Coal mining ravages Appalachia mountains »
Posted By Aidenag 1 year, 8 months ago in NewsWhen you flick on the lights this evening, think of Kayford Mountain. Or what was Kayford Mountain, but now is a sprawling, muddy, trembling construction site. This is the new face of coal mining in Central Appalachia. It is called mountaintop removal. Some 470 mountains in West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia have been flattened this way.
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Aidenag
Photographer by day, news junkie by night. My main areas of interest are politics and the environment.
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Spadecaller1 year, 8 months ago
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rwrnae1 year, 8 months ago
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Then build nuke plants you ninny. They are the only other viable source of the huge amounts of power it takes to run this country, much cleaner and safer than coal or gas, yet every time one is proposed you frightened old women throw up your hands and protest.
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ETproductions1 year, 8 months ago
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Spadecaller wrote: "Both sad and infuriating to see our earth trashed by these parasitic mercenaries that our government fosters."
As much as I hate seeing all the damage fossil fuel use causes to the environment, the only realistic alternative we have available right now is nuclear. If we replaced fossil fuel with every other technology taken together and ran them all at their maximum possible output, we'd cut energy production so deeply that most of the population of the earth would have to die.
We need to take action ASAP to fund energy research and production. The cost of doing so will NOT be a drag on the economy. It will produce tons of high paying professional and construction jobs. It will fuel our sagging economy. And not doing it will bring us up on a dangerous tipping point where global warming becomes an unstoppable runaway train.
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AnteUp1 year, 8 months ago
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texangelwings ~
Precicely! Plus with the destruction of the trees and
topsoil the residents of these areas must have a lot of
personal safety and private property concerns such as
flooding, mudslides, water pollution. But if something goes
wrong, I'm sure they can get satisfaction in a court of law
suing the coal corps.............??
It's the same all over - the corporations bring JOBS to
the area and they are unapologetic that if you need, and
take the jobs offered............don't ask for safety -
don't ask for quality of life.........just shut up and WORK.
Don't cause problems - and if your friends do speak up? YOU
better make it real clear to them that you will lose your
job if they don't pipe down. Tyrants!
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dexlovex21 year, 8 months ago
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"Mining companies didn't have to return the land to the exact same condition if they could prove it would be put to "higher or better uses. This gave the mining industry a way out. The practice, though, has exploded since George W. Bush entered the White House. Given the post-9/11 emphasis on energy security, and coal companies' close ties to Washington, they've been given even more leeway than before."
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AnteUp1 year, 8 months ago
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dexlovex2 ~
Bush didn't even wait until 9/11 to "give it up" to the
energy corporations. Check this out:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/01/60min...
FTA - the very last line: The Labor Department's inspector
general is also looking into whether or not MSHA officials
broke the law in awarding government contracts.
That would be our Department of Labor? Where Elaine Chao is
the Secretary of Labor AND also the wife of Sen. Mitch
McConnell? I'm sure they investigated - aren't you?
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tkyrchncs1 year, 8 months ago
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Speaking to you as a biologist, I tell you firmly that it is not possible, even with years of diligent work and piles of money, to restore the land. One of the original components, coal, is taken away and destroyed. Many native minerals are washed out of the remaining rock that leaves it missing from its original location and washed at toxic levels downstream. The topsoil is gone. The seed populations of living things are gone. And this all in an ancient ecosystem where species thought to be extinct are found on a fairly regular basis. It would be magic, or Divine intervention, or some other method not within the realm of our abilities, if these mountains reached a semblance of their original state in a few thousand years. They will NEVER be "restored".
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chevydog1 year, 8 months ago
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Growing up on the fringe of coal country in PA, I have a pretty good idea what unhindered laissez faire can do. If we are to utilize our coal resources, hopefully we can do better than that.
The flip side is that mining is the only thing that can bring any money into some of these places. The country is often beautiful, but tourism is a minor factor. Logging has largely disappeared, and hunting as an economic force never was.
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1-2-Oscar1 year, 8 months ago
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The National Governor's Conference, which is currently meeting, includes coal as one of the "alternative energy sources" they are going to recommend for national priority. A minority object, but it appears that Gov. Rendell and his buddies from coal-producing states will prevail.
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VonDau1 year, 8 months ago
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Brainless, whining, tree-hugging, global-warming (what-a-frick'n-hoax), Al Gore lov'n, red-doper diaper baby socialist liberals, ... just never cease to AMAZE ME!
Put a rag in yer' pie-hole. You idiots bitched, whined and moaned about Nuclear Energy plants to the point that it's economically unfeasible to build them (frick'n flower children). Did the thought ever cross your brain (oops, sorry, I forgot - you don't have one of them), WE HAVE TO HAVE ENERGY FROM SOME SOURCE(?)
Think about (namely, the "disappearing mountains) that you Einsteins next time your Nader-class mentor(s) call on you to protest a proposed nuclear plant development.
Now, go get your Starbuck's latte, smoke an "organic" joint, and protest the war some more.
Frick'n oxygen-robbers.
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AnteUp1 year, 8 months ago
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VonDau ~
Talk about never ceasing to amaze! You guys love to frame it
that way........as if those concerned with the health of our
environment would rather save a rare fly from extinction
even if it meant the end of life as we know it!
Big oil, gas and coal didn't like the incentives that were
offered once upon a time for SOLAR and WIND - did they?
You talk pretty tough, guy - almost like someone who would
respect good old Yankee ingenuity and independence but
you're willing to FOLLOW the advise of those with the
BIGGEST vested interest in keeping us DEPENDANT...the energy
conglomerates.
Ask the miners - not well known for being wussy - if these
corporations care. Our tax dollars have consistantly been
wasted keeping us under their thumb rather than looking for
SMART alternatives. Got SCIENCE??
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donnall1 year, 8 months ago
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thats terrorble a horror for nature and people who love nature so sad to think our island may get worse with all the people wanting in here cause their countries are ******
they fck theres up then move here and ****** ours up our govtment should do full checks on backgrounds and personalities otherwise we could end upn with no mountains no jobs no nothing so dam sad
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paulotto20071 year, 8 months ago
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I read once - sorry, I can't remember where - that we export most of our coal. With China's economic growth... along with the growth of other emerging economies, combined with Peak Oil... I'm afraid that our coal will continue to be in high demand.
Political correctness in our "mixed economy" is shared by both parties, conservatives, and liberals.
Republicans subsidize dirty energy or bad corn ethanol ideas... and put up huge tariffs on cleaner energy like Brazilian sugarcane ethanol... all in the name of the "free market" which really isn't free market practice at all.
But Democrats in office vote for a lot of this stuff too and WVa's state government has been controlled by Dems for a long time.
I disagree with VonDau's tactics... but I do agree that liberals are going to have open up their minds a bit on energy... things like wind & geothermal, yes... but also things like wood chips and probably nuclear too.
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MoonShiner1 year, 8 months ago
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Most of you have heard or read about the Applachian Mountain Range. One area is called Windrock Mountain. It is a great place for Windmills and that is what TVA has done. Great for green energy, BUT, they have allowed ATV's to roam all over the mountain. They have destroyrd cemeteries, old home places, Indian mounds and sites, created erosion, destroying well water that the locals depend on. The mountain around 1900, was home to 100 plus. It was as beautiful as the Great Smoky Mountains. Not any more. I could cry every time I see the destruction. Needless, senseless ravaging of a mountain that was full of history. TVA should have protected this area. The property is in the hands of Coal Creek Land and Mining. You must purchase a $50.00 pass to ride on the mountain. Someone is making Millions, destroying a beautiful mountain that can never be repaired or replaced. It will forever be locked in the minds of the people who lived, worked, and died there! Very sad indeed! Mountain Laurel
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