The Last Mountain - [TRAILER] - Copyright © 2010 Uncommon Productions

[rocklicker96]

Another propaganda film about mean, bad, killer coal. You could make this same movie with the same sound effects and dramatic music and screaming people about anything....gerber baby food, Kleenex tissues. Drama sells and it plays on the emotions of mindless, ignorant people that don't know or are too lazy to think for themselves. Coal keeps our nation alive. Its what makes our nation strong and powerful. If you don't like it, you can quit using it and freeze to death in the dark.

[Zerozx11645]

@rocklicker96 or, you know, we could begin using other forms of energy in time. You seem to have a status quo bias. it isn't as black and white as you make it seem.

[rocklicker96]

@Zerozx11645 Maybe I am biased. That bias comes from proven, factual data that the current alternative energy sources can not and will not provide enough energy for the current demand, let alone the growth of the future. Wind and solar are pipe dreams at best and coal is the only energy source that can keep up with the demand and keep America strong. Name one single third world country that has an energy infrastructure like that of the US or any other first world country. ENERGY = SUCCESS

[rapeasaurus1]

@rocklicker96 you seriously need to watch this movie if you think the practices of the coal industry are okay. They could continue to mine for coal without blowing up the mountain by using shafts. This would provide more jobs AND the mountains wouldn't have to be destroyed. They can also at least reduce their harmful emissions but choose not to because this would cost money. We have enough wind in the midwest to power the entire country. We must look into this!

[TheMobean]

PLAYING TONIGHT IN PITTSBURGH , PA @ the Harris Theater! COME SEE HOW YOU ARE AFFE CTED BY COAL! There will be a Q & A after screening and panel discussion.  COME OUT AND SEE THIS FILM!

[jordanstripminer]

everytime i see this it just makes me more mad it pisses me off so much how people can lie..and just dont care to try to do away with over 20,000 -50,000 jobs related to coal strip mines i mean come on were in the world or what is that many people goin to do for a job unlike most people in this country I LIKE TO WORK FOR WHAT I HAVE ....and not just set on my but and get a check sent to me piss on this if none of you like it turn your lights off or pay a much much  higher power bill your choice

[SSparks555]

@jordanstripminer What will you do when you run out of mountains??? Goto the moon?

[dgrub]

@SSparks555 None of us will be alive when we "run out of mountains", which is just a laughable comment to make. Take a look on google maps at the appalachian mountains and tell me if we are short on mountains. Most of the mountains either don't have coal, or have coal that is not economical to mine! The title of this movie alone should tell people that it is a dramatized propaganda effort.

Do you like electricity? Do you like steel? If you do - you like coal, buddy.

[SSparks555]

@dgrub There is no planet "b". We only get to play this game ONCE !!! I am only doing my part, however small it might be :)

[dgrub]

@SSparks555 There's nothing wrong with contributing to a cause one believes in.. that shows more initiative than most Americans tend to have. But you need to see all sides of the issue! The coal industry isn't the big bad wolf that people make them out to be. People say they are destroying communities... these communities would not exist without mining, and most of these communities will die when the mining industry dies there. Mining is so highly regulated, they aren't destroying the world!

[rapeasaurus1]

@dgrub these communities could receive their energy from windmills built on the mountain ridges. It would provide more jobs and tax revenue for the communities. The coal industry could also mine for coal in a more environmentally sound manner. They bring in people, completely destroy the land and leave. The community does not benefit.

In fact, massey wants to depopulate the communities, which it has been successful in many times. Mining is not highly regulated enough.

[dgrub]

@rapeasaurus1 Windmills would not provide more jobs. All they would require is maintenance. Coal ming does not "bring in people", they hire workers from the communities themselves. The community does benefit because they receive the larger portion fo their tax revenues from the mining companies. I work very closely with the industry and I can tell you first hand that mining is safer, more productive, and more regulated than ever before in history. Again, there would be no

[rapeasaurus1]

@dgrub Coal is not taxed more heavily than wind. Quite the opposite, in fact. Also, wind is permanent but coal is temporary. Coal is becoming more dependent on machines than people, so they are minimizing their workforce. Coal mining is not safer, since the companies constantly break safety regulations and get away with it. It is also not more regulated since the bush administration greatly relaxed the regulations. And they get away with breaking the regulations anyway.

[dgrub]

@rapeasaurus1 communities in the first place if it weren't for coal. People came to the coal fields long ago to work for the timber and coal companies. This resulted in coal camps, which evolved into communities. Yes, when the coal companies left the communities they went down hill - but what obligation did they have to the communities? They created them, helped them flourish, then moved on - like any successful business should. It's capitalism, plain and simple.

[rapeasaurus1]

@dgrub that's not capitalism. That's just evil. I have a right to not have my property be unlivable because some corporate assholes want a little extra money. They don't even have to mine in such a destructive way! They could spare the communities AND the mountains if they were willing to invest a little more. But no. They brake rule after rule and get away with it because of corruption.

[rapeasaurus1]

@dgrub I can't believe you actually think it's okay to destroy communities. You are one sick person, my friend.

[dgrub]

@rapeasaurus1 I'm not saying that. I'm saying that without mining in the first place, what do these places have to offer? The land is not suitable for any industries other than tourism. Many of the communites would not be there if it weren't for the cut/ fill methods used to create the roads and flat areas for strutures. Drive through eastern Kentucky and tell me what they can replace mining with, and where they can find the space to do it....

[dgrub]

@rapeasaurus It's not as simple as "Communities are being destroyed." The potential for wealth from the coalfields in these areas is diminishing - thus, so are the communities that are the byproduct of the mining. It's really simple. Without mining there is no community! It's not evil, it's common sense. Why do you think the population has had trend of moving south over the past several decades? Industry left!! Are the people of Detroit evil because they stopped making cars???

[rapeasaurus1]

@dgrub the mountains are ideal for windpower and, as you admitted, tourism. The mountains have class 5 winds and could produce tons of electricity, collect more tax revenue, and create permanent and safe jobs. The coal companies could mine the coal by digging shafts instead of blowing up the mountains. I've made this argument many times and you still have yet to respond to it. There is also the matter of sustaining biodiversity, which you cannot put a price on.

[dgrub]

@rapeasaurus1 I've seen many of these studies. We even had one conducted on our company's property. Locations with consistent class 5 winds are rare. I would not be opposed to taking advantage of those suitable locations, but I think it is foolish to think that we could or should try to completely phase out fossil fuels. We have more coal than any other country in the world. Let's use that advantage while we can and take advantage of energy independence!

[rapeasaurus1]

@dgrub Idk that much so you might be right about it being uneconomical but i highly doubt this since the coal companies receive huge government subsidies and have immense lobbying power. Plus tourism and windpower are worth a lot to the economy, too. These C.E.O.'s is indeed evil since they constantly break regulations and selfishly put the environment and workers' safety and jobs in danger. Also, the department of energy says it's practical for wind power to provide 20% of our energy by 2030.

[rapeasaurus1]

@dgrub is a study about wind power completely unbiased and truthful when it is conducted by a coal company?

[dgrub]

@rapeasaurus1 I'm sure it would have had the potential to be biased if it *were* conducted by a coal company. However, I work for a land company. We lease property for any means - be it coal mining, gas or oil extraction, or even windmills. The study was not biased because our stake is not only in coal - but in the most economical options of land use for our properties.

[rapeasaurus1]

@dgrub okay, but this specific area in the movie has class 5 winds. Even if it's not class 5, wind mills can be run profitably virtually anywhere. They're even run profitably here in Wisconsin--although Scott Walker isn't exactly helping that-- where the conditions are less than ideal.

[dgrub]

@rapeasaurus1 The fact that you are from Wisconsin says a lot to me. You aren't in coal country. You only hear the horror stories the environmentalists tell. You don't see the studies that show the significant jump there would be in electric bills and how that would affect Americans. Think about how big of a deal it is when gas goes up a few cents every week. Compound that with an electric bill that goes up a few dollars every month. Bet there's be a few more coal supporters then..

[rapeasaurus1]

@dgrub I have a coal plant in my city. This affects all of us. Also, there are alternatives to coal. Obviously I don't think the switch can be done overnight, but it needs to start now.

[rapeasaurus1]

@dgrub Classic ignorance. The coal companies could dig shafts and not harm the environment. This would even allow for windmills to be created later and allow tourism--the region's fastest growing industry--to continue to prosper. But because of their greed, they are destroying the communities. They are selfishly putting the people nearby in serious danger by polluting their drinking water. And since when is massey in hard times? They're more profitable than ever? This argument makes no sense.

[rapeasaurus1]

@rapeasaurus1 *they're more profitable than ever.

[dgrub]

@rapeasaurus1 Listen, I do agree with parts of your argument. I agree that MTR isn't the best way of mining. In some situations it is beneficial (when the flat land can be utilized for airstrips, excercise facilities, airdrop training zones, animal grazing, etc. - as I've seen done on my company's properties). However, most of the MTR coal is inaccessable by deep mining methods - or is uneconimical to mine that way. So essentially, from a mining standpoint, it would become untouchable wealth

[dgrub]

@rapeasaurus1 I understand that MTR is not ideal, but until it is outlawed it is an effective way of making a profit - which is the goal of any industry. The industry is not evil, it is taking advantage of opportunity. Just like an American phone company outsourcing its call centers. Yes, it hurts the Americans that held that job before - but it keeps the company thriving, allowing it more $ for R & D, services to customers, and cheaper bills - just like electricity is cheap due to coal.

[rapeasaurus1]

@jordanstripminer they showed a site that was "reclaimed" in the movie. It's nothing like what it was before. Hastily planted grass--which rarely even survives--does not count as a forested area. Also, wind power employs just as many people in this country as coal.

You have to actually watch the movie before you can criticize it ;)

[jordanstripminer]

and there are animals everywere..its better then it was before people can actualy use this land take there familys on camping trips and with out the mining around here we would have nothing and there is no other type of job for us that pays as much or and provides the power that we all need in that United States..and all these jobs that you protest and try to get rid of just take when we lose our jobs our kids and wifes go without and it will be a cold day in hell before i let that happen

[jordanstripminer]

I am a strip miner and i love what i do and take great pride in what i do...in fact my job is to drill the holes that they fill with explosives to blow the mountain up, BUT!!! what was said in this video and what was showed was very old stuff its nothin like what it use to be...yes its still taking the tops off but we put them back reclaim everything plant tress and grass and the land is beautiful there are pictures of them but no one will show them pictures and thats the problem

[SSparks555]

If ever, I could travel to help, I will.

[CRaZy4RiGHT]

STOP!!!!!!!

[dgrub]

@CRaZy4RiGHT lol.  Educate yourself.