The I Love Mountains Website has teamed up with Ashley Judd and The Alliance for Appalachia to get mountaintop removal into America’s living rooms.

We’re using the most talked about ad in America’s history -President Johnson’s “Daisy Girl Ad” – to convey the severity of mountaintop removal.

We don’t have the coal industry’s billions. But we do have the power of people like you! We need people to watch thead, share the ad, and then help raise money so that we can raise the stakes! Can you help publicize this powerful ad and fundraising effort? Please share this important effort on Facebook, Twitter – you name it.

"Oh Say, did you see him; it was early this morning.He passed by your houses on his way to the coal.He was tall, he was slender, and his dark eyes so tenderHis occupation was mining, West Virginia his home
It was just before noon, I was feeding the children,Ben Moseley came running to give us the news.Number eight was all flooded, many men were in dangerAnd we don't know their number, but we fear they're all doomed"
- Jean Ritchie

Coal mining is dangerous business and the people of the Appalachian Coalfields, from Tennessee to West Virginia to Pennsylvania, have come to expect disasters out of the mining industry. Mining is a job that's full of risks and packed with hard work. Miners have come to be proud of the work that they do which truly has had a great role in powering the United States for more than the last century. It's been work that's populated Appalachia with amazing people but has kicked up a lot of coal dust in the process all over our great state of West Virginia.
After 9/11, where I was less than 10 miles from the Pentagon and remember hearing fighter jets & helicopters flying over my house throughout that tense night. I never thought I would feel that tragic emotion that brought anger, anticipation, fear, mourning, and pride together into one horrendous stomach ache again. Then came the disaster at Massey's Upper Big Branch Mine.

Post By Junior Walk, Whitesville, Coal River Valley, West Virginia

Hi, my name is Junior Walk, and my family has lived in the coal fields of southern West Virginia for generations. It pains me to see my heritage destroyed and defamed, and to see my friends and family poisoned by unclean water. So, I decided to take a little trip to Washington D.C. to put a stop to it.

Today, I’m in out nations capitol to stop the heinous practice of mountaintop removal coal mining. I’m here with the Alliance for Appalachia, as an employee of Coal River Mountain Watch,I’m here as an environmental activist, I’m here as an affected coal field resident, but I’m mostly here as someone whom cares about people, and all other living things.

My meetings today were cordial, I met with the offices of three different congressmen. The first one was on the fence about the clean water protection act, the second one will probably co-sign, and the third was already a co-signer. I think we’re making serious progress here, we already have more than 150 co-signers, and we only need 40-50 more co-signers.

When this bill becomes a law, it will effectively end mountaintop removal by making valley fills illegal (which they were in the first place). This would greatly benefit the people of Appalachia, save lives, and open up mountains like Coal River Mountain for use as wind farms.

So, here I am, I’ve never been into any city, never really had any experience outside of my neck f the woods, and I’m walking up the stairs to the legislature to talk to our representatives about what’s going on in out back yards.

On a freezing December day in Charleston, WV hundreds of Appalachians and allies gathered together to demand that the blasting on Coal River Mountain be stopped. We gathered as Massey Energy put forward non-union workers to inject explosives into our Mountain and blast it to bits. As they were blasting apart the rock and topsoil, they were blasting apart a historic opportunity to put miners to work in green & permanent jobs. We gathered in the cold to demand that our government does the hard work of saving Coal River Mountain, ending mountaintop removal and implementing an aggressive plan to transition Appalachia’s Coalfields to green jobs. The battle is still raging. One month to the day after that protest, the EPA is taking action and a blockbuster study on the effects of Mountaintop Removal has been released.

The journal Science has released a huge peer-reviewed study that draws the science-based & sharp conclusion that, “Clearly, current attempts to regulate Mountaintop Mining / Valley Fill practices are inadequate … Regulators should no longer ignore rigorous science.” This is major and this is big. This provides a situation so clear that a blindfolded drunk dog would be able see what to do. The Obama Administration has long pledged to use science, not politics, as the basis for its decisions. The course of action is clear, the EPA must outright ban mountaintop removal, that is, unless they value politics over science.

11:09 Wow! Your comments of support are incredible and we just blew past 114 of them. It couldn’t be better timing: one of the big plenary debates just let out and delegates are coming out into the hallways. They’ll be seeing the sit in and hearing your comments that we’ll be passing on to them. Please, keep the comments coming and spread this thread to your friends. Know that you have a voice inside these negotiations and help make our collective demand for action even louder.

10:38 Thanks to the support of all of you online, this action is now resonating louder and louder here at the UN Climate Talks and beyond. But we still need your support. As you can see from the video of the incredible Dessima Williams below, the youth at the sit-in are talking with delegates from around the world as they pass by the demonstration. We want to be able to tell these negotiators — many of whom are now coming under immense pressure from rich countries to back down and compromise their very survival — that the world supports them. We know that 19 people at a sit-in isn’t enough — we need your voice too. Can you add your message of support to this post and push it past 100 comments? We’ll repeat those messages to our heroes as they walk by, and remind the countries blocking progress that the world is watching!

10:15 During the sit-in we spotted one of our climate heroes here in Copenhagen, Dessima Williams, chairwoman of the AOSIS (small island state negotiating block). We asked her for her reactions on the sit-in, and told us an incredible story! 14 years ago she sat in at this SAME center for 8 days to urge military funding move towards women focused development. A true hero, and the struggle goes on, check it out:

10:03 About 20 yards from the sit-in, fossil fuel hack is interviewed by Fox news – people riled up by sit-in respond with “boos” and laughter. He’s laughed off the camera.

This post is written by Zoe Beavers, a SEACer with the Charleston Adult / Youth Environmental Network (CAYEN) in Charleston, WV.

Pedaler’s Paradise Cycle Shop is community-based bicycle building, repair, education and advocacy program committed to transforming bicycling from occasional recreation to valid, safe transportation in the Kanawha Valley. The Charleston Adult and Youth Environmental Network is a grassroots coalition working together to protect our planet and our future, starting in the Kanawha Valley. We focus on challenging structure by encouraging change in current political, social and economic systems through education, empowerment, legislation and action.

CAYEN has found bicycles are the most affordable, sustainable, efficient, healthy, environmentally friendly, fun and liberating forms of transportation and recreation (besides one's own two feet). Bicycles currently displace over 238 million gallons of gasoline per year, by replacing car trips with bicycle trips. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics 41.3 million Americans (20%) used a bicycle for transportation in the 30 days measured in the survey. Bicycling is the second most preferred form of transportation after the automobile, ahead of public transportation.

Peddler's Paradise Cycle Shop aims to share tools and knowledge about bicycles and cycle maintenance to anyone willing to invest a bit of time and sweat-equity .

Understanding the SKVI grant is a year-long, project-based grant, CAYEN will use the grant used to build the physical shop - the core of a sustainable foundation in which to establish a long-term, community-based environmental and social bicycle advocacy program.

The Shop:

Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC)

Hiring: Michigan Organizer

The Michigan organizer will be working in collaboration with partners in Michigan, including the Michigna Student Sustainability Coalition, as well as reaching out to areas without a strong network. They will also be working with solidarity and anti oppression groups throughout the state who are fighting the battle against dirty energy and working toward a clean and sustainable economy. Areas of focus include working to stop tar sands and coal expansion, and working to promote renewable energy and green jobs.

The Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC) has been connecting youth to environmental justice issues for over 20 years. We are seeking an experienced and motivated individual to join our organization as a youth, student and community organizer on environmental justice and climate change issues. This position is full time and covers Michigan. Preferably, this position would be located in Lansing through the Michigan PowerShift event in early October.

Focus:
The top priority for this position is to continue building a vibrant youth environmental justice movement in Michigan, which means bringing new youth and new youth groups into the Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC), working with the Energy Action Coalition's campaigns, and supporting existing organizations that are engaged in similar and valuable work, and connecting these youth groups to regional environmental justice issues (such as the Detroit incinerator, stopping local coal plants and campaigning for Wind energy as an alternative).

Qualifications:

Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC)

Hiring: Kentucky Organizer

Mountaintop removal coal mining is emerging as the face of dirty energy in the United States. Coal is polluting drinking water, destroying potential for future economic development and fueling climate chaos. This unique full time position is at the ground level of this national struggle, making connections between grassroots groups impacted by dirty coal to build up the youth climate movement in Kentucky and work for positive, community based solutions.

The Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC) has been connecting youth to environmental justice issues for over 20 years. We are seeking an experienced and motivated individual to join our organization as a youth, student and community organizer on environmental justice and climate change issues in Appalachia. This position is full time and covers Kentucky.

Focus: ?The top priority for this position is to continue building a vibrant youth environmental justice movement in Kentucky, which means bringing new youth and new youth groups into the Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC), working with the Energy Action Coalition's campaigns, and supporting existing organizations that are engaged in similar and valuable work, and connecting these youth groups to regional environmental justice issues (such as Mountaintop Removal coal mining and campaigning for solar and wind energy as alternatives).

Qualifications: ?SEAC is looking for someone who has demonstrated commitment to working for justice and anti-oppression, as well as a self-motivated person with strong initiative. Experience working with youth is a must. Must have ability to travel.

How to Apply: ?Application will be accepted on a rolling basis. Please send resume and cover letter to masmith09@gmail.com or call 304-546-8473.

Responsibilities:

Our organizing, pressure, and protests are making a difference!

Earlier today, the Environmental Protection Agency put all 79 of the Mountaintop Removal permits they were reviewing on temporary reprieve. This means that we are being heard and if we keep up the pressure on our government, WE CAN STOP MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL! This is the biggest step that the federal government has ever taken to halt the decimation of Appalachia's people, mountains, and economy.

Check out this protest that SEAC organized in Washington D.C. 1 month ago to demand an end to Mountaintop Removal at the EPA's national headquarters. Keep organizing in your community and we'll send out word when you can comment on this decision.

Our friends at Appalachian Voices released the following breakdown of what this recent decision means:

"The release of a list of 79 permits begins a 14-day countdown in which the EPA regional offices must respond to the EPA headquarters' recommendations. While we applaud the current decision by the EPA, these permits could still be approved.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Treesit stopping blasts above Pettry Bottom, Coal River Valley

Contact: Mike Roselle or Charles Suggs 304-854-7372

Editor: Photos available through climategroundzero.org or by contacting us.

PETTRY BOTTOM, W.Va.—Two people are occupying two treetops at the edge of Massey Energy’s Edwight mountaintop removal site above Pettry Bottom and Peachtree in Raleigh County, West Virginia. At 6:30 a.m., concerned citizens unrolled two banners reading “Stop Mountain Top Removal” and “DEP – Don’t Expect Protection” from their treetop platforms. They are perched 80 feet above the ground, within 30 feet of the mine, and within the 300 feet of blasting. Blasting is prohibited when people are within such proximity.

Nick Stocks, 25, and Laura Steepleton, 24, of Rock Creek, West Virginia, are in the trees. Kim Ellis, of New Orleans, Louisiana and Zoe Beavers, of Hurricane, West Virginia are on the ground below. All protesters are associated with Climate Ground Zero and Mountain Justice.

“I am sitting in this tree to halt the blasting that endangers the residents of Pettry Bottom and Clays Branch,” Steepleton said. “The people of Pettry Bottom, Clays Branch are living below a land slide waiting to happen and the only barrier between fallen trees, mud, boulders and water and the Pettry Bottom community is a wooden stake and tarp fence. The DEP needs to step in and protect its citizens – not Massey Energy – stop the blasting above Petty Bottom, and end mountaintop removal.”

According to a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health publication and multiple cases of citizen documentation, flyrock has been known to land a half-mile from blasting sites. Several homes in Pettry Bottom are within a half-mile radius of the permitted blasting area. A map available from Aurora Lights at http://auroralights.org/map_project/images/maps/hazy/Permitted_MTR_Mines... shows the proximity of homes in Pettry Bottom