Hi everyone,

My name is Elma Dostovic and I am a freshman at Appalachian State University. I first found out about Appalachian Voices when I was looking for an organization to volunteer with for a class assignment. However, when I came here and learned about what is going on and when I learned the facts about what damage mountaintop removal is really causing, I knew I’d help no matter what. It wasn’t about my assignment anymore. I loved seeing how much people who work here care about this cause and how much hard work they put in every day. I’ve been coming in since the end of March and helping around the office in any way I could, and I cant wait to come back next year and continue helping!!!

One of the things I did while working here was writing a letter to Virginia Foxx, and this is something we encourage everyone to do. It really shows our representatives that we care about what’s going on and that there is something that they can do to help.

Take a look at the letter I wrote and hopefully it will inspire you to write one to your representative!!!

Dear Representative Foxx,
I am writing to you today to urge you to support the Clean Water Protection Act which would make mountaintop removal illegal. I have just recently become involved with Appalachian Voices, and I have already learned so many disturbing facts. Mountaintop removal mining has buried more more than 1,000 miles of streams and more than 400,000 acres of Appalachia’s mountains have been leveled. It saddens me toknow that this is happeneing and that our government is doing nothing about it. Now that I know what is happening, I am going to do my part and Inform as many people as possible, and I hope that you will use your power and help us end mountaintop removal mining because, the distruction of homes, communities, and lives has to stop. I encourage you to cosponsor and support the Clean Water Protection Act to help protect our waterways and end the destructive practice of mountaintop removal mining. I am eager to hear back from you and I value your opinion.

Thank You!