2008 – Issue 7 (December)

Virginia could cut new power plant construction — and save money in the process — under a new plan to reduce carbon emissions and promote energy conservation. The plan emerged from the Governor’s Commission on Climate Change this November, and legislation from the planning process will be proposed at the state level in 2009. “This…

MEMO TO: President-elect Obama FROM: The Appalachian Alliance Dear President-elect Obama, … We are dealing with the devastating effects of the cycle of coal, from extraction, cleaning, transport, burning and the disposal of coal combustion waste. Coal industry abuse has cost many of us our homes, our health, our loved ones, and sometimes our entire…

By Paul L. Angermeier Paul Angermeier is a research scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey and a professor at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA Appalachia is blessed with fantastic biological diversity that is practically invisible to most of us. Biodiversity is the variety of living organisms and their assemblages in our backyards and regions. It’s…

By Wess Harris Wess Harris is a former coal miner, a union organizer, a farmer and the editor of When Miners March Blair Mountain is a site that is sacred to American labor, so why not claim it as our own? Blair Mountain should become the Blair Mountain Center for the Development of American Labor.…

By George Brosi George Brosi is the Editor of Appalachian Heritage at Berea College, KY The future of Appalachia will be great if we can clean up and renew our infrastructure — in the broad sense of that term.  If we can’t, there will be two Appalachias: one of fancy gated communities and the other…

By Theresa L. Burriss Theresa L. Burriss is an assistant professor of English and Appalachian studies at Radford University. Burriss also serves as the contributing senior editor of Pluck! The Journal of Affrilachian Arts & Culture. Appalachia is spiritually bankrupt. Despite the noble efforts of activist organizations and religious groups, mountaintop removal coal mining continues…

By Dr. Jeff Boyer Dr Boyer is a professor in the Anthropology Department and Sustainable Development Program at Appalachian State University Peering into Appalachia’s crystal ball, 20 years out is mostly full of “ifs.” But if the current economic recession darkens our gaze, the recent election was more about hope than fear, regardless of how…

By Rory McIlmoil Rory McIlMoil is the Coal River Wind Campaign Coordinator for the Coal River Mountain Watch Through the employment of Mountaintop Removal (MTR) mining methods, the Appalachian coal industry has evolved. Now it is not merely suppressing economic diversification and prosperity in Appalachia as it has traditionally done. Now it is completely destroying…

By Harvard Ayers Harvard Ayers is a professor of Anthropology at Appalachian State University and a founding Board Member of Appalachian Voices. Appalachia has long been the source of water for vast areas both east and west of our region. From points east to the Atlantic to points west to the Mississippi River, our once…