Archive for March, 2015
Art by Katie Hanna
The STAY Project (Stay Together Appalachian Youth) is a diverse regional network of young people throughout Central Appalachia who are working together to advocate for and actively participate in their home mountain communities. The group has created the #AppalachianLoveStory Radio Stories to showcase the complicated relationship and Appalachian Pride youth have with Appalachia.
This article highlights one of the programs created for Appalachian Love Story, and more stories can be found in this episode of Inside Appalachia below.
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From the press release:
On March 17th, seven local, regional and national groups filed a formal notice of intent to sue the U.S. Office of Surface Mining for failing to intervene on West Virginia’s lax oversight of mountaintop-removal and other destructive surface coal mining ” a state program that has, for decades, allowed the coal industry to ravage the environment, putting people at risk and destroying local communities.
The state’s chronically poor oversight has included a persistent failure to conduct inspections meant to protect people and the environment from coal companies that operate outside the law. Out-of-control mountaintop-removal coal mining is linked to epidemics of cancer, cardiovascular disease and birth defects in affected communities. West Virginia has also failed to undertake required assessments to ensure lakes, rivers and drinking-water wells aren’t harmed by mountaintop-removal mining and other destructive surface coal-mining practices.
Learn more about this important case at Coal River Mountain Watch’s website.
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Putting Their Foot Down: Hundreds Rally at WVDEP
Several hundred people gathered in Charleston, WV on Monday, March 16th for the People’s Foot rally at the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. The event was hosted by a coalition of West Virginia groups demanding an end to mountaintop removal and working to highlight the devastating effects of mountaintop removal on the health of local residents. MTR and health issues.
In an exciting update, the day after the People’s Foot rally, state officials agreed to examine the science on the links between MTR and health issues. According to this Charleston Gazette article, Bureau for Public Health Commissioner Dr. Rahul Gupta said, “The analysis is something that is needed going forward. The bottom line here is to let science speak for itself. It’s time that we attempt to do that.”
Another powerful example of People Power in Appalachia!
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The AML Policy Priorities Group is a multi-stakeholder group initially formed to inform the Abandoned Mine Lands Fund research project of two Appalachian Transition Fellows and their host organizations: Kendall Bilbrey, The Alliance for Appalachia and Eric Dixon, Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center.
Other recent work from this program includes an Ask the Director Meeting with the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) in Washington, DC. During the meeting, Director Joe Pizarchik and his staff answered questions from citizens about the agency’s work. Several Alliance for Appalachia members joined coalfields citizens across the country in person and by phone. This meeting was coordinated by Citizens’ Coal Council.
The group is launching a spring AML Educational Tour to share their research with communities across Appalachia. The goal of our research is to recommend policy change through our AML Whitepaper, and share the paper with communities and organizations so they can learn more about how the fund works, and what policy changes are necessary for leveraging these funds into our communities.
Updated AML Educational Tour Schedule
- KFTC Land Reform Committee, Prestonsburg KY (Postponed from Weather, TBA)
- AML Policy Priorities Group Conference Call: March 18th 11am
- 760-569-6000, PIN: 465-754
- Society for Applied Anthropology Conference, Pittsburgh PA” March 24th
- Appalachian Studies Association Conference, Johnson City TN” March 27th-29th
- AML Policy Priorities Group In-Person Meeting, Benham KY” April 2nd
- SOCM Chapter Tour, East TN ” April 6th-9th
- Clearfork Community Institute, Eagan TN ” April 9th
- Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, Hazard KY” May 8th
Questions about the tour? Contact Kendall@TheAllianceforAppalachia.org
If you’re interested in getting more involved in this work, you might join us for the AML In-Person Meeting, April 2nd at the Benham Schoolhouse Inn. Join us for our second in-person meeting in Benham, Kentucky as we discuss our work, present our paper, strategize for the future of the group, and have a collaborative space to learn and build networks.
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On Monday, March 16, those fed up with the toxic legacy of coal in West Virginia are gathering at the Department of Environmental Protection’s headquarters in Charleston to declare: “No More Mountaintop Removal Permits!”
A year after the coal chemical disaster that endangered the health and local economy for more than 300,000 people, and in the face of 25 peer-reviewed scientific studies showing the devastating connections between people’s health and mountaintop removal, a diverse coalition known as “The People’s Foot” is putting their foot down at the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and demanding real change and real protections for West Virginia.
Come to the WVDEP headquarters at 601 57th Street Southeast, Charleston, WV 25304 from 11:00-1:00 on Monday, March 16 for “No More MTR Permits Day.” Let them know that we will not tolerate more threats to our people’s health. Get a free t-shirt if you’re one of the first 125 people to show up. Signs will be provided, so come on down and bring a friend!
To learn more about the event and RSVP, visit the facebook page!
Hope to see you in Charleston next Monday!
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Great news! Quakers win a major victory in the fight against MTR!
After five years of action by Earth Quaker Action Team, PNC announced Monday a shift in its policy that will effectively cease its financing of mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia.
This successful campaign shifted the policy of the seventh largest U.S. bank! This marks a major turnaround for PNC, who for years refused to budge on this issue. After more than 125 actions, their desire to continue business as usual proved no match for EQAT and allies. Bowing to pressure from Quaker environmentalists, PNC Bank announced that it will be restricting financing of mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia. The shift outlined in its 2015 Corporate Responsibility Report means PNC Bank will effectively cease its investment in this controversial practice.
In 2012 PNC Bank financed Alpha Natural Resources, Arch Coal, CONSOL Energy, and Patriot Coal, which together were responsible for nearly half (44.97%) of Appalachian mountaintop removal production. PNC’s total investment was $687.5 million for that year.
The grassroots group leading the charge for PNC’s new policy, Earth Quaker Action Team, hails the change as a major shift by the seventh largest US bank. “When we initiated our campaign in 2010, PNC attempted to placate us with a hollow policy. It’s good to see that PNC Bank is now taking meaningful steps,” says Matthew Armstead, staff coordinator for EQAT. “Since this shift happened because of external pressure, it should be a wake-up call for everyone that the power of change lies with regular citizen activists.”
Read more about this victory on EQAT’s website.
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