POLITICS AND NATURE

This is what really happens to the land on God's green earth when the United States relies upon mountain top mining to fulfill its energy needs and to line the pockets of coal producers. All photos provided here are courtesy of Vivian Stockman at www.ohvec.org at the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition. Flyover photos were courtesy of help from Southwings, which provides flights for environmental workers and policy makers and can be found at www.SouthWings.org.

The West Virginia hills captivate the spirit of the revolutionary spirit in America. Even those that have not visited the area know of its charm and history. The people in West Virginia have lived close to the land and yet, the lure of getting it done on the cheap leaves devastation in its path. I thought the captions were going to transfer with these photos but, as with some other things I've been learning over the past few months, I was wrong. I encourage you to visit the site at www.ohvec.org for more information. The picture above shows a mine at Kayford Mountain taken by Vivian on January 4, 2006. Below is a photo of the Dal Tex Mine Near Blair, WV.

Below is another view of Kayford Mountain showing Clear Fork Valley below. Notice the size of the mine compared to the houses. According to the OHVEC, residents in the valley have experienced repeated flooding. Mountain top mining not only destroys our natural heritage through decimating hills, it pollutes or simply eliminates streams, kills wildlife, and this is not to mention dust and noise and other obnoxious qualities residents near these sites are required to put up with on a daily basis.

Look off into the distance in these photos. See how much land is being taken for short term gain as you view areas being mined throughout the entire area.

Below are pictures, extracted from video taken by Bob Gates photonzx@intelos.net, of a the results of what is called the Massey Valley Fill Disaster in Lyburn, WV, taken July 19,2002.

The disasters related to mountaintop mining, like other short sighted, environmentally destructive actions result from the ever expanding thirst for energy and development that grips this nation in the throes of panic, like withdrawal or DTs. We're like a nation full of junkies failing to see the obvious signs of a problem when our teeth start falling out or the scars show up as we scratch at the invisible bugs crawling under our collective skin all in an effort to fill our veins, the rivers and streams, with pollutants like coal slurry. We have to do better than this.

Recall a previous article discussing the controversy of restoration because it is seen by some as a fix all for environmental destruction by corporate sponsors. Below are some pictures Vivian took of some "restored areas" throughout the hills of West Virginia.

This is the Wind River Restoration, the photo taken in February, 2006. If it wasn't so sad and wasn't irritating down to the core, it would be funny. I mean, there is a complete, utter absence of any sort of accountability whatsoever. Biodiversity be damned according to what these companies are doing.

What is going to be left of the forests of West Virginia by the time this society is done with it? I just don't get it. I've been called lots of names over the years, liberal, environmental extremist, things like that. The funny part is, I'm pretty moderate and have spent most of my adult life in business. I've simply tried to be responsible while playing my part in society. I'm no radical environmentalist but it pains me to think about what this social order I am a part of believes in when such obvious corporate greenwashing passes for restoration.

These two pictures show the Hobet 21 Complex in Boone and Lincoln Counties, WV. The forest (ohvec calls it mixed mesophytic) is gone with the coal, and the topsoil, and the biodiversity. This is apparently some sort of spray on non-native grass seed (ohvec calls it "hydroseed" a mix of grass w/fertilizer) to make it the area look green. They throw in some autumn olive shrubs, I guess an extremely invasive plant, and call it good. Below you get to see a golf course, always good for the public (in some bizarro universe governed by corporate sponsors), as a way to restore, or reclaim the decimated area.

The audacity is stunning. There just has to be a better way. The only way I know of to move forward is if people are informed about what is happening. If there are any doubts about the connection between politics and nature and economics, it seems that the destruction in West Virginia might eliminate those concerns. For those convinced that privatizing everything and getting government off the backs of business and letting industry run its course, I would like to know who will stand up to those pursuing wealth at such a great cost for not only future generations, but for those of living near wilderness today?

One common complaint by those on the right wing of American politics today is that environmental extremists with deep pockets fill people with fear and people really can't affect the land in such a negative fashion. There are over 300 million of us within the confines of the United States and we use a lot of power to live our lives. The head in the sand mentality doesn't work. I have a great deal of respect for Vivian Stockman and those like her who stand up against the forces with truly deep pockets and political connections. It seems there needs to be a politics of engagement that is inclusive and that brings people into the process which will not disparage business but hold industry accountable for the damage they cause on the natural landscape.