Courts, Congress and Universities Consider How to Change Mountaintop Removal Policies

By Molly Moore | April 10, 2009 |

Story by Bill Kovarik The fight over mountaintop removal coal mining accelerated this spring, with action in the courts, the regulatory agencies, Congress and universities. For the first time in almost a decade, environmentalists appear to be winning. Courts gave the mining industry one initial victory in mid-February, when the pro-business U.S. 4th District court…

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Kids’ National Park Companion Hopes to Excite New Generation

By Molly Moore | April 10, 2009 |

Story by Alison Singer In 1986, the Eastern National Park & Monument Association (ENPMA) began the popular Passport to Your National Parks program. ENPMA, in cooperation with the National Park Service (NPS), developed imitation passports to encourage parents and children to visit the parks. Each passport includes maps, visitor information, photographs and illustrations. The passport…

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Appalachian Activists Answer Call to Civil Disobedience

By Molly Moore | April 10, 2009 |

Story by Alison Singer and Sarah Vig Protests erupted across the Appalachians this winter and spring as activists took to the streetsfor clean air and water and an end to dirty coal in all its phases—mining, processing, and burning—in an unprecedented way. On Coal River Mountain, activists and community members have been engaging in a…

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Mountain Aid

By Molly Moore | April 10, 2009 |

Story by David Brewer Music is often moving, but only once in a while does it help keep mountains from being moved. That is the hope behind the inaugural Mountain Aid festival, an ambitious effort to directly affect environmental change. Slated to take place from Friday to Sunday, June 19 to 21, at the Shakori…

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Dine Out for the Mountains!

By Jeff Deal | April 9, 2009 |

Sixth Annual Dine Out for the Mountains An Earth Day event to benefit Appalachian Voices To celebrate Earth Day, numerous restaurants in western North Carolina will donate a portion of their proceeds on Wednesday, April 22, to help Appalachian Voices protect the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. You can support Appalachian Voices and our efforts to safeguard…

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EPA objects to 3 more permits!

By Jeff Deal | April 8, 2009 |

Environmental Protection Agency Intervenes to Block A&G Coal’s Ison Rock Ridge MineCommunity members applaud decision to protect streams, residents Contacts: Oliver Bernstein, Sierra Club, 512.477.2152 Kathy Selvage, Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards 276.523.4380 or 276.328.1223 Appalachia, Virginia — In a victory for community members and for clean water, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week directed…

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Blair Mountain, WV is added to the National Register of Historic Places

By Jeff Deal | April 8, 2009 |

Many thanks to the Charleston Gazette for their report. Below is an excerpt: CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Blair Mountain — site of the historic 1921 coal-mining labor battle — has been named to the National Register of Historic Places, state officials and advocates for the designation said Monday. The designation, made by the Keeper of the…

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Job Posting with OVEC

By Front Porch Blog Editor | April 7, 2009 |

Our fellow organizers in West Virginia have an opening for a community organizer! The Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, or OVEC, is one of the oldest grassroots environmental groups in the region, and was the first to organize against mountaintop removal. Job Announcement: OVEC Coalfield Organizer/Project Coordinator The Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition (OVEC), based in Huntington,…

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April / May 2009 Issue in PDF format

By Jamie Goodman | April 6, 2009 |

Complete April / May 2009 issue in PDF format (8.8 MB) TO DOWNLOAD: PC Users: right-mouse click on the link above and choose SAVE AS or DOWNLOAD LINKED FILE AS… Mac Users: control+click on the link above and choose SAVE AS or DOWNLOAD LINKED FILE AS…    

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