WASHINGTON–Over 1,500 people from Appalachia and across the country converged on Washington D.C. last weekend for Appalachia Rising, a pro-mountain, movement-building conference followed by a mountaintop removal march and protest that ended in over 100 arrested at the White House. NASA climate scientist James Hansen was among the arrestees who were diverse in age and background, and included outspoken strip mining opponents from areas where coal is mined such as Larry Gibson (W.Va.), Teri Blanton (Ky.), Chuck Nelson (W.Va.), Mickey McCoy (Ky.) and Bev May (Ky.). Past Climate Ground Zero arrestees were also arrested, including Roland Micklem, Mike Bowersox and Sue Rosenberg.
The march included stops at EPA headquarters and a PNC Bank, which is the largest U.S.-based funder of mountaintop removal. Four were also arrested for sitting in and refusing to leave the bank lobby, including the Rev. Billy. People carried, played music and even had an impromtu square dance with playing old time musicians in front of the White House. More coverage is available on the Appalachia Rising website.
Happy Appalachia Rising.
I guess “their” argument that anyone opposed to MTR has to be from out of state is blown totally out of the water. It was a very uplifting experience and I was humbled to see so many Appalachian residents out there fighting for this cause.
Attention: Eric Mc David arrested , tried and convicted of eco-terrorism for knowingly conspiring to use fire or explosives to damage property. Seems one of the targets was W V mountaintop removal projects. Guess that blows “their” arguement of non involvement with eco-terrorists out of the water. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Why-FBI-Raids-Against-Anti-by-Kevin-Gosztola-100927-115.html
and yet again, eM were you arrested? nope, just funding others to do the dirty work?
There is nothing positive about being arrested. Arreseted means you did something wrong. Is being wrong the best you can do? Must be, IT WAS THE HEADLINE. It could have said “100 poeple were wrong” Sorry but that is not something I want to be apart of.
Nope I was not arrested and I will not apologize for that. I do what I can and it’s more than you do Progress Miner. At least I care about my environment and as far as someone planning on using explosives. Not anyone I know or would support.
McDavid’s attorney said, “There has never been a case in America that has involved this much entrapment, this much pushing by an informant, by the U.S. government and by the FBI behind it.” The judge, however, had no problem with applying a “terrorism enhancement” and said, “It’s a new world since September 11th, 2001.”
Looks to me like this very well could have been a set up. Hmmmmm…..and when people accuse Larry Gibson of domestic terrorism you know there is something definitely awry in the system. That is goes way beyond laughable. You people that want to “hush” those of us fighting for your very right to have clean water to drink and clean air to breathe better pay attention….you could be next one to fall victim to “big brother.”
Just a word of advice for the folks who are “active” in the stop mtr movement,watch your backs, after all AnnA the informant or a reasonable facsimile may be lurking among you…… Paranoia runs deep.
Em, speaking of clean air…. Why don’t you get some of your hippie friends to bathe???
OMG…is that really the best thing you can keep coming up with? Have you ever read the ingredient list on soap? Yeah, those toxins absorb directly into your skin then your bloodstream. Better off to shower with water only or you can mix a little vinegar and baking soda for those tough spots. I for one like my husband’s natural smell much better than having him all “High Karate’d” up.
I mean it’s a huge turn on for me to smell him after he’s been out working all day…WOW!!!
With the severity of the issue at hand I’m thinking that the personal hygiene practices of other people really doesn’t fit into the equation of solving the problems. Get off it!
Now, “my side of the story” were in the same place about a week prior to you guys going and from what I saw and heard, not one of them was arrested, now something had to be going on somewhere for you guys to come to Washington and get arrested?
Em, I do agree with you, it is a turn on to see my handsome husband come home and see the dirt and grim on him and smell the hard work he has coming off of him and know it’s all in a days work of working for Wanker Machinery!
Progress Miner, my handsome smelly husband came home and told me Eagle Mining has 47 pieces of equipment that they want to be rebuilt and they are wanting the Logan Branch of Wanker Machinery to do! It means more work is coming for these men, isn’t this great!
LOL, no EM, but doesn’t it get old hearing the SAME OL THING day in and day out??? I damn sure get tired of it, example – MTR is taking jobs, MTR is poisoning my water, MTR is killing the children, etc. As for the soap, toxic or not I’m still gonna use it. Oil and gas are toxic, but I don’t see you fuckers slowing down on that any??? And how come you all ran from the HWM guys at Marfork a month or two ago??? Get scared that night??? And I’m glad this McDavid guy is going to jail, one less person I have to watch out for when I’m working! And Mr. Larry “Stubs” Gibson, an eco terrorist??? Sounds good to me… He always talks about how he gets shot at and everything, but he never shows proof??? And he also never tells about him getting on the CB talking shit about how he hopes that someone gets killed or hurt whenever Patriot was running the strip on kayford mountain full time. Or about how he was gonna kick the miners asses if they come across kayford to the raleigh county side. Oh and BTW…. Not all of those people where from appalachia, I GUARANTEE THAT!!!
OMG Raychel and I agree on something? We actually probably agree on many more things but this MTR issue seems to cause many people to close off their minds off. I’m just as guilty. Brushy, I get what you’re saying and I”ve been mad as hell to the point I’ve said things I wish I hadn’t because I truly don’t want anyone to get hurt but we have to find a solution and I think everyone can agree that if we let these big corporations do as they please we are walking a very dangerous line for mankind. Jobs or no jobs truly the bottom line is we can’t survive if we destroy everything and that is where we are headed. I want to believe too that there is someone else out there looking out for us but I think we are gonna have to do it ourselves.
EM , on personal hygeine: Your excuse for not bathing beats anything I ever tried on my parents…………when I was 8 years old. Oh and btw they did’nt buy it either.
eM, there WILL be a brand new Earth, no thanks to you, or I. Make the right choice and you can experience it one day. Hey Raychel, awesome news! BTW good news at Progress too…expansion!!! Watcher there may be more than one among them..
Progress Miner, I’m glad you’re so firm in your beliefs. It will make it a lot easier for you if that time comes that we have to watch our children and grandchildren die of thirst and starvation. I’m sure the hundreds of thousands of Jewish mother’s and father’s believed that God would spare them from seeing their little children die the horrible deaths they did but unfortunately that did not come to fruition. Perhaps it gave them so sense of calm or peace though and that is what I wish for you. Seriously, I know I how important a person’s belief system is to them when everything around them is going to hell and no sense can be made out of anything it helps to have faith. I just don’t think my creator would want me to sit idly by and do nothing while the destruction continues. If I do try to do good and it still happens then I will at least know I tried.
I knew it was just a matter of time before Progress expanded, good news for you Progress Miner! You will get to feed your family and take care of them right on.
Since we want to through the good ole Bible in here let me just say this and then I will leave it be and for those of you that like to say hypocrite or so on then so be it.
“And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found” Revelations 16:20
Now I like this one. Even though things have been alittle wild on here at times and of course good ole Em has said some pretty bad things on here, which I am sure she regrets now (UBB), this verse is one that I like because even though the mountains are being removed and so on, here is one to read and re-read and really take to heart. ” For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my KINDNESS shall not DEPART from thee, neither shall the COVENANT of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath MERCY ON THEE( meaning you and me).
Even though mountains are being removed daily for me and women to take care of their families, the goodness, kindess and love should never depart. Em there is a ground somewhere, but all I hear is “there is a cleaner way”, I haven’t see this yet and these men have to work and provide for their families the same way you on the other side of the fence do…..Enjoy your day!
Raychel although I did make a pretty shitty comment a long time ago I truly don’ t think it caused that accident at UBB but I do regret it.