2010 – Issue 3 (September/October)
Econo-vironment
Communities across Appalachia strive to ensure the economic and environmental health of their region by launching innovative programs focused on long-term solutions. Stories by Julie Johnson Since September of 2001, over 6,400 West Virginia National Guardsmen have served in multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Currently, there are 998 active military reservists that will…
Read More“Appalachia Rising” To Rise Up in D.C.
By Jillian Randel A weekend of mobilizing will take place in Washington D.C., September 25-27, designed to help citizens learn what they can do to help end mountaintop removal coal mining. The Voices of the Mountains Conference, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, will feature workshops and panel discussions about Appalachia, civil disobedience, and the issues…
Read MoreOld Dominion Postpones Seeking Air Permits for Proposed VA Power Plant
By Sandra Diaz Wise Energy for Virginia coalition, a coalition of several environmental organizations whose mission is help secure a clean energy future for Virginia, has recently seen progress in their campaign to stop construction of a new coal-fired power plant in the Hampton Roads area proposed by Old Dominion Electric Co-op (ODEC). ODEC recently…
Read MoreStewards of the Rock
Story and Photos by Megan Naylor Bouldering is a sport of strength, power and dynamics focusing on pure contact with the rock, free from harnesses, ropes and racks of gear. It brings both climber and rock together in a rhythmic balance of fluid grace and technical moves. What began as a niche sport is now…
Read MoreHints of Autumn on Falls Branch Trail
Written by Lesley Eaton In the left hand corner of a small parking lot off the side of a curvy mountain highway sits a trailhead, an entrance into another world of sorts. A few feet after stepping off the pavement and onto the trail, I close my eyes to thoroughly take in my new surroundings.…
Read MoreKeeping On the Sunny Side: Carter Family Fold Survives In Spite of Tragedy
Written by Joe Tennis Like the traditional tunes collected by her grandfather, Rita Forrester carries on, always trying to “Keep On the Sunny Side.” Even in the face of tragedy. In December 2009, Forrester awoke to find her home in flames, barely escaping in her nightgown. Forrester, granddaughter of musicians A.P. and Sara Carter, lost…
Read MoreTurning Trash Into Glass
Former Landfill Fuels The Pursuit of Art By Maureen Halsema Nestled in the Black Mountains of western North Carolina, lies a unique twist on a trash heap. In 1994, creative minds from Yancey and Mitchell counties came together to discuss the closure of their 21-year-old landfill in Burnsville, N.C. From that mountain of trash sprouted…
Read MoreNauHaus—A Sustainable Home For Today
By Maureen Halsema Combining ancient building methods with modern science, a group of engineers and scientists are striving to change the world through structural design. The goal: to create a carbon neutral home and increase the structure’s efficiency by 90 percent. Welcome to the Nauhaus—a prototype home in Asheville, N.C., designed by the Nauhaus Institute,…
Read MoreCoal and After Coal
What can Appalachian learn about coal mining from the small country of Wales? The Appalachia Studies Department at Appalachian State University will host the “Appalachia and Wales: Coal and After Coal” symposium October 14-16 in Boone, N.C. The conference will address the parallel relationship between Appalachia and Wales, a country that suffered from destructive coal…
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