Comments on: Phillips: Moving Mountains for Energy

By: Ian Goldin

Ian Goldin — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:01:12 +0000

Great article, I’m really looking forward to the rest of the series.

And I’ll be protesting at the EPA HQs on the 30th!

By: M Craig

M Craig — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:47:23 +0000

This series seems like it’s going to be really great- can’t wait to see what you write about next.

@ Tyler- I’m not sure i agree with you. I have enough faith in our democratic system to hope that if people demand that mountaintop removal be stopped, then the government will have to stop it. When it comes down to it, politicians just want to get re-elected. If allowing mountaintop removal to continue will loose them their office, then they will make sure it stops.

By: Tyler Bilbo

Tyler Bilbo — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:34:44 +0000

What Dylan said. As long as coal companies own Appalachia’s politicians ( especially West Virginia’s), these atrocities will sadly continue.

By: Dylan

Dylan — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:14:44 +0000

As a resident of the Appalachia region, I’m really happy to see Mountain Top Removal get the attention it deserves. As I’m sure you know, the mountain justice fall summit is going on as we speak. Hopefully they can come up with something.

I’m not involved with the movement directly but I have several friends who recently halted production at one such operation — they linked a chain around their necks and locked it to the machinery, effectively stopping the mining. Of course, once the police were called they were charged with all sorts of things. The judge set their bail to 2,000 dollars which they tell me was illegal given the amount of fines they had.

The local community here isn’t as aware of MTR as they should be — something we should work on. Again, thanks for the article. I’m glad to see this issue get some attention.