Banning fracking worldwide

An international tribunal on human rights, fracking and climate change is calling for a worldwide ban on fracking. The community of Union Hill, Va., helped play a role in this historic occasion.

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Volunteering in Virginia

New River Valley Bike Kitchen This all-volunteer organization located in Christiansburg supplies cheap, recycled bikes to underprivileged citizens. With 19 percent of the New River Valley population under the poverty line and half of the population living within a 10-mile commute to work, New River Valley Bike Kitchen embarked on a mission to provide a…

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Charlottesville Expands Electric Vehicle Initiative

By Chelsey Fisher Throughout many large cities in Appalachia, electric vehicle chargers are increasing in availability near car dealerships, highways and tourist attractions, making it easier for owners to travel in the area. Charlottesville, Va., is one such city promoting electric vehicles. Charlottesville’s first experience with electric vehicles started in 2012 when the city received…

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Agritourism Grows in Appalachia

By Brian Sewell Think of it as an extended growing season, where the opportunities arising from a region’s agricultural wisdom and the influx of tourists and conscious consumers are ripe for the picking. By marketing experience and education, not just products, Appalachian farms of every kind are going beyond the friendly transactions at the farmers…

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Tom Cormons: A Leader With a Purpose

When Tom Cormons left the East Coast to attend college in Charlottesville, Va., it didn’t take him long to fall in love with the mountains. Every opportunity he had during his time at the the University of Virginia, he hiked, paddled and climbed in the rugged mountains of Appalachia.He eventually met his wife, Heather, while…

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Central Virginia LEAPS into Energy Savings

By Cat McCue For a nonprofit organization just barely three years old, the Local Energy Alliance Program has racked up some impressive numbers: 1,000 homeowners served, 7 million kilowatt-hours of electricity conserved and a total of $500,000 annually saved on the homeowners’ electric bills. LEAP started in 2009 with a seed grant from the federal…

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Join Us at Jefferson Theater

By Jessica Kennedy Editorial assistant, Summer 2012 Just a week from today, Appalachian Voices will present a night of music, speakers and inspiration featuring leading environmental activist Jeff Goodell and Grammy-award winner Kathy Mattea. Artists for Appalachia celebrates Appalachian Voices’ 15th anniversary working to save the mountains of Appalachia. The event will be held in…

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