create the maps. [ Read More ]Tuesday, February 11th, 2014 | Posted by Jamie Goodman | 1 Comment
Early Tuesday morning there was a significant slurry spill at Patriot Coals Kanawah Eagle operation. Over 100,000 gallons of toxic coal slurry spilled into Fields Creek near Charleston, WV. Members of the Appalachian Water Watch team were at the site to investigate.
[ Read More ]Tuesday, February 11th, 2014 | Posted by Jamie Goodman | 1 Comment
A budget amendment has been introduced in the Virginia General Assembly requesting an initial $2.5 million for the development of a new state park in the Clinch River area. But legislators need to hear from residents TODAY (Feb. 11) that a new Click River State Park will create positive economic development in our beautiful region. Take Action NOW!
[ Read More ]Tuesday, November 19th, 2013 | Posted by Jamie Goodman | No Comments
For the past 18 years, photographer Carl Galie has devoted his artistic talents to conservation work, and his latest exhibit is no exception. "Lost on the Road To Oblivion: The Vanishing Beauty of Coal Country," tackles the difficult and poignant subject of mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia. The exhibit is on display at Appalachian State University's Turchin Center for the Visual Arts through Feb. 7, 2014.
[ Read More ]Friday, August 10th, 2012 | Posted by Jamie Goodman | No Comments
While it’s no shock to those of us who live in the region, the facts are now out that the coal-hungry states of the grand old Southeast are among the worst for air pollution caused by coal-fired power plants.
Just yesterday, the Natural Resources Defense Council released a special report called the “Toxic 20,” a comprehensive look at the twenty most polluted states in the nation due to coal pollution.
Unsurprisingly, ALL TEN of the Central and Southern Appalachian states (as defined by the Appalachian Regional Commission) made the list, including Kentucky, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Alabama.
Other Southern states include Mississippi, Missouri, Texas, Maryland and even good old Florida (although according to BBQ lore they may not actually be a Southern state).
Without further adieu, we present:
Thursday, July 19th, 2012 | Posted by Jamie Goodman | No Comments
A fair percentage of mountaintop removal-mined Appalachian coal is apparently not staying in Appalachia. Nor the Southeast. Nor even the U.S.
As a Chinese fortune I once saw said, it’s heading for a long voyage across the great water.
According to a report prepared by the Democratic staff of the Natural Resources Committee and Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass), exports of mountaintop removal mined coal in Appalachia have exploded in the past few years, with more than 97 mountaintop removal mines in Appalachia collectively exporting 27 percent of their production in 2011 — more than doubling the export percentage from 2008.
The coal is apparently heading for places like Russia, South America, China and India.
Other highlights of the report include:
According to the Committee’s press release, the study’s results were gathered using “data from the Energy Information Administration, the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration, and included self-reported data from the mines themselves.”
The report, entitled “Our Pain, Their Gain,” seems to point to the fact that Appalachian communities, and even Appalachian miners (see Ken Ward’s post titled “Strip miners face serious black lung risks”) are being sacrificed for profit from overseas sales. But the coal industry wouldn’t think of doing that, now would it?
Or, would it?
Sadly, I think it already is.
