"Powerful Testimony" Given in New York State

Donna Branham stands with (from left to right) Paul Galley of RiverKeeper, Manna Jo Greene of Hudson River Clearwater, Wes Gillingham of Catskill MountainKeeper, Herself, Kathy Noland of Catskill MountainKeeper, and event planner Sue Rosenberg

On April 23rd at SUNY New Paltz over 120 people gathered at the Extreme Energy Forum, sponsored by Frack Free Catskills, Catskill Mountainkeeper, Clearwater and SUNY NYPIRG to learn about the impacts and consequences which the "extreme energies" of mountaintop removal, fracking, nuclear power have on the the air, water and the communities in which they are extracted and used.

One of the major highlights of the evening was Donna Branham from the Keeper of the Mountains Foundation in West Virginia. Filmmaker Peter Bull, whose film Dirty Business-"Clean Coal" and the Battle for our Energy Future was screened that evening,  wrote: "Donna Branham's testimony from the front lines in West Virginia was very powerful indeed." Donna has deep family roots in the extraction communities of Southern West Virginia - growing up in a coal mining town, her family were farmers and miners and her husband a retired underground miner.  Donna moved the audience as she first described the process of mountaintop removal mining where a mountain is clear cut; the extraordinarily rich and bio-diverse land is dumped into the valley and streams below and then the mountain is blasted and the seam of coal scooped out - leaving a scarred landscape and poisoned streams and waterways, flooding, toxic sludge behind. Water is poisoned and communities like the one she grew up in destroyed. She shared both her great love for the beauty of the mountains and the culture of WV and her outrage at the devastation caused by mountaintop removal mining and irresponsible mining practices and the power and greed of Big Coal.

 

 

Her gentle voice and her easy manner might initially be deceptive, but people quickly saw  the strength and determination of a fighter who has been organizing and fighting for land and her community for over 20 years, often at great peril to herself and her family. She brought an important message to this forum. She sees a great parallel between fracking for natural gas and surface mining and brings a warning to New Yorkers - don't sit by and wait until the gas companies take hold of NY and the destruction of air and water has begun.  The audience was clearly both moved and inspired by her presentation.

Earlier in the day Donna took part in an initial meeting to plan a "summit" of grassroots organizers working in the areas of coal, natural gas, nuclear power, tar sands etc. to find ways for our movements to learn from and support one another and find a common voice.

On Tuesday Donna spoke before a small but interested group of students who were taking part in an all day "Environmental Day" at SUNY Albany. Though most had heard of mountaintop removal coal mining, it was the first time that they were able to put a face and a personal story to the issue.

The forum was filmed and will air on the local public access TV stations in the area as will an interview with Donna in which she was able to talk both about the issues of strip mining and irresponsible coal mining practices in WV and her personal experiences as one who has been willing to stand up for her community and her mountains.

Help Us Catch This Burglar and Protect My Family's Land

This is Larry Gibson with the Keeper of the Mountains Foundation writing you an urgent message,

 

Recently, between April 23rd and 26th we had a break in at my place and it wasn’t a random break in. They did extensive, extensive damage; stole a bullet proof vest, guns; destroyed at least four cameras on the cabin plus damaged the security system itself, the solar panel and stole $750 worth of batteries that ran the system.

 

The enormous amount of stuff broken and stolen is too high to be put in this email. But what I’m asking you to do now is to:

 

 

 ---> View & Share This Video of one the burglars captured on our security system and please let us know if you recognize him so we can bring him to justice by emailing Larry.Gibson@Mountainkeeper.org and/or calling (304)542-1134.

 

---> Make a Donation to help us buy the equipment necessary to make my family's land on Kayford Mountain in Stanley Heirs Park a better protected, safer place for all of us

 

Bootprint left on a door

This attack is not directly on Larry Gibson, the attack is about the issue at hand. It’s trying to stop people like Larry Gibson and others to fight back. It’s not really directed toward me, if it was the wouldn’t have destroyed my cabin, they would have just come at me. The fact is, they’re fighting the issue their way. We’re fight the issue our way, and we can’t do it without your help.

 

For those of you that knew about the break-in, and have already donated, thank you for your donations. They are well received.

 

Those of you that didn’t, and are finding out through this message. Remember we’re fighting to save Appalachia. It’s not mine alone. It’s yours too. You’re not making a donation to Larry Gibson, you making a donation to the issue. So we can fight. When they attack me, they attack you- that’s what they’ve done here.  You might not even know it, but you’ve been attacked because of what you believe in,  because you’re following the issue of mountaintop removal and coal.

 

So, those that still believe in what we’re doing as a team, help as much as you can. Stay with us on this. We appreciate you.

 

Larry Gibson, Keeper of the Mountains

They went through the drawers
looking for things to steal 

They made a complete mess of
Carol & Larry's room looking for
things to steal 

Raising Awareness and Action at the University of Cincinnati

Written by Geoffrey Bliss, Graduate Student at the University of Cincinnati

On Wednesday April 18^th, Donna Branham, Speaker with the Keeper of the Mountains Foundation spoke at the University of Cincinnati’s (UC) MainStreet Cinema. UC is a large public research university located in southern Hamilton County with a total enrollment of 42,421 and the university was a poised to hear her words. Members of students groups such as UC Beyond Coal, part of the nation-wide Beyond Coal Campaign, were in attendance as well as others representing groups working in distinct branches of green initiatives extending towards green building design, political activism and historic preservation.  

The true cost of Mountain Top Removal, the process of extracting coal developed in the 1970s in Appalachia is “a conventional strip mining technique” that involves the clearing, blasting, digging and extraction techniques necessary to obtain coal, forcibly removing 500-800 feet of mountaintop was made very real, clear and deliberate.

This “cost efficient form of coal production,” which has innumerable side affects such as decreasing the number of available mining jobs, furthering economic disparity in the region, destroying old forests, devastating indigenous fish and wildlife communities and adding to a host of other problems distressing the health, safety and welfare of local populations living in close proximity united students, faculty and staff who absorbed information from an unscripted and vivid portrait of destruction for the sake of profits.  

Donna shared her story of fighting Big Coal - after decades of suffering, struggle and personal loss.

She spoke in a delicate but firm voice, a voice, which echoed the continuing struggle of thousands. The perils of mountain top removal suddenly became extremely vivid and real, carried forward by a strong narrative, which mirrored her travels, her experiences and her longing for social justice. The dangers of fueling the continuing demand for energy, especially that companion the countless coal burning power plants, which dominate the countryside in many urban and rural communities in WV, were suddenly brought within full view. The spectrum of desperation indeed demands action, now.  

Donna provided a stirring introduction, presenting a slideshow of images recounting the destruction wrought by Mountain Top Removal in Mingo County WV, which has affected the livelihood of her family, her friends and her entire community. Mingo County, as Donna explained was noted to be one of “…the poorest and most fragile communities in West Virginia,” She then provided audience members with a short documentary with interviews with residents living in the shadow of Kayford Mountain, whose once tall peaks have been slowly torn apart since 1986, which showed images of trees being torn from the ground and blasts devastating mountainsides, all being set to the harmony of traditional Appalachian cultural music, whose lyrics pleaded and begged for change.      

Her story was intimate, comprehensive and emotionally moving. Donna, who still lives on a small farm with her husband, explained how she has through the years filed numerous petitions and written countless letters against Mountain Top Removal, making her an both an “outcast” and a “target” for harassment. “You’re noted to be an enemy if you speak out against coal.” She explained being pushed around in public, receiving threatening letters, phone calls and even a standoff between her husband and the coal company who forcefully demanded to pass through her property without a proper permit. One could only imagine being treated this way.   

The audience remained speechless. Her presentation continued.

She exposed the mass efficiency of Mountain Removal, which has assisted in creating great profits for coal companies, ruining the natural landscape, increasing the risk for surface runoff of rainwater, causing mass flooding in her community while poisoning the air and groundwater, thereby increasingly the likelihood for preexisting conditions such as asthma from air from air and waterborne illnesses. One could only fathom the following questions: How could coal companies allow coal production to cause such terrible destruction fully knowing the adverse affects to health, safety and well-being residents living there? How can they get away with this? How are coal companies able to continue without sympathy, remorse or regret? How can I stop the continuation of this horrendous disaster wrought upon the natural landscape?

Questions such as this would forever permeate the minds of the audience that day.

Donna explained to students how they could become involved but many of them had already filled out or collected advocacy information well before her presentation finished. You and your colleagues have aroused great hope and change in Mingo County and other parts of Appalachia. Your successes and the continuing stories shared through the Keeper of the Mountain’s On the Road Again campaign were incredibly well received at UC and we look forward to seeing you again at our campus soon.

We can only hope to see the full return of the landscape that you so love and are so connected to. Our hearts and minds are with you and your struggle.

And let it be known that a group of vey interested UC students are already planning their visit to Kayford Mountain in coming months!   

Thank you for sharing your story with us at the University of Cincinnati.

Please stay in touch. We certainly will.

Staunton, Virginia Comes Together

This Post is Written by Event Planner Shay Claton

Chuck Nelson spoke at a house party fundraising event for Keeper of the Mountains Foundation in Staunton, Virginia on the evening of April 18th.

There were 16 people in attendance at the event, which included dinner and drinks with a time for discussion about the issues surrounding Mountain Top Removal mining. Chuck spoke movingly about the effects of Mountaintop Removal on the communities of Appalachia. He told stories of the health problems in his own community in the Coal River Valley as well as the disappearance of whole towns that were once home to many families that had lived there together for generations. He also shared his stories of life as a union miner and his experience as a miner in the employment of Massey Energy the company involved in 1000's of violations of safety rules and environmental regulations.

Chuck also showed a segment of the film "Mountain Mourning" featuring Larry Gibson and the story of Kayford Mountain, home to the Keeper of the Mountains Foundation. Many people were profoundly moved by Chuck's heartfelt stories and by Larry's story and the scenes in the film of the devastation of the mountains by Mountaintop Removal. Everyone left ready to act to help the Keeper of the Mountains in their effort to stop MTR and ready to support their mission to create a sustainable economy and life that honors mountain culture, justice for the people, and respect for the beauty and diversity of these ancient mountains.

Growing Our Movement: 8 States, 10 Days, 25 Events

Adam Hall is Touring through Wisconsin & Indiana on a 9-Day Tour

Amber Whittington of Ameagle, WV, is Touring with Appalachian Voices through Washington on a 9-Day Tour

Chuck Nelson of Glen Daniel, WV is Touring through the Shenandoah Valley on a 2-Day Tour

Debbie Graff of Ghent, WV is Touring through Western North Carolina with Larry Gibson on a 5-Day Tour

Donna Branham of Lenore, WV is Leading an Event in Cincinnati, OH then is Leading Multiple Events in New Paltz, NY

Larry Gibson is Leading an Event in Marietta, OH, then Participating in the National Earth Day Event in Washington, DC then hopping on a plane to Tour through Western North Carolina with Debbie Graff on a 5-Day Tour

April 16th
--> Adam Hall Speaking at 7:00 PM in Room 2650 of the Humanities Building at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

April 17th
--> Chuck Nelson Speaking at 5:30 PM at the "Hokies Love Mountains" Rally (facebook event here) on the stage outside the Squires Student Center at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA
--> Adam Hall Speaking at 7:00 PM at "The Encore Room" in the Dreyfus University Center, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

April 18th
--> Donna Branham Speaking at 6:00 PM in the Main Street Cinema, Tangeman University Center at the University of Cincinnati (facebook event here)
--> Chuck Nelson Speaking at 6:00 PM at a House Party Fundraiser in Staunton, VA (email Jennifer@MountainKeeper.org for details)
--> Adam Hall Participating in a Presentation at 7:00 PM in Room 2650 of the Humanities Building at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

April 19th
 --> Amber Whittington Speaking at 5:30 PM in Miller Hall- Room 152, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA
 --> Larry Gibson Speaking at 7:00 PM at Marietta University, OH

April 20th
--> Adam Hall Speaking at 12:00 PM in the Lundeen Lecture Room in Doudna Hall in the University of Wisconsin-Platteville (webpage here)
--> Amber Whittington is Speaking at 7:00 PM in the "Coal Hard Truth" Panel in the YWCA Ballroom, 1026 N. Forest St, Bellingham, WA

April 22nd
--> Larry Gibson will Participate in the Earth Day Rally at the National Mall in Washington, DC (webpage here)
--> Amber Whittington is Speaking at 6:00 PM in The Theater at Braeburn Condos, 1410 E Pine St, Seattle, WA
--> Adam Hall is Speaking on the "Coal: A Human Element" Panel at 7:00 PM in Room 210 of Matthews Hall at Purdue University (facebook event here)

April 23rd
--> Donna Branham is Speaking at 3:00 PM in a Round Table Discussion in the Student Union Building at SUNY-New Paltz, NY
--> Donna Branham is Speaking at 6:00 PM on Extreme Energy (website here) in the Lecture Center 100, SUNY-New Paltz, NY
--> Debbie Graff and Larry Gibson are Speaking at 7:00 PM in the Scott Concert Hall of the Porter Center, Brevard College, NC

April 24th
--> Amber Whittington is Speaking at 12:00 PM at the Ram Restaurant,10019 59th Avenue Southwest, Lakewood, WA
--> Donna Branham is Speaking at 6:30 PM at SUNY-New Patlz, NY
--> Amber Whittington is Speaking at an event by the Transition Fidalgo & Friends who will present the 7th Generation Supper at the Senior Activity Center, 1701 22nd St, Anacortes, WA
--> Debbie Graff and Larry Gibson are Speaking at 7:30 PM in the Cannon Lounge of Warren Wilson College, NC (facebook event here)

April 25th
--> Amber Whittington is Speaking at 7:00 PM in the Port Townsend Community Center, 620 Tyler St, Port Townsend, WA
 --> Debbie Graff and Larry Gibson are Speaking at 7:30 PM to the River Management Symposium, at the Asheville Crowne Plaza, 1 Resort Drive, Asheville, NC (event program here)

April 26th
--> Amber Whittington is Speaking at 7:00 AM to the Olympic Kiwanis Club, Cornerhouse Restaurant, 101 E Front St, Port Angeles, WA
--> Debbie Graff and Larry Gibson are Speaking at 7:00 PM in the Solarium of the Student Center at Appalachian State University, NC (website here)