Another great article, this time on the Coal River Wind Project, an effort to install a wind farm on one of the remaining mountains in Coal River Vally, currently threatened by mountaintop removal.
From Salon.com
Also, get an update on the Coal River Wind Project, here.
Blowing away King Coal
Can a scrawny young wind-power activist topple the biggest, dirtiest industry in West Virginia?
By Jeff Biggers
Jan. 29, 2009 | ROCK CREEK, W.V. -- On Jan. 16, as Barack Obama visited a wind turbine factory in Ohio, Rory McIlmoil snaked along a muddy mountain road in West Virginia on a similar mission. He was headed up Coal River Mountain, the last mountain left untouched in a historic range ravaged by strip mining.
On a ridge, the 28-year-old activist brought his four-wheeler to a skid. He couldn't believe what he saw. Bulldozers had begun clearing the site for the first phase of a mountaintop removal operation, a radical strip-mining process that would clear-cut 6,600 acres of hardwood trees, detonate thousands of tons of explosives and topple the mountain range into the valley. A 100-foot swath of forest just below the ridge lay like an open wound.
For McIlmoil, this should have been ground zero in Obama's green recovery plan. Not a future wasteland.
Read the full article here.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Dirty Coal Reaching a Tipping Point?
We may be reaching critical mass, in more regard than one. As explained, in such interesting detail, by Malcolm Gladwell in "The Tipping Point", social epidemics, such as ideas, fashions, or even virus's tend to spread exponentially through a population after reaching a certain point and touching a few key channels. It seems like the message of mountaintop removal, and the True Cost of Coal, is finally reaching that point at which it will soon become a commonly held fact. Let us work to further this progress, and spread this contagion!
Since I first learned about mountaintop removal, I had a gut feeling that "If only more people knew about it, it wouldn't be happening." It seems to be so vile a transgression against the Earth, that we simply can't let it continue once enough of us know it's happening. An idealistic perspective, I know. It will, at the very least, lay the context for seemingly radical action.
Well, the truth is finally making it's way into mainstream consciousness, in increasing frequency.
The recent TVA coal ash disaster, as horrible as it was, has served to punctuate the growing distrust of the pure marketing tactic known as the Clean Coal Lie. Although the toxic spill, 50 times larger than the Exxon Valdez has passed by some major media outlets, it did make several hits. Time magazine did an article on it (Jan 10, 09), titled "Exposing the Myth of Clean Coal Power"
And then today, I learn about a 12-page article entitled "Mining the Mountains" in Smithsonian Magazine, which brings our attention to the plights of a small West Virginia town.
To anyone paying attention to the stream of media and collective popularity of coal and coal issues, it is clear that we are approaching a tipping point. There is reason to be optimistic, for sure, and ample motivation to continue with this work, with a renewed sense of purpose and validation. We are going to change this thing around, each and everyone one of us.
As a side note, the last article will also bring you to this website, where you can see exactly where your energy comes from and what kind of emissions it causes. It also provides resources on cleaner and greener energy usage.
Since I first learned about mountaintop removal, I had a gut feeling that "If only more people knew about it, it wouldn't be happening." It seems to be so vile a transgression against the Earth, that we simply can't let it continue once enough of us know it's happening. An idealistic perspective, I know. It will, at the very least, lay the context for seemingly radical action.
Well, the truth is finally making it's way into mainstream consciousness, in increasing frequency.
The recent TVA coal ash disaster, as horrible as it was, has served to punctuate the growing distrust of the pure marketing tactic known as the Clean Coal Lie. Although the toxic spill, 50 times larger than the Exxon Valdez has passed by some major media outlets, it did make several hits. Time magazine did an article on it (Jan 10, 09), titled "Exposing the Myth of Clean Coal Power"
And then today, I learn about a 12-page article entitled "Mining the Mountains" in Smithsonian Magazine, which brings our attention to the plights of a small West Virginia town.
To anyone paying attention to the stream of media and collective popularity of coal and coal issues, it is clear that we are approaching a tipping point. There is reason to be optimistic, for sure, and ample motivation to continue with this work, with a renewed sense of purpose and validation. We are going to change this thing around, each and everyone one of us.
As a side note, the last article will also bring you to this website, where you can see exactly where your energy comes from and what kind of emissions it causes. It also provides resources on cleaner and greener energy usage.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
There is hope for the mountains, for us still.
With all the destruction happening in the Appalachia, it's important to remember that another future is possible. Another form of energy is possible. There is no reason to be destroying mountains and building new coal plants.
United Mountain Defense volunteer Chris Irwin brings us this set of aerial fly-over videos. Mountaintop removal (aka "strip-mining" has spread into Tennessee. This first shows the staggering destruction, as seen from above.
The second video, however, renews hope, bringing us a symbolic and beautiful image of wind turbines spinning in the clouds. Enjoy.
United Mountain Defense volunteer Chris Irwin brings us this set of aerial fly-over videos. Mountaintop removal (aka "strip-mining" has spread into Tennessee. This first shows the staggering destruction, as seen from above.
The second video, however, renews hope, bringing us a symbolic and beautiful image of wind turbines spinning in the clouds. Enjoy.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
In honor of our mountains
a guest post from Nichole
Walking towards beauty, I seek my mother's majesty. I search for her bosom, as I'm in need of sustenance. Walking along her water's, searching for the crest, the peaks. I feel her warmth, I'm in the heartbeat. Secure in this connection, I look up now, instead of down. My gaze is forward between her and the sun. Amidst the gaze I see her majesty, in ranges.
Ranges of mountains, caressing the sky so high. I've found the peaks of her sustenance. I will walk up to that range. I will walk up to that mountain that calls my will, my awe and wonder, my name. To the top, I am free. To the summit of her nectar, of her being. My love has grown, just in the journey. In the journey to be free.
- We Must Stop Mountain Top Removal -
We work til the day we expire to find a peaceful valley, yet it's here, within me and within you. In everybody. It's on the other side of every mountain. Walk up to the mountain. Look up and walk. And when you get there, you'll know. The peace will grow. The sight, panoramic, will glow.
"The peaceful valley
Just over the mountain
The peaceful valley
Few come to know
I may never get there
Ever in this lifetime
But sooner or later
It's there I will go
Sooner or later
It's there I will go"
I suppose these words make me imagine a lady living amongst the devastation of mountain top removal. Her life weaved in the appalachia's, she sees what beauty has been removed. She wonders if she'll ever see that peaceful valley again, as opposed to toxic slurries and destroyed earth. She dreams of being able to go up the mountain and witness a miracle, a restoration, a healing, and a cleansing of the devastation.
And she believes, maybe not in this lifetime, her dream would come true. That she may find that peaceful valley. That she may have a place, that peaceful valley place, to be able to transcend from and to. All she has now, is faith and will.
All she needs is faith and will.
-nichole
Walking towards beauty, I seek my mother's majesty. I search for her bosom, as I'm in need of sustenance. Walking along her water's, searching for the crest, the peaks. I feel her warmth, I'm in the heartbeat. Secure in this connection, I look up now, instead of down. My gaze is forward between her and the sun. Amidst the gaze I see her majesty, in ranges.
Ranges of mountains, caressing the sky so high. I've found the peaks of her sustenance. I will walk up to that range. I will walk up to that mountain that calls my will, my awe and wonder, my name. To the top, I am free. To the summit of her nectar, of her being. My love has grown, just in the journey. In the journey to be free.
- We Must Stop Mountain Top Removal -
We work til the day we expire to find a peaceful valley, yet it's here, within me and within you. In everybody. It's on the other side of every mountain. Walk up to the mountain. Look up and walk. And when you get there, you'll know. The peace will grow. The sight, panoramic, will glow.
"The peaceful valley
Just over the mountain
The peaceful valley
Few come to know
I may never get there
Ever in this lifetime
But sooner or later
It's there I will go
Sooner or later
It's there I will go"
I suppose these words make me imagine a lady living amongst the devastation of mountain top removal. Her life weaved in the appalachia's, she sees what beauty has been removed. She wonders if she'll ever see that peaceful valley again, as opposed to toxic slurries and destroyed earth. She dreams of being able to go up the mountain and witness a miracle, a restoration, a healing, and a cleansing of the devastation.
And she believes, maybe not in this lifetime, her dream would come true. That she may find that peaceful valley. That she may have a place, that peaceful valley place, to be able to transcend from and to. All she has now, is faith and will.
All she needs is faith and will.
-nichole
Take four deep breaths
author unknownThis is the difference between the power of our Creator and anything else — particularly evil: That you can go into a pitch black room, full of evil, full of darkness, and light a little candle, and instantly that darkness flees. But you can’t do the opposite. You can’t go into a well-lit room full of truth and wisdom and righteousness and joy and health and harmony with the Universal power — You can’t take any amount of Darkness and go into that well-lit room and have any effect whatsoever.
That is the metaphor which I frequently think of when I think that I’m not empowered. It is the greatest lesson for me, and I think for everybody else, to know that we are on the winning side and that we win in the end.
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