Thanks, Denny, for inviting me to your blog! For those that don’t know me - I’m a mom and a filmmaker. I’ve spent most of my life in West Virginia - always close to the Greenbrier River. I grew up surrounded by National Forest. Until a few years ago I could not fathom the notion that some absentee landowner could blow up our mountains and back yards. It was bad enough that the timber and railroad industry raped the tall uncut virgin forest of the Greenbrier Valley a hundred years ago - hogged it off like sin! Now this beast! Mountaintop Removal - what an outrage! I’ve turned into a warrior!
Here’s what’s on my mind today - May 1, 2008
Our friends in Tennessee are taking on the coal industry and this horrendous practice of mountaintop removal mining. LEAF has been working on getting a bill passed so that eastern Tennessee won’t end up looking like southern West Virginia.
News Channel 5 in Nashville called me last week looking for footage of the massive explosions that blow the tops off our WV mountains. I sent them what I had. Here’s the story “NC5 Investigates Strip Mining in Tennessee” … Watch the News Video. One needs to pay close attention to the “propaganda” spewing from the coal industry heads.
The price of coal is at an all-time high. And so are coal profits. Consumers are demanding more and more electricity - and they are starting to pay higher and higher power bills. It is estimated that our electricity bills will increase by 69% over the next few years. Here in “coal rich” West Virginia our rates rose by 5% this year.
It is said that “if you’re not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem.” HELLO out there! Part of the problem is that most people think of electricity in terms of kilowatts and how much they pay for it. The price paid is not just in dollars. The biggest price paid is by ordinary folk living in these “coal rich” areas of America. They pay with contaminated drinking water, polluted air, generations of poor health, declining property values and most of all - depleted quality of life!
If we continue to want more and use more they are going to continue to mine more, charge more and profit more. We have to stop feeding the coal industry coffers! If you aren’t doing the following things, then try to start today! If you’re already doing it - BRAVO!
Turn your lights off when you don’t need them! Pick up a 6-pack of CFL bulbs when you go to the store - commit to replacing as many as you can afford. Unplug appliances that you don’t need! Hang the laundry on the line! Take a quick cooler shower - summer’s here! And turn off the computer monitor every time you walk away - it really makes a difference. Turn on the fan and turn down the AC! My family has done all of this and more. Our life-style hasn’t changed one itty bit. And we’ve reduced our electric bill by OVER 50%! Every penny I keep out their pocket is a penny that stays in mine!
The coal industry heads and the government lackies always say “it’s a matter of economics.” Well I’ve got news! in my house “it’s a matter of economics.” So I’m powering down!
One more thing: park that car! Drive when you must. If you mustn’t then it’s a luxury. Because - if they figure out a way to burn coal in our gas tanks then we’re in even bigger trouble. Remember what grandpa always said: “desperate times call for desperate measures!” And desperation is upon us!
Thanks for reading!
B. J. Gudmundsson
