Mountain Justice
Updates coming soon. Visit www.mjsb.org to find out about Mountain Justice Spring Break in March 2008.
One of SEAC’s major campaign is working with community groups to stop Mountain Top Removal Mining (MTR).
SEAC supports Mountain Justice Spring Break and Anti-MTR Student Summits, which bring youth into areas impacted by MTR and other coal injustices. SEAC works to connect students to a number of organizations working for Mountain Justice through summits, internships, actions and trainings. For more info, contact our Appalachian Organizer
Instead of going underground to remove coal, the mountain is blown off to expose thin seams of coal. Up to 1000 feet of mountain may be removed.
Rock and topsoil are exploded and then scooped away by giant machines called draglines, up to 20 stories high.
Millions of tons of topsoil and rock are dumped into nearby valleys burying headwater streams. Over 1200 miles of streams have been buried.
After mining, companies are supposed to reclaim land, but native forests can’t grow on MTR sites. Instead, mostly non- native grasses are planted, many of which are inedible to wildlife. Some claim that flat land is needed for economic development, but less the 2% of MTR sites have been developed.
Impacts on Communities
Appalachia is home to a unique culture. Folks here place a high value on family, their rich ancestry, and the green hills that keep them. Often holding the family homeplace for generations, the destruction of these mountains tears at the heart of people who have made their life, family and culture here. Blasting and Dust
Mines are allowed to operate within 300 feet of homes and regularly set off blasts with 10 to 100 times the force of the Oklahoma City bombing. These blasts shake and crack homes, destroy wells and send huge rocks rolling down hillsides.
The dust released covers homes and can cause silicosis and other deadly lung diseases.
Loss of Economy
Mountain Top Removal takes fewer workers than underground mining. In 1950, West Virginia coalmines employed 143,000 miners; by 2002, that number was down to 13,653. All the while, coal production and profits increased.
Mountain Top Removal removes potential future use of land, including tourism, hunting and fishing, water for drinking, and herb gathering.
Economies based on coal keep people poor. McDowell County, WV has produced more coal than any other county in the US, and yet is one of the poorest counties in America.
Flooding
Topsoil and trees absorb rainfall, which helps protect valley communities from flooding. Mountain Top removal sites are hard and barren causing flash floods and landslides. Learn about Maria Gunnoe’s experience with flooding.
Bad Water
Folks in rural areas are dependent on well water. Toxins from coal processes get into groundwater, poisoning whole communities. Visit the Sludge Safety Project to learn more.
Youth see MTR for the first time at the 2007 Student Summit
The Injustice of Coal
Coal mining, burning and waste disposal often occurs in poor communities or communities of color, while wealthier, white communities are left alone. This is a form of environmental injustice. Because these folks have fewer resources to fight back, their homes can become sacrifice zones for cheap electricity.
Toxins from coal build up near power plants and disposal sites, causing illnesses like asthma, heart disease and cancer to increase.
The poverty rate of people living within one mile of power plant waste facilities is twice as high as the national average.
Communities of color are 30% more likely to live near a coal power plant.
118 of the 120 coal producing counties have high poverty rates.
To stop the dirty impacts of coal, we must work to build a clean, just energy future that benefits and includes all of us—not just those that can afford it.
Facts About Coal
Burning coal generates Carbon Monoxide, Sulfur Dioxide (cause of acid rain), Nitrogen oxide, lead, arsenic, mercury, and other heavy metals.
Coal fired power plants use about 2.2 billion gallons per plant per year, enough water for a city of 250,000 people
Coal fired power plants release 40% of mercury toxins —the largest source in the US.
A typical plant emits 170 pounds of mercury in one year, where just 1/70th of a teaspoon deposited on a 25-acre lake can make the fish unsafe to eat.
Pollution from existing power plants causes 24,000 premature deaths annually.
Coal waste is unregulated and more than 100 million tons are generated each year. It is placed into unlined pits or used in wallboard, cement, or as “anti-skid” material on icy roads.
According to an EPA study, cancer risk is 10,000 higher near coal waste disposal sites.
Take Action to Stop MTR
Sign the Pledge and support the Clean Water Protection Act (CWPA) at www.ilovemountains.org
Use Less Coal The more power we need, the more power we give coal. Conserve! Fight new coal fired power plants check this link to see if one is planned in your area
Clean Your Community Check www.climatechallenge.org to get your school climate neutral—and off the coal.
Support Alternative Energy We need a just transition away from coal—and we need green jobs from green energy to revitalize the economy in Appalachia.
Bring It Home Host an event to talk the costs of coal. Raise funds for grassroots groups. Join in a day of action. Show a film like Black Diamonds or Kilowatt Ours. Invite a speaker to talk about coal.
Write Those Letters To your local paper, to your legislators, to your granny—Challenge industry lies about coal and demand a clean, just energy transition!
See For Yourself Visit the communities impacted by Dirty Coal—it will break your heart and fire you up. Go to Mountain Justice Spring Break, Mountain Justice Summer or contact a community group listed below.
Support Grassroots Groups Just see below
Support Grassroots Groups
Contact these grassroots groups to learn how you can raise funds, join or support actions, volunteer, host speakers in your area, and see dirty coal first hand.
West Virginia:
Coal River Mountain Watch
Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition
Kentucky:
Kentuckians for the Commonwealth
Virginia:
Southern Appalachia Mountain Stewards
Tennessee:
Save Our Cumberland Mountains
United Mountain Defense
Regional:
Appalachian Voices
Mountain Justice Summer
Christians for the Mountains
One of SEAC’s major campaign is working with community groups to stop Mountain Top Removal Mining (MTR).
SEAC supports Mountain Justice Spring Break and Anti-MTR Student Summits, which bring youth into areas impacted by MTR and other coal injustices. SEAC works to connect students to a number of organizations working for Mountain Justice through summits, internships, actions and trainings. For more info, contact our Appalachian Organizer Mountain Top Removal Mining
Impacts on Communities
Appalachia is home to a unique culture. Folks here place a high value on family, their rich ancestry, and the green hills that keep them. Often holding the family homeplace for generations, the destruction of these mountains tears at the heart of people who have made their life, family and culture here. Blasting and Dust
Mines are allowed to operate within 300 feet of homes and regularly set off blasts with 10 to 100 times the force of the Oklahoma City bombing. These blasts shake and crack homes, destroy wells and send huge rocks rolling down hillsides.
The dust released covers homes and can cause silicosis and other deadly lung diseases.
Loss of Economy
Mountain Top Removal takes fewer workers than underground mining. In 1950, West Virginia coalmines employed 143,000 miners; by 2002, that number was down to 13,653. All the while, coal production and profits increased.
Mountain Top Removal removes potential future use of land, including tourism, hunting and fishing, water for drinking, and herb gathering.
Economies based on coal keep people poor. McDowell County, WV has produced more coal than any other county in the US, and yet is one of the poorest counties in America.
Flooding
Topsoil and trees absorb rainfall, which helps protect valley communities from flooding. Mountain Top removal sites are hard and barren causing flash floods and landslides. Learn about Maria Gunnoe’s experience with flooding.
Bad Water
Folks in rural areas are dependent on well water. Toxins from coal processes get into groundwater, poisoning whole communities. Visit the Sludge Safety Project to learn more.
Youth see MTR for the first time at the 2007 Student Summit
The Injustice of Coal
Coal mining, burning and waste disposal often occurs in poor communities or communities of color, while wealthier, white communities are left alone. This is a form of environmental injustice. Because these folks have fewer resources to fight back, their homes can become sacrifice zones for cheap electricity.
Sign the Pledge and support the Clean Water Protection Act (CWPA) at www.ilovemountains.org
Use Less Coal The more power we need, the more power we give coal. Conserve! Fight new coal fired power plants check this link to see if one is planned in your area
Clean Your Community Check www.climatechallenge.org to get your school climate neutral—and off the coal.
Support Alternative Energy We need a just transition away from coal—and we need green jobs from green energy to revitalize the economy in Appalachia.
Bring It Home Host an event to talk the costs of coal. Raise funds for grassroots groups. Join in a day of action. Show a film like Black Diamonds or Kilowatt Ours. Invite a speaker to talk about coal.
Write Those Letters To your local paper, to your legislators, to your granny—Challenge industry lies about coal and demand a clean, just energy transition!
See For Yourself Visit the communities impacted by Dirty Coal—it will break your heart and fire you up. Go to Mountain Justice Spring Break, Mountain Justice Summer or contact a community group listed below.
Support Grassroots Groups Just see below
Support Grassroots Groups
Contact these grassroots groups to learn how you can raise funds, join or support actions, volunteer, host speakers in your area, and see dirty coal first hand.
West Virginia:
Coal River Mountain Watch
Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition
Kentucky:
Kentuckians for the Commonwealth
Virginia:
Southern Appalachia Mountain Stewards
Tennessee:
Save Our Cumberland Mountains
United Mountain Defense
Regional:
Appalachian Voices
Mountain Justice Summer
Christians for the Mountains
