2009 Goldman Prize for North America: Maria Gunnoe

In the heart of Appalachia, where the coal industry wields enormous power over government and public opinion, lifelong resident Maria Gunnoe fights against environmentally-devastating mountaintop removal mining and valley fill operations. Her advocacy has led to the closure of mines in the region and stricter regulations for the industry.

The Goldman Environmental Prize is the world's largest award for grassroots
environmentalists. Awarded annually since 1990, the Prize is given to environmental heroes from the six continental regions of Africa, Asia, Islands & Island Nations, Europe,
North America and South & Central America.

The Prize is announced in April every year, to coincide with the international
celebration of Earth Day. It includes a trip to San Francisco to accept the cash award of $150,000 per winner. Recipients receive a bronze sculpture that interprets the crosscultural motif of a snake with its tail in its mouth. Known as the ouroboros, this symbol is associated with nature's powers of renewal.

The purpose of the Prize is to recognize sustained and significant efforts to preserve the natural environment, including, but not limited to, protecting endangered ecosystems and species combating destructive development projects; promoting sustainability; influencing environmental policies;and striving for environmental justice.

Learn more at http://www.goldmanprize.org

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[iLoveMountainsOrg]

Great work. We love you Maria!

[bennyspider1]

Congrats Maria

[Love our Humans]

This is interesting in that if these companies would protect out land, waters and air they could still do their business. The problem is when they are rarely responsible for it because of high payouts to our representatives from the special interest groups. Like many corporations that harm our environment, (for example a BP oil spill) the maximum penalty could be $40,000 per day, when they make over 1 million in one day. Or $4,300 per barrel of oil spilled. Do you think they would sweat it?

[Love our Humans]

Cuddos to Maria. We need more people like her. :-)

[obbstory]

Thanks Maria for your voice! bob

[Jessie Gunnoe]

I know what you mean about respect. But the sad truth is that the working man is not working for what he did 20 years ago. Coal makes up 52% of this nations energy.......but what they don't tell you is that almost 73% of that 52% comes from china. So in reality AMERICAN coal only makes up about 15% of this nations energy. We send our sending our high quality coal to China to pay our outstanding debt to them, and they ship us their lower quality coal in return. Way of the world

[Bdasef]

It's not the coal miners that are causing the "undoing" damage to the mountains, it's the big coal companies using these methods of mountain top removal. Yes, my power company uses coal for our energy. It's about SAFE COAL MINING that ensures coal miners SAFETY, spending money in THERE where it's NECESSARY - putting safety measures in place where they've FAILED & Ensuring JOBS - MTR threatens true coal miners jobs & the health of all mountain residents. I respect the true coal miners 100%.

[Zelphia Thacker]

Hey look up uses for coal you idiots!!! And tell me that you all don't uses 90% of the stuff that coal is used to produce. Such as Streets, Plastic Bottles and of course lights !!! I am from PIke County Kentucky and it a place were our men dig in the mines. But around here we have a large respect for those men. THey break their backs everyday!!! And we will fight to keep our coal!!!!

[ownerofyourblackass]

look at the crooked blankenship and wv. justices that were BOUGHT to keep RAPING the people of wv .. deep mining would COMPLETELY support our countries needs,, MTR is what supplies the coal mine OWNERS needs... bush screwed this country as gov. of texas with the S&L scandles of the 80's-- then these stupid people voted him in office to FINISH the job in 2000... he appointed a CROOK TO THE SUPREME COURT TO OVERRIDE AND START MTR AGAIN...lobbied by tons of coal lobbyists..thank you - you bastards

[ownerofyourblackass]

well, coal is shit.!! is isn't needed in reality as their are, and always have been other forms of energy.. nuclear is a very safe and potent energy IF handled properly. BUT the goddamn goverment sees to it that it is keep down for it doesn't pay the crooked politicians in a way they can hide it... reseach this and you will discover that coal in wv is almost COMPLETELY exported out of this country... that crooked gov. has sided with massey to sell to china....most mines are out of state owned...

[SustainableSchmidt]

I hope people read the comment from "thecoalclub" and use it to understand the threats Maria must be under - she is a great american, and because of that these people call her a terrorist. Well I guess that makes me one too. Wake up America, the real threats to our country are people like thecoalclub.