As you probably know, there was a huge disaster in Tennessee last week where over 1 billion gallons of toxic waste spilled into the drinking water of millions of people. Read more below, Feel free to send checks for medical testing, copies, paper, gas and general support funds to:
United Mountain Defense
P.O. Box 20363
Knoxville, TN 37920
Please mark check: “For TVA Spill”
Or use our Pay Pal account at www.unitedmountaindefense.org

SEACers, students, youths, organizers, educators, lend me your ears!

This March (7-15th to be exact!) Mountain Justice Spring Break will be in Eastern Tennessee. Collaborating with United Mountain Defense, Save Our Cumberland Mountains, the Student Environmental Action Coalition, Southern Energy Network, and the Sierra Student Coalition, Mountain Justice will continue their fight to end mountain top removal mining and take action to stop the dirty death cycle of coal in America.

Nearly two weeks ago, a toxic spill by the Tennessee Valley Authority of fly ash sludge, poured one billion gallons of heavy metals and other nastiness into the waterways below their coal fired power plant, destroying 15 homes in its path. This year Mountain Justice Spring Break activists will work directly with the communities in Tennessee in any way we can to support and build back what TVA has taken from them. The land will take years to recover from this spill, but for one week in March, we will do all we can to get organized and reach out to the affected communities, building relationships and furthering the movement for a clean, just energy revolution!

Last years Mountain Justice Spring Breaks were a huge success! Over 200 people from 17 states participated in 7 direct actions in 4 states along with 100+ workshops, 6 service projects, 4 concerts, 5 climb trainings, 2 listening projects, 1 lobbying event, 1 canvassing project, and 1 square dance all packed into 18 days in March 2008 that earned more than
60 media hits! All of this excitement was planned by a mostly volunteer collective of ~15 youth from 6 different states during more than 50 hours of conference calls.

The Brower Youth Awards just launched the 2009 prize search for outstanding grassroots environmental leaders. We’re looking for individuals ages 13-22 who are changing the world.

Six Brower Youth Award honorees will receive a $3,000 cash prize, an all-expenses paid trip to San Francisco to speak at an inspirational award ceremony, and media coverage. The award doesn't stop there. Our honorees continue as environmental change agents, writers, organizers, visionaries, and speakers, supported by Earth Island Institute's New Leaders Initiative. Join them!

Visit the Brower Youth Awards Web site for full details: http://www.broweryouthawards.org. Deadline: May 15, 2009

Visit www.CoalRiverWind.org to download the report.

Over 10,700 people from across the US and across the world have signed the petitionto save Coal River Mountain from 10 square mile mountaintop removal mine. In stead of the mountaintop removal site, residents want a wind farm. They've been trying to convince Governor Manchin of West Virginia that a wind farm is a better choice for the local residents, the county and the state than another mountaintop removal site. On Tuesday, that argument got a lot stronger.

Yesterday the Coal River Wind project of Coal River Mountain Watch released a study it had commissioned last August that compared the economics of a wind farm vs. a strip mine on Coal River Mountain. As part of the release, there was a press conference held in Beckley and another in Charleston.

The main message of the report is that the private landholding companies and mine companies benefit from the strip mining while the people living in the community and the county government benefits more from the wind farm. In fact, the annual taxes that will go to the county from the wind farm will be $1,740,000 while the severance taxes that will go to Raleigh County from the Surface mine will be $36,000. And that 1.7 million will be annual forever. The $36,000 from the mining will last only 17 years.

The Student Environmental Action Coalition along with Greenpeace Canada, Climate Action Network Canada and many other climate justice groups endorsed a letter of support to pressure Environmental Ministers Rob Renner and Jim Prentice to stop the voracious practice and expansion of tar sands oil extraction.

Canada is up for the "Colossal Fossil" award this week in Poznan, Poland at the international climate talks due to their extraction of oil from the tar sands. The Canadian youth delegation got their message across today after they held a photo exhibit in the main hall of the conference showing footage of the practice. Below is their media advisory and a link to the full letter sent to the Ministers.

International Climate Advocates Slam Canadian Tar Sands Promotion

Poznan, Poland – Over 60 organizations participating in the United Nations climate change talks in Poznan and other groups around the world today called on Canada's Environment Minister Jim Prentice and Alberta's Environment Minister Rob Renner to stop promoting the Canadian tar sands – one of the world's dirtiest sources of oil. Prentice and Renner are in Poznan to participate in the climate talks.

In a letter to the ministers, leading non-governmental environmental organizations in Canada, the United States, Europe, and the developing world, stated "As ministers charged with protecting the environment, it is your responsibility to put the brakes on tar sands expansion."

Tar sands oil production generates three to five times as much greenhouse gas as conventional oil due to the massive amounts of energy needed to extract, upgrade and refine the oil. A halt of the tar sands is vital in order to make progress on climate change both globally and in Canada.

The full text of the letter to Minister Prentice and Minister Renner can be found at:

http://www.cydpoznan.org/files/International%20Tar%20Sands%20Statement.p...

Recruitment Campaign.

The “We Can Take It “ Campaign needs to recruit e-activists. We are moving ahead to bring this important advocacy program to a new level of national participation. Anyone interested in helping out in any capacity would be more than welcome.
The reactivation of The U. S. Civilian Conservation Corps would breathe life back into our nations youth giving them a new sense of national pride, and show them the importance of service to their country.
The problems our young people face today, unemployment, homelessness, addiction, and much more is staggering. The U.S.CCC would be an ideal program not only would it give them jobs but, it would build character, give them a sense of belonging, and new hope. “A hand up, instead of a hand out“.
The impact it could have on conservation efforts nation wide would definitely be a welcome addition to our efforts to preserve our natural treasures. The U.S.CCC was one of the most successful New Deal programs there was, We believe it can be again.
The mission of this campaign is to engage and empower the general public to urge our President and Congress to reactivate, refund and revamp this accountable and time proven program.
Many environmental and infrastructural issues have long been ignored on a social and governmental level. This program would help solve those issues and energize our young adults and veterans. It would be an optional alternative to military service. Their labor would help our infrastructure and environment. They would be on-call to help with disaster relief efforts nation wide as well.
The United States Civilian Conservation Corps would enable our nation with a more confident, competent and reliable workforce ready for employment.
Anyone interested in becoming an e-activist with the “We can take it” campaign please contact:
Organizer Jay Alexander jayalexus@yahoo.com
Activist Luke Sexton sextonrobert54@yahoo.com

This weekend the West Virginia Youth Action League (WV-YAL) hosted a gathering in Huntington at Marshall University. The recently formalized network is made up of social justice oriented student and youth groups from around the state including the West Virginia University and Marshall University chapters of the Sierra Student Coalition, Charleston Area Youth Environmental Network (CAYEN), West Virginia Wesleyan University Green Club, and Glenville Student Action along with many other contributors.

WV- YAL has been steadily growing over the last couple of years, coming together whenever possible to share skills, plan campaigns and network. Trevor Swan of CAYEN was recently caught saying, “The student and youth voice in state affairs becomes much louder and more powerful when we combine forces and these presentations, trainings, and opportunities to network are a big part of that.”

The weekend was packed full of activities including workshops on leadership development and media outreach, discussions about the banning of mountaintop removal coal mining and creation of thousands of jobs through a green economy along with an art show featuring work by WV-YAL member Eric Falquero and some “intensive social networking.”

This group also serves as an open space for conversations about solidarity work, such as responsible legislation and community building.

You can check out pictures and a video of our newly created
jug band on our facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=187600099#/event.php?eid=49240005900&ref=ts\

From November 21-23, 2008, around 75 people gathered in the Coal River Valley in West Virginia for the Mountain Justice Fall Summit. For years, organizers and activists, young and old have come to Rock Creek to work in solidarity with the citizens of the Valley, who are opposed to the destruction of their mountain tops and the poisoning of their water. For many students and young folks, this is their first introduction to the practice, known as mountain top removal mining, which has wreaked havoc on the Appalachian Mountains. The blasting and subsequent processing of coal leaves a toxic mess behind, with no sign of the corporations responsible to clean it up. Luckily, activists are organizing and learning from one another to affect change in Appalachia and create a healthier and sustainable economy here.

The weekend was filled with good food, educational workshops, and a chance to connect with fellow activists about their respective work. The highlight (or lowlight of the weekend, depending on who you ask) was the hike up Kayford Mountain. Days of snow prior to our arrival left the winding road up to Larry Gibson's homeplace, slick and icy. After a few cars were unable to get up the steep incline, we hoofed it to the top, with Hell's Gate awaiting us. Hell's Gate is the name given to the overlook where a mountain top removal site lay starkly in the valley. The gaping hole is tremendous and grey rubble is all that paints the immediate landscape with remnants of reclaimed hillslopes washing away nearby. On this particular day, a blast from an adjacent mine site shook the land as we gazed across to prestine and intact mountain ridges. The dusty cloud hung in the air for a few minutes, while billowing industrial stacks were visible (from coal plants?) on the horizon. Passing back through the small community there, we walked soberly after witnessing the power of the site we just visited.

http://www.huntingtonnews.net/state/081206-staff-statewvyouthactionleagu...

West Virginia Youth Action League Gathers to Build Youth Power

This weekend the West Virginia Youth Action League (WV-YAL) will host a gathering in Huntington at Marshall University. The WV Youth Action League is a student and youth network coming together to create social change within our communities. We are building connections between organizations that are focused on building a sustainable and just economy with green jobs and clean air, land, and water, that transition our society away from dirty energy as well as social and environmental injustice. This is our second meeting and will see the WV-YAL expand into working for justice with new student organizations.

"The student and youth voice in state affairs becomes much louder and more powerful when we combine forces," said Trevor Swan of Charleston, "these presentations, trainings, and opportunities to network are a big part of that." The activities of the weekend will include presentations on various local health and social issues, as well as workshops on effective organizing and networking techniques. Later in the weekend, the group will focus on statewide organizing and working together on specific campaigns, such as supporting the development of thousands of green jobs through clean energy and actively opposing dirty energy. We will also be how to support legislation that moves our state towards having clean energy, water, and land in every community. This network also serves as an open forum for idea and resource sharing, such as member schools that are organizing to develop green jobs through becoming more energy efficient and recycling.

Posted by Sarah Moon on The Sunny Way

Sarah wrote this story after attending Mountaintop Removal Student Summit hosted by SEAC and Coal River Mountain Watch this past November. Bobby Mitchell (mentioned below) was a key part of SEAC for many years, please contact Prenter Water Fund if you are interested in working in solidarity with this project. -Dana

When residents of Prenter Road in West Virginia moved into their community, they were told their well water was so pure, they could bottle it and sell it. Today, that same water is making them sick. In response, the Prenter Water Fund was established this summer by activist Bobby Mitchell and local resident Patty Sebock. Since then, volunteers have been working urgently to get clean water to the community. “I don’t know how to be any more clear about this,” said fund manager, Mat Louis-Rosenberg, “People are dying now.”

Louis-Rosenberg has been living in the Coal River Mountain Watch campaign house for the past two months, devoting most of his waking hours to the Prenter Water Fund. He is sustained by a stipend from his position as Coal River Mountain Sludge Safety Intern. Assisted by fellow activist and friend Glen Collins, he has his mission cut out for him. Collins and Louis-Rosenberg joked merrily about being the Water Planeteers for Captain Planet. “We need to get our rings!” they enthused. Humor helps scatter the shadow of King Coal, the force behind Prenter’s polluted waters.