This news originally provided by The Charleston Gazette

January 27, 2006

Julia Bonds: In wake of disaster, mining damage should not be overlooked

IN RESPONSE to Susanna Rodell’s thoughtful column, “Looking for the human element,” I would point out that the “human element” is a two-sided issue.

Are workers at strip mines concerned about the humans living in nearby communities who have to endure blasting, flying rocks, air pollution, water pollution, coal dust and flooding caused by strip mining? Are they concerned about what will be left for their children when they destroy their own home place? Where will our children live when the coal is gone and the land is destroyed and nothing can survive here?

Please note that coal-producing counties are among the poorest counties. Coal has corrupted this state so badly that a mono-economy exists, thus taking away employment choices. Citizens should demand different types of employment, but people won’t stand together because it is easier to challenge little David, the activists, than to challenge Goliath, the coal barons. It’s even easier to keep silent.

This is similar to the battered wives syndrome. A man keeps abusing a woman and children, but he has a job. She knows one day he will beat her and the children to death, but she is in denial and continues to allow herself and her children to be abused for the sake of money and convenience.

Marsh Fork Elementary School is an example of this. A man shouldn’t have to put children in danger in order to feed his family. One need only look at the sludge dam, strip mine, coal dust, preparation plant and the silo so close to the school to see the problem.

As for the “greenies” and the Mountain Justice activists, these brave young people have every right to defend their future, their clean air and clean water from polluters. Bigoted people called the activists of Mississippi Freedom Summer during the civil rights movement long-haired, ill-dressed, outside protesters as well.

College activists are networking to demand clean renewable energy so they can have the basic necessities for survival, like clean air and clean water. It is our duty to leave our children a livable earth. It’s insane for us to use all the resources, leave our children with the destruction and mess to clean up and nothing left for their energy needs.

Coal is a finite resource and should be a transition fuel. It is mined and burned in a way that is killing humans, poisoning our children, destroying our state, destroying the air and water that we need in order to live.

We must demand that the coal industry put the safety of workers, residents and the environment above their profits.

Bonds is a coal miner’s daughter and ninth-generation Coal River resident. She is employed by Coal River Mountain Watch, a nonprofit grassroots organization.