December 2014/January 2015

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Other Top Stories

Exposed: Linking Human Health and the Environment

As an assortment of pollutants leach into our lives, the harmful effects continue to surface in public health. Read about the connections between human health and environmental concerns associated with energy, pesticides and climate change. This article is featured in an Appalachian Voices webinar

Breaking Boundaries: Contemporary Appalachian Art

No solid boundaries define the work of contemporary Appalachian artists. Some pull from the narratives and imagery embedded in the region’s landscape and culture, while others reject tradition and embrace globalized approaches to their work. Yet what unites all of these artists are the stories they each hold, waiting to be told.

Fighting Mountaintop Removal During the Obama Years

In 2009, representatives of the new Obama administration repeated that “the administration will do what the science calls for.” In Appalachia, the science calls for an end to mountaintop removal coal mining. Six years later, mountaintop removal is still happening.

Appalachia’s Health Checkup

For decades, residents of Appalachia have struggled with poor health and disproportionate rates of chronic disease. In the face of these challenges, efforts to bring medical care to those in need and foster healthier communities are growing.

Remembering an Environmental Warrior

Lenny Kohm was an activist who inspired countless people from the Arctic to Appalachia to stand up and exercise their right to protect the land and communities they love. We share several of the many tributes made to this hero, known by many as “The Chief.”

Southeast Solar Updates

Catch up on regional solar news, from an experimental solar power plant to community solar initiatives to good and bad state policies.

Entrepreneur Banks on the Sun

The contraption looks like a piece of a tanning bed, exposed on a rooftop, leaning toward the sun. But rather than emitting powerful UV rays, these tubes capture them and heat water in a process called solar thermal, harnessing the sun’s energy at a rate that is more than five times more effective than most photovoltaic solar panels.

Columns

Hiking the Highlands

Tallulah Gorge State Park

With six majestic waterfalls and more than 20 miles of hiking trails that range from pleasant strolls to challenging adventures, Tallulah Gorge is a true jewel of the southern mountains.

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Naturalist's Notebook

Sandhill Cranes: A Winter Spectacle in Southeast Tennessee

Each winter, thousands of redheaded, long-legged sandhill cranes descend upon the mud flats and grain fields along the banks of the Tennessee River at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Southeast Tennessee.

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Member Spotlight

Appalachian Voices Uncovers Clean Water Violations in Kentucky

Judge Rejects Deals Between State and Coal Company…

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Politics

Fighting Mountaintop Removal During the Obama Years

In 2009, representatives of the new Obama administration repeated that “the administration will do what the science calls for.” In Appalachia, the science calls for an end to mountaintop removal coal mining. Six years later, mountaintop removal is still happening.

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Appalachia’s Environmental Votetracker: Dec.-Jan. 2014 issue

See how Appalachian congressional representatives voted on several environmental issues during fall 2014.

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This Green House

Crowdfunding Solar in West Virginia

In a state known for coal, solar energy emerges through a grassroots “barn-raising.” This innovative program relies on energy efficiency and a collaborative spirit to harness the sun’s power for community nonprofits.

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