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Appalachian Coalfield Delegation Travels to Colombian Coal Region
(Part 1 of a 3 part series) Story by Sandra Diaz This June, I was fortunate enough to visit the Colombian coalfields with a delegation of people from across the U.S., including citizens from the Kentucky coalfields. The trip was organized by Witness for Peace, a group which sends delegations to bear witness and support…
Read MoreOn Pilot Mountain
Story by Joe Tennis Ask any fan of “The Andy Griffith Show” what mountain they remember hearing about most, and they’ll say Mount Pilot. Why, Andy Taylor and Barney Fife talked about going to Mount Pilot practically all the time. But where is it? Well, if we assume that Andy Griffith’s hometown of Mount Airy,…
Read MoreThe Firefly Phenomena
Story by Alison Singer For me, the mystique of fireflies began in childhood. We went outside with our mason jars, captured the beckoning lights with open palms. We held them under our blankets, or sleeping bags, and watched their flickering lights as we faded into sleep. I used to name all the fireflies I caught…
Read MoreLetters to the Editor
More News, Less Fluff Dear Editor, A number of years ago while visiting the Southern Appalachians for birding and botanizing, I picked up a copy of your newsletter and I have been an avid reader of it ever since. It has encouraged me to take many trips to the area since, which, of course, helps…
Read MoreUnequal Justice in the Coalfields
In the long and troubled history of Appalachia’s coal fields, violence between the industry and its critics in the labor and the environmental movements is not unusual. What needs to be understood now, however, is that the cycle of violence is escalating with the strong encouragement of the coal industry. Just this summer, events caught…
Read MoreAnother Coal Plant Goes Down
This Time in South Carolina — Today rate-payers and oxygen users can breathe a little easier, as the Santee Cooper company nixed its plans to build another coal plant in the state. A committee of the state-owned utility voted this morning to suspend an effort to secure permits for the $2.2 billion plant in Florence…
Read MoreFarces of Coal
Another shiny coal industry front group. How authentic. … The coal industry PR generators must be running low on fuel, because they have been misfiring repeatedly over the course of the Summer, and it looks like they may have another false start with “FACES” (Federation for American Coal, Energy, and Security). Who are they? Well…
Read MoreCoal Industry to hold “Friends of America” Rally
And you’re probably not invited. … On September 7th, a bunch of celebrities are throwing a party with Massey Energy to wrap themselves in the flag and put on a big event called the “Friends of America Rally.” The featured guests are Ted Nugent from Detroit, Sean Hannity from New York City, Hank Williams Jr.…
Read MorePublic Denied Entry into Polluters’ Ultimate Grassrootsfulness Fest
Polluting Industries Forging Support Suprise!, Still?, Again!?!. Wow. And its not just us craaaaaaaazy environmentalists: Thanks to our friends at Public Citizen!
Read MoreNo families allowed in “families for coal” group. Say again?
According to a Grist blog posted today titled “A Farce to be Reckoned With,” a Pennsylvania coal-industry group calling itself Families Organized to Represent the Coal Economy (FORCE) isn’t actually comprised of families after all. Instead, membership criteria is limited to “any Pennsylvania company doing business with the coal industry” and “coal and coal company-related…
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