The beautiful Coal River Valley is hosting the 2008 Mountain Justice FallSummit from November 21-23. One hour south of Charleston, WV, it is home to wild bears, ginseng hunters, and strip mining. Activities will include visiting and learning about Marsh Fork Elementary, precariously placed under a 2.8 billion gallon sludge dam, and visiting Larry Gibson’s homeplace on Kayford Mountainand viewing the MTR site there. Hear the stories of affected community members. Come to learn, to get mad enough to spit, and then to strategize and network with activists and organizers from around the country.
Visit Mountain Justice Fall Summit to register or to learn more about Coal RiverMountain Watch and the campaign to end Mountain Top Removal!
Umm, except he’s NOT because we are paying attention!
Take action to protect the Stream Buffer Zone!Last year over 43,000 people nationwide told Bush to
Buzz Off the Buffer Zone – but somehow, they just don’t get it. Once again, we must work to stop this rule-change by asking the EPA and OSM to reject it and stand up for mountains, clean water, and healthy communities. We have to slow this rule down to give time for the next administration to overturn Bush’s mad dash to destroy our streams and drinking water. That means LOTS OF COMMENTS!Please visit http://www.ilovemountains.org/take_action/sbz to comment. Comments are due by Nov. 23rd, 2008.
BUT, we also have to CALL THE CANDIDATES and let them know we are watching — are we going to have more of Bush’s suicidal environmental policies? Do we value drinking Water or Coal CEO profits? Are the candidates willing to act on their stated committments against mountaintop removal?
“Please act to end mountaintop removal coal mining by coming out publicly against the
Stream Buffer Zone Rule Change. I value streams and clean drinking water over CEO’s profits — and I vote!” (Feel free to add: Your clean coal claims are crap, sir.) Call: Senator Barack Obama at (866) 675-2008Senator John McCain at (703) 418-2008
Ok, I’ve emailed and called, what else can I do? Spread the word in your local paper — Adapt this letter to the editor below to your own feelings about this issue and send it in. Remember, Letters to the Editor are one of the most read sections of the paper. If you want to wait till after the election, you can adapt this to who ever is elected next week and send it in then.
Sample LTE
Barack Obama and John McCain have both said they oppose mountaintop removal coal mining, and now they have a great chance to act on those words.
The Stream Buffer Zone exists to protect our nation’s streams from being buried by mountaintop removal coal mining. It creates a 100 foot protective barrier (buffer zone) around our streams. The Bush Administration has been trying for years to remove this protection — and citizens have been fighting back to save our streams and mountains.
Last year, around 43,000 people nationwide told Bush to buzz off the buffer zone; instead of listening, his administration is trying to sneak this through at the end. EPA administrator Stephen Johnson could withhold his approval of the rule change, but as the New York Times editorial board said this week, “that would be an enormous surprise, but also enormously welcome.”
This means our hope for sane practices that protect Appalachia’s streams – which supply drinking water for much of the Eastern United States, likely lie with our next president.
I would like to see both Barack Obama and John McCain stand up for Appalachia’s streams, mountains, and drinking water. Prove to us that your leadership will be better for our communities than the suicidal policies of the last eight years.
