Posts Tagged ‘2011 — Issue 3 (June/July)’
The Coal Report
Controversy over Coal Jobs, Mercury Poisoning and Liquid Coal By JW Randolph The often slow pace of progress in Washington D.C. hasn’t stopped the Obama Administration—or a divided Congress—from continuing an uproarious debate about coal, carbon and climate in the first half of 2011. In May, a House of Representatives subcommittee held a two part…
Read MoreSeeing the Forests Because We Left The Trees
The region of central and southern Appalachia has more national land of any other region east of the Rockies. The parks and forests of Appalachia bring tourism, and tourism brings tourist dollars which help to boost the economies of our small mountain communities. With 2,193 hiking and biking trails—including 330 miles of the Appalachian Trail—in just the Jefferson and George Washington national forests alone, even the most rabid eco-tourist should have plenty do to for a while.
Read MoreEditorial and Viewpoint
Blair Mountain: Preserving Our History, Our Integrity “And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed—if all records told the same tale—then the lie passed into history and became truth. ‘Who controls the past’ ran the Party slogan, ‘controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.’” — 1984, George Orwell Few…
Read MoreThe Waterfalls of Appalachia
Here are but six of the hundreds of named and unnamed waterfalls that tumble and twist through our Appalachian mountains. We hope you enjoy! See the state maps in this issue for location indicators. Virginia — Crabtree Falls By Joe Tennis A mere six miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway, near Milepost 27 in Nelson…
Read MoreHidden Treasures-West Virginia
A ruggedly beautiful landscape makes the Mountain State a huge draw for outdoor enthusiasts, but environmentally destructive mining practices pose a growing threat to attracting eco-tourism. Mountaintop Removal Threatens Outdoor Mecca By Jesse Wood Once a booming coal town in southern West Virginia, Fayetteville thrives today because of the outdoor recreation and tourism industry. Yet…
Read MoreOrchids: The Grace, Strength and Beauty of the Mountains
By Julie Johnson The beauty and mystique of Appalachia’s wild orchids have seduced many a woodland explorer. Like the flowers’ curious pollinating insects, these brilliant and prolific plants keep us coming back for more. Orchids are a fascinating study in plant intelligence and ecological symbiosis. To ensure the continued existence of their species, orchids, through…
Read MoreThe Crash Pad
Bunkbeds Never Looked So Good By Julie Johnson Hosteleers, your green dream is about to arrive. This June, The Crash Pad, the country’s first LEED certified hostel, will open in Chattanooga, Tenn. Forget the usual rickety bunk beds with questionable linens, crammed five or six to a room. The Crash Pad is a green-minded traveler’s…
Read MoreInside Appalachian Voices
“The Last Mountain” Makes its First Appearance Nationwide By Rachael Goss Film director Bill Haney recognized the highly visual and personal nature of mountaintop removal on communities and the environment. This summer Appalachian Voices will hit the road with his documentary, “The Last Mountain,” exposing the issue to new audiences across America. A Sundance Official…
Read MoreHidden Treasures – Virginia
400 hundred years of U.S. history and an eternity of natural wonders run from the Appalachian Mountain Ridges to the Shenandoah Valley and on to a coast that is one of the south’s finest. Music Tourism Gives Floyd Economy a Boost By Bill Kovarik and Jason Coleman If there is a poster child for music,…
Read MoreEnvironmental News from Around the Region
Shady Valley Residents Speaking out on Pesticide Use By Meg Holden Shady Valley, Tennessee is small, rural and quiet—quiet until now, that is. The recently formed organization Shady Valley Neighbors for Clean Air and Water is speaking out against environmental injustice in their community, and it isn’t so quiet in the valley now. B&W Quality…
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