… brought to you by the coal industry.
The more I talked with people in Drews Creek the more it became obvious they didn’t have a clue about the new mountaintop removal site. It was just like one day there is peace and quiet and the next day your picking broken picture frames up off the floor and wondering how many explosions it will take to knock your house down.
That is just wrong in so many different ways. This is what I mean when I say the residents should be made aware. The coal industry can just move in and change life forever with no warning. The people in Drews Creek will not see their peaceful days return for a few years. They’ll never see their hollows return.
I’m going to tell you what I think is a damn shame. I think it is a shame that mountain people are still being stereotyped in this new age. How else can the coal company destroy a culture? Only if the masses believe the dumbass hillbillies need wiped out. Even other West Virginians dub the coalfield residents as ignorant inbreds - who live 26 hard miles south of nowhere. I have news for those with that mindset - you have pissed off the wrong dumbass hillbilly.
If I have to start 20 websites - I’m going to hang the coal industry’s dirty laundry all over the internet. The new mountaintop removal site in Spring Hollow - now you are on my turf - just try to keep my camera away. I can get to the site a half dozen different ways.
Inbred? Give me a break. Ignorant? You are about to find out how ignorant we are.
Don Blankenship, Bill Rainey, Roger Lilly - ignorance defined.
March 24th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
I think the people need to be made aware of whats going on and the probable outcome of their mountains once the destruction is complete. You have already talked to a few people, some had an idea, some were clueless as to whats really going on. Maybe make some copies of airial photos of other mtr sites and the surrounding areas. Get out and show the people whats going on and what their area is going to look like. Show them how it’s going to effect their ground water and wildlife in the area. Hand out some copies to some respected folk in the community and have them spread the information so everyone knows exactly whats going on. I’m sure the local news channel would be interested in doing a story on the damage on Elberts house. I’m sure there is more damage to neighboring houses as well. These good folks don’t need this in their backyard. They don’t need to be dodging shrappenal while Massey is blowing up the mountains. It’s their land and their right to live there for as long as they wish. I think it’s time for them to stand up for their rights!
March 24th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
I agree with you for the most part except the part about the local news channel. In West Virginia, the media is a big part of the problem. They will report on one golf course somewhere in yuppieville on top of a reclaimed mountaintop removal site all the while forgetting the other couple of hundred wastelands 26 hard miles south of nowhere.
March 25th, 2008 at 8:36 am
Denny,
I am about to start walking through Japan but will try to check your site when I can, batteries and reception permitting. I just wanted to give a last-minute shout-out of support. One reason - the main reason - I am walking through this country is my love of mountains. Mountains are supposed to be ‘permanent’ (in human lifetime terms at least). They are certainly more, to me anyway, than a big pile of resources to be gouged open at will for short-term profit and to feed an antiquated and insatiable beast. West Virginia didn’t strike me as a very big state. I can’t imagine that kind of destruction not having an enormous impact on the culture and ecology of the area. So anyway keep it up, and I look forward to tuning in regularly when I get back. Since I started blogging, and after finding all these cool outdoor blogs, I see no further use for television.
March 25th, 2008 at 8:43 am
preach it brother! but i have to say, when i read these forums about MTR in eastern KY and the coalfields of WV, i cringe because the people are fulfilling the appalachian stereotype by being ignorant.
they argue for the coal companies and MTR and just espouse the ridiculous things that the companies are spoonfeeding them…. and it makes them sound ignorant because it’s so outlandish. the very industry that has basically kept their region in poverty, killed many of their family memebers and ancestors due to not following regulations and safety requirements, kept other business out, and is slowly ruining the land that they are dependent on for survival….. they are being puppets for them. it burns my hide…..
March 25th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Mountaingoat - I can’t say how much I appreciate your comments and support. I will not stop until the battle is over. I think the adventure you are on would be the coolest thing ever. I spent a couple of weeks in Japan in the 80’s after being in Korea for just over a year. I just absolutely fell in love with the Asian culture. Good luck and safe travels to you.
Blue I’m curious the forums you are talking about. I haven’t run across those yet. Then again it may not be good for me to read them.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
I flew over Mt. Fuji on my way to Vietnam, it seems the Japanese people are far better at taking care of their Island and their mountains. I live under a MTR and blog about it everywhere I can get my two cents in. The coal companies have had their foot on our throats in W.Va and East Ky. for over a hundred years now. We have to take whatever bone they throw us and try to scratch out a living with it. They stole the mineral and then with John Mayo’s broadform deed they stole the land. I was born in a coal company house and delivered by a coal company doctor. So I can honestly say they have been slapping my ass for a long time. My father was killed in a mine roof fall, but still I believe that is the only responsible way to mine coal. The mountain may settle a few feet when you take the coal seam out but at least you will have the mountain and the valley and in most cases a fresh water stream left when you get through. There is no excuse for this kind of mining except to damn cheap to put the overburden back on the original countour as was prescribed in the 1977 surface mine law. These laws have been weakened by executive order by George Bush along with the clean water laws. It will not take an act of congress to stop this madness, just a few executive order changes is all it will take to stop turning W.Va. and E. Ky into a waste land. We got to stay on this and get the word out to the nation, I believe they will be so repulsed by what is going on down here it will be stopped. It must be stopped, I know of no other part of the Appalachian Mt. chain where this would be allowed. If it is because the nation thinks we are nothing but a bunch of dumb hillbillies we may have to get to feuden with some coal companies to draw some attention to the problem. It has been done before!
March 26th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
I’m with you 150% on everything you said. Put your two cents in here anytime.