Church “Shares the Plate” with App Voices

Appalachian Voices recently had the honor of being chosen for Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church’s “Share The Plate” program, in which the Pittsburgh, Pa., church donates 50 percent of their quarterly tithings to a justice-related nonprofit. After seeing an Appalachian Treasures presentation organized by local activist Shane Freeman, the Reverend David McFarland and the church board decided to sponsor Appalachian Voices as their fourth quarter “Share The Plate” organization. Longtime field staff member Austin Hall paid a visit to the church to accept the generous $1,250 check. We’re honored and thankful to receive this donation from our new friends at Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church.

Voice Team Receives Investigative Journalism Grant

In January, the editors of The Appalachian Voice received a grant from the Society of Environmental Journalists’ Fund for Investigative Journalism. Funds from the grant paid for research and travel costs as we investigated issues surrounding the past and present problems of coal slurry impoundments in the region and the enforcement troubles plaguing mined land reclamation under the Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act. Check out the stories on pages 14 and 18.

Go West, Appalachian Treasures!

Our Appalachian Treasures tour, a multimedia presentation that educates people about the impacts of mountaintop removal coal mining on communities in Appalachia, is feeling spring fever and making plans to head to the other side if the country.

During March, our Director of Campaigns Lenny Kohm will make a Southwestern tour of Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and in April, our Washington, D.C. Director Kate Rooth will travel to Oregon and Washington state to share our presentation and talk with people about the national campaign to end mountaintop removal. Residents of communities impacted by the mountaintop removal method of coal mining will rendezvous with the tour to provide first-hand testimony.

Since 2002, the Appalachian Treasures tour has traveled to over 30 states and talked to over 10,000 people about mountaintop removal coal mining.

Visit AppalachianVoices.org/apptreasures for updates on our tour schedule!

SAVE THE DATE: Registration Opens March 1 for Week in Washington

Join The Alliance for Appalachia and Appalachian Voices in Washington, D.C., June 4-6, 2012 for the 7th annual End Mountaintop Removal Week in Washington. You’ll get the chance to work toward an end to mountaintop removal coal mining in Central and Southern Appalachia by meeting with members of Congress and the federal agencies that regulate mountaintop removal.

In 2011, more than 150 people from 23 states as well as directly impacted communities in Appalachia gathered to ask Congress to support the Clean Water Protection Act and end mountaintop removal coal mining.

Registration begins March 1. Visit iLoveMountains.org to register.