ALL, News
Teri Blanton Recognized as Female Leader in Environmental Movement
Tuesday, April 30th, 2013
Kentucky native Teri Blanton was recognized as a leader in the environmental movement at the second annual White House Women and the Environment Summit.
Teri Blanton, native of Harlan, Ky., was recently honored by the White House as one of 100 female leaders in the environmental movement during their second annual White House Women and the Environment Summit.
If you know Teri, it’s no surprise that she would be given such an honor. She has worked tirelessly to educate Kentuckians and mountain people across Appalachia about the adverse effects of living in communities impacted by coal mining.
As a Fellow for Kentuckians for the Commonwealth and a representative of The Alliance For Appalachia, she concentrates her efforts on campaigns to protect the health of the people, the water and the air by putting an end to mountaintop removal mining in eastern Kentucky, programs to educate communities about contamination of local waterways with deadly heavy metals, and initiatives that will create a sustainable energy future for Appalachia.
Teri Blanton speaking at a rally led by Kentuckians for the Commonwealth.She has spent countless hours in Washington, D.C., and Frankfort, Ky., educating lawmakers on the impacts of mountaintop removal and has traveled across the country raising awareness to new audiences. But one can only lobby the same office so many times before growing frustrated by the lack of progress.
In 2009, Teri traveled to D.C. and participated in the Capitol Climate Action alongside 5,000 others who were outraged at our countries continued reliance on coal and other fossil fuels. The next year she was arrested in front of the White House during Appalachia Rising, alongside 121 others to demand an end to mountaintop removal. She even moved into the Governor’s Mansion for a four-day occupation in 2011 with 13 other Kentuckians after being denied a meeting with Governor Beshear on the issue.
But for Teri, the injustices don’t stop within the hills and hollers of Appalachia, she is a vocal proponent of collaboration across all communities impacted by the extraction, transport, burning and disposal of dirty, polluting fossil fuels.
At the summit, Teri and other female leaders met with with senior White House and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials. The discussion focused on the importance of women and their role in protecting public health and the environment.
Teri will be returning to D.C. next week, along with people from across the country, for the 8th Annual End Mountaintop Removal Week in Washington, and will be requesting meetings with many of the same top White House and EPA officials, we will see if they have taken her message to heart by then.
May 2nd, 2013 at 7:03 pm
I just moved to KY. I used to live in WV years ago and hated the strip mining and the toll it took.
Hope I can find a way to help.
May 13th, 2013 at 8:35 pm
Would love to help and get more involved, just say how. As an avid rock climber (who makes frequent trips to Red River Gorge), ice climber and mountaineer, I don’t think I need to expound on how important these precious resources are to me and those like me. It’s difficult to even fathom putting profit in front of God’s creation, the creation He gave us to be good stewards of. The technology for renewable energy is there…I don’t ghet it?!
May 14th, 2013 at 10:36 am
Hi Paul, you are so correct, and avid outdoor sport enthusiasts are some of the biggest advocates for the Appalachian mountains. If you are interested in becoming more involved, contact katey.lauer [ at ] theallianceforappalachia.org or kate [at] appvoices.org, they can talk to you about ways you can help!
May 30th, 2013 at 1:05 am
Hi Teri I’m realy impressed and glad you fill so strong on these matters. And realy need all the help I can get becouse as bad as its been in the past with loosing our Mountains its never been in my face up and close till now and I’m wanting too also take a stand. It seems hear in WV its getting worse each year its time it stops before its too late . the locals only see a job and not the full picture till its too late. I’m needing your help with a portition to stop the ones here from expanding if you have any ideas becouse I’ve never done these type of things before. Nor know were to start I come from the first native americans in these parts and it seems they will be taking away the oldest hunting grounds in the state as well as were my 10 great grandmother Cleopatra Powhatan was born the reason I bring her up becouse she is the Daughter of the Chief that the first settlers in this country met and also Pocahontas father as well. You see this is just not were I was raised and call home I fill the New River needs protected further than the park service. Its not just home its sacred to you me the history of this great Nation as well. Its time we stop trying to rip the heart out of Mother Earth. We raise our children to never raise a hand against a women why are we as a Great Nation sitting back and letting each other Hurt the greatest women to us all Mother Earth. I’m hoping to see if you can help me in this. Its so good to see you take a strong stand and know I wana do the same as I plan on getting this info to a lot of new ears that need to know how bad these companys are doing the greatest women of all may a call go out for help she’s beging them to stop and its time we all save her from these scars I’m sry to talk so much and will end for now. Sincerly Jason Floyd
June 18th, 2013 at 3:40 pm
Much love for Teri! Solidarity for all impacted communities throughout our nation!
August 16th, 2013 at 2:10 am
I have a solution to these problems. It is a lot to explain so I made a website asustainablecivilization.com
October 3rd, 2013 at 12:15 pm
G.Jason Floyd I would suggest you contact OHVEC.org they are a great organization in your state. I am sorry I did not see this sooner but I didn’t know you could leave a reply.