Something's Rising: Appalachians Fighting Mountaintop Removal

Novelist House (Clay's Quilt) and Kentucky journalist Howard, both "children of Appalachia," decided to pick up where the national media have left off in their environmental obsession, illuminating the long-growing mining crisis in Central Appalachia. Twelve Appalachians-among them a college student, former union organizers, community activists and the octogenarian "mother of folk," Jean Ritchey-provide first-hand accounts of a disappearing way of life, a vital ecology in rapid decline, an industry that refuses to take responsibility for the devastation it causes (blowing the tops off mountains is only the latest, most destructive technique), and a nation too hooked on cheap energy to help. If nothing else, these oral histories will give readers a sense of what's at stake on a personal level. Student Nathan Hall calls mining the best job he ever had: "I met the most interesting characters of my life... the most hilarious, most good hearted." Says Judy Bond, lifelong resident of the leading coal-producing county in W.V., "The more coal we mine, the poorer we get." This important collection illuminates the ongoing betrayal of the American mining town.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Mountaintop
• removal
• silas
• house
• jason
• howard
• activist
• mountaintop-removal
• coal
• mining
• Appalachia
• public
• out
• cry

[777Searchlight]

No easy solutions to be found anywhere . Myself I fully understand how important coal mining is to everyone but to remove an entire mountain causes so many problems . Like a polluted water table , destruction of wildlife ,and guess what the soil, rocks and whatnot ends up somewhere thus creating even more problems slips ,mudslides clogged streams ........

[GilesBoganski542]

Dnload the audio from this video at tubepull doht cohm.

[justaman6972]

understand when using the clause"The pursuit of happines" in the Constitution has to do with property rights ,nothing else. If you really want to know who you are email me and I will send you a ton of info on how to win this war on sovereignty. You need to know this.philsndy@gmail.com you must declare your sovereign status,or an assumption in law applies,which means they can assume you to be a citizen with civil rights,not God given natural rights,so I'll help you do this for free! I dont want $

[cardinalsboi22]

@8428mdeary no one has forgotten that, the coal industry trys to use that at every turn to justify their rape of our home place. It WILL make a difference to end MTR. If coal provides so many jobs then why has mining jobs dropped 29% since 1990. We havent forgotten anything because its the same propaganda the coal industry uses over and over. We'll start with our own home places then we'll worry about places like China.

[YarrowElfwind]

Thier are better ways to mine 8428, that is the problem, the companies are acting irresponsible, they are taking every short cut and underhanded thing to save money for thier already overflowing pockets. they are polluting the water supply, the soil and ppl are dying from it...they are getting cancer etc. There are many ways to produce electricity, ppl just have to persue those ways.

[8428mdeary]

just remember, be careful of what you wish for, you may just get it.

[8428mdeary]

The one thing all you people are forgetting is that coal powers the very electricity we use everyday. Coal provides jobs. Do you really think that if we stop mining it's going to make a difference? China and alot of other countries still are mining coal. As bad as the economy is you can't just expect to stop mining and the economy get better. Your forgetting all the related jobs that are tied in with the coal business and all those jobs that will be lost. What's going to happen when

[mountaingal42]

Thank you for all of the hard work that was put into this book. I think the most compelling reason to fight mountaintop removal and outlaw coal is because of the impact on local people--not just those that live below the valleys but how it takes away our ability to sustain employment and our economy for the long-term. You are true heroes. Keep up the good fight!