I'm a West Virginian who has went off to college, finished my studies, and then turned around just to come work back in the mines. I know about this life. I know that its not something that you tree huggers could ever understand, especially not with just a few trips here. Don't worry about our safety or our neck of the woods. We don't need your worries. We just want to be left alone so we can do our job. We know the dangers and we do it anyway. Coal isn't just an industry. Its our way of life.
Big Coal runs your life and, out of fear, few people who work in the coal industry speak up when they know things are wrong because of fear of job loss. Do you really believe it's okay to rape the earth by blasting off entire tops of mountains? No one says all mining is bad. But mountaintop removal coal mining is immoral. Period. Or do you think polluting an entire water supply and killing innocent people (brain tumors, gall bladder removals, the list is long...) is no big deal?
@chicagowriters Coal does run our life, but we wouldn't have it any other way. We're not afraid of coal companies. Just look at the coal wars that happened here years ago. Miners still have that same fighting spirit and we use whenever we feel our way of life is under attack. We know what's safe and we make our decisions about where we work just like everybody else in this world. As for MTR, I work on the strip, and I drink the same water everybody else around here does and no health problems.
@chicagowriters if you need to fix all the worlds problems then why don't you start with fighting drug abuse, homosexuality, and stuff like that. Leave the people who know what its like to crawl under a mountain or have to make their living shooting the top off of one alone. We don't ask for your approval and quite frankly we could care less your opinions, but you have a right to them all the same. MTR is safe. Mountains are put back where they were and trees grow back. I've saw it many times.
What the crap?? Are these people griping about the environment because of coal?? If that's the case, tell me to quit using electricity and we will just keep our men home safe!!
Mountaintop removal coal mining is a violation of the earth God has given us, and which we are expected to protect (not destroy). Are you saying it is okay to blast holes in the earth for consumeristic greed? I think if you can look beyond defensiveness and talk about things like renewable energy and green practices (are you listening, Massey Coal?), then there might actually be something worth discussing. MTR kills people and poisons their water, plain and simple.
I'm a West Virginian who has went off to college, finished my studies, and then turned around just to come work back in the mines. I know about this life. I know that its not something that you tree huggers could ever understand, especially not with just a few trips here. Don't worry about our safety or our neck of the woods. We don't need your worries. We just want to be left alone so we can do our job. We know the dangers and we do it anyway. Coal isn't just an industry. Its our way of life.
southernboy75 9 months ago
@southernboy75
Big Coal runs your life and, out of fear, few people who work in the coal industry speak up when they know things are wrong because of fear of job loss. Do you really believe it's okay to rape the earth by blasting off entire tops of mountains? No one says all mining is bad. But mountaintop removal coal mining is immoral. Period. Or do you think polluting an entire water supply and killing innocent people (brain tumors, gall bladder removals, the list is long...) is no big deal?
chicagowriters 9 months ago
@chicagowriters Coal does run our life, but we wouldn't have it any other way. We're not afraid of coal companies. Just look at the coal wars that happened here years ago. Miners still have that same fighting spirit and we use whenever we feel our way of life is under attack. We know what's safe and we make our decisions about where we work just like everybody else in this world. As for MTR, I work on the strip, and I drink the same water everybody else around here does and no health problems.
southernboy75 9 months ago
@chicagowriters if you need to fix all the worlds problems then why don't you start with fighting drug abuse, homosexuality, and stuff like that. Leave the people who know what its like to crawl under a mountain or have to make their living shooting the top off of one alone. We don't ask for your approval and quite frankly we could care less your opinions, but you have a right to them all the same. MTR is safe. Mountains are put back where they were and trees grow back. I've saw it many times.
southernboy75 9 months ago
What the crap?? Are these people griping about the environment because of coal?? If that's the case, tell me to quit using electricity and we will just keep our men home safe!!
rockinlocksone1 11 months ago
@rockinlocksone1
Mountaintop removal coal mining is a violation of the earth God has given us, and which we are expected to protect (not destroy). Are you saying it is okay to blast holes in the earth for consumeristic greed? I think if you can look beyond defensiveness and talk about things like renewable energy and green practices (are you listening, Massey Coal?), then there might actually be something worth discussing. MTR kills people and poisons their water, plain and simple.
chicagowriters 9 months ago