Time to End Business as Usual for Toxic Coal Industry

[ensho]

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/03/15-5


The most absurd oxymoron of 2008 was "Clean Coal." Coal is dirty - its mining, washing, burning and storage as ash. Some call it the original sin of industrial society. Coal mining, as surface mining on native lands, and now as mountaintop removal in Appalachia in Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee and West Virginia, has destroyed more than 470 mountains, more than 1,200 miles of streams and rivers, and communities, both human and other than human.

It makes the water unfit to drink. Schools lie downstream of toxic impoundment ponds, and profit flows abundantly to corporate coffers.

The meaning of coal is now in the number 350. Here's why.

I just returned from a road trip to Washington. A dozen like-minded concerned citizens from Asheville joined thousands of adults from around the country to support more than 12,000 students to demonstrate our support for bold visionary climate legislation that will phase out coal as a fuel for electricity.

Public awareness

There were 523 students from N.C., including a contingent from Asheville High School. They came for a weekend of workshops called Powershift, where they learned about climate change and energy policy. They came to demonstrate their commitment to help preserve and protect the integrity and beauty of life on earth. They came to tell government leaders the youth of the country would not tolerate toxic energy policy any more.

They heard Judy Bonds, whose Coal River Mountain in West Virginia is literally being destroyed daily by explosives, say: "I don't mind being poor, I don't mind being made fun of, but I do mind being blasted and poisoned."

They listened to Terry Tempest Williams say: "The eyes of the future are looking back at us and asking if we can look beyond our own time."

After a weekend of workshops, students met with senators and congressmen to demand that business as usual for coal power comes to an end now.
- longish snip-
-----------------------------


the article ends with this:

The road to 350 now goes through each community in this great country. We must say no to coal. it is destroying our health, our communities and very soon Creation itself. Our future is in our hands. Join me April 20 in Charlotte as citizens unite to stop Cliffside.

*******


more power to them and may the gathering on 4/20 be huge.