Monday, January 31, 2011

The Man Who Said ‘No’ to Coal Companies: Activist Details State of Polarizing Industry

 
By Kari Lydersen January 28, 2011 (cross-posted from the In These Times Magazine)





Photo by Lloyd DeGrane
 CHICAGO—Larry Gibson’s father was a veteran of West Virginia coal mines.
“He could mine 50 pounds of coal laying on his side in a 28-inch tunnel, with a belt line,” said Gibson proudly, speaking Tuesday at CafĂ© Catedral in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood, a few blocks from an archaic coal-burning power plant. “He worked there for 13 years before being laid off.”


Gibson himself never worked as a miner, but in the past decade it’s become a full-time job for him to fight off the coal companies who want to buy his forested mountaintop land, which they tell him is valued at $650 million, he said.

When Massey Energy originally tried to convince him to sell his land, Gibson said, they offered him $140,000. At that time, he said, a Massey vice president told him that if he held out he would become “an island” in an “ocean” of mountaintop removal strip mining.

“And he was right,” said Gibson.

The money has been hard for people to resist in a region with high unemployment and poverty. The only other work available is in Wal-Mart, fast food joints, telemarketing and mostly low-paid healthcare jobs, Gibson explained. And in the mines. But West Virginia mining jobs, once predominantly union and well-paying, have become much fewer, much lower-paying and much more likely to be non-union.

The website Political Affairs recently reported:
Data from the federal Energy Information Administration show that for 2007 (the latest year available), of 34,500 underground mining jobs, just over 10,200 were unionized; while of the 18,300 surface mining jobs, just 1,500 were unionized.

Non-union mines have notably worse safety records. An analysis by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette published in April 2010 found that of 265 coal mine deaths since 2002, only 30 were in union mines. Among recent disasters: an explosion at Massey Energy’s non-union Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia in April 2010 that killed 29 miners.

An anecdote in the Post Gazette helps explain why non-union mines are so much more dangerous:
Deep in a coal mine in Harlan County, Ky., one day in the late 1980s, a large rock began to slip and appeared to be inches away from falling on Scott Howard and his partner. Mr. Howard refused to continue working in that area. His supervisor told him to go see the mine owner, whose response was curt.

"The next time a boss tells you to do something and you don't do it, you won't work for me anymore," Mr. Howard said the owner told him. Had the mine been unionized, Mr. Howard could have reported the problem to a member of the union's safety committee and he would have been protected from potential retaliation.

Instead, Mr. Howard filed a court action against the company, developing a reputation as a rabble-rouser that, he said, eventually cost him his job.

Gibson said coal companies like Massey are adept at public relations campaigns wherein they make it appear environmental groups and local mining opponents are destroying jobs, when in reality decent mining jobs are being shaved away by the use of high-tech machinery, temporary contract workers and general corner-cutting by companies on staffing levels and safety.

“It’s all propaganda,” Gibson said. “It wasn’t citizens or environmentalists who did away with jobs, it’s mechanization that’s killing jobs. These aren’t career jobs any more, they’re contract jobs, and the company is the only one who can break the contract.”

He said people are told that if they quit before their contract is up, they’ll actually owe the company money. “And people in Appalachia don’t have money for lawyers to challenge that kind of thing,” said Junior Walk, a young Appalachian activist.

Walk and Gibson were in Chicago to draw connections between the places coal is harvested and the places it is burned – like the the mostly low-income immigrant neighborhood where the event was being held.

Union jobs are among the arguments company officials and politicians have put forth against shutting down that coal-fired plant; though most of the workers at the plant are not from the surrounding area. The coal actually burned in Chicago comes from Wyoming, though the once-vibrant Illinois coal mining industry may see a resurgence soon as mandatory pollution control equipment on new power plants means the “dirtier” Illinois coal can be burned again.

Across the nation, only about 28 percent of miners are union, and that trend will likely be mirrored at new or reopened Illinois mines. Typically only long-standing mines have unions, and companies are known to try to dissolve unions there by renaming or closing and reopening a mine.

The Spruce Number One mine for which the permit was denied would have created 250 jobs. But mining opponents said the mountains are more valuable to the local economy intact than they are blown up to yield the coal inside them.

Ultimately, more jobs and economic well-being would be created through tourism and other enjoyment of the mountains, they say.

The battle over coal is so bitter in Appalachia that Gibson wears a bulletproof vest, keeps two guns handy and has a special door so heavy – to prevent kick-ins—that he has to slide it open on wheels. He feels he’s threatened both by actual coal company representatives and locals who work or hope to work for the coal companies. He hopes with rising awareness of the air pollution from coal-fired power and the impacts of mountaintop removal mining, his neighbors will begin to see that dangerous coal field jobs aren’t worth sacrificing their surroundings and health.

“We don’t have to use violence to make a change,” he said. “All we need is the truth.”

Kari Lydersen, an In These Times contributing editor, is a Chicago-based journalist writing for various publications, including the Chicago Reader and The Progressive. Her most recent book is Revolt on Goose Island. She can be reached at kari.lydersen@gmail.com.

Monday, January 24, 2011

From the Holler to the Hood

Taking on Dirty Coal -- From the Holler to the ‘Hood'

Chicago, IL, January 24, 2011--Larry Gibson an Appalachian Hero in the struggle against Mountain Top Removal coal mining will meet Tuesday morning with Chicago Alderman Joe Moore, the lead sponsor of the Chicago Clean Power Ordinance, to discuss the devastating health and environmental effects that reliance on coal as an energy source has brought to their two communities. The two will note how the entire life cycle of coal destroys lives and ruins the environment, from the rural mountain communities where it is extracted to the large urban cities where it is burned.
With the recent US EPA veto of the permit for Spruce Mine, the largest single mountaintop removal mine in West Virginia history, and the current push to pass the Clean Power Ordinance in Chicago, now is the time to begin moving forward to renewable energy and away from the fossil fuel industry.

“I met Larry Gibson in 2009 when I first visited West Virgina as part of a delegation led by Rogers Park-based Eco-Justice Collaborative,” said Alderman Joe Moore, lead sponsor of the Chicago Clean Power Ordinance.

“While there, I saw first hand the social and environmental devastation of mountaintop removal mining and realized that this was just the first step in the trail of devastation left by our reliance on coal.”

“What we are talking about isn't 'just' mountaintop removal strip mining, it's the annihilation of entire mountains for cheap energy”, said Larry Gibson of the Keeper of the Mountains Foundation."

Gibson was born on Kayford Mountain in West Virginia and moved to Cleveland with his family as a child. After retiring from General Motors on disability in the early 1980s, he returned to West Virginia and his mountain. At the time, he discovered the family's 500 acres had shrunk to 50 acres. The coal company had acquired the rest.

“The mountains in West Virginia are my home, and I’m doing everything I can to protect them”, said Gibson. “I tell people who come to see me ... I am not a tourist attraction. Don’t come here unless you are ready to do something.”

When Alderman Moore returned from Appalachia, he responded to Gibson’s challenge to take action.

“In Chicago, we have two old coal plants that not only are causing respiratory problems and premature deaths, but also are the largest stationary sources of global warming pollution,” said Moore. “I have introduced an ordinance in the Chicago City Council that calls for the clean-up of these plants”.

A few weeks ago, the US EPA revoked the Spruce Mine permit which stopped what would have been the largest mountaintop removal operation in West Virginia. This action was historic as the 2,300-acre mountaintop removal mine previously had been permitted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Chicago City Council Committee on Health is scheduled to hold a hearing on February 14th on the Chicago Clean Power Ordinance.

“When this ordinance passes, it will be just as historic as the veto of Spruce Mine,” said Moore. “To date, no major metropolitan city in this country has passed an ordinance that regulates the harmful emissions coming from the stacks of its power plants”.

“This is why I’m here in Chicago”, said Gibson. “I want everyone to know that they are connected to mountaintop removal through dirty electricity and poisoned water. Coal is a global commodity. Whether Chicago gets coal from mountaintop removal or underground mining, the power plants here are driving the strip mining practice. I want everyone, just like this Chicago Aldermen, to do something to stop the destruction of our mountains and our communities. People in Appalachia are suffering from poisoned water just like people here in Chicago are suffering from polluted air.”

Friday, January 21, 2011

We Visit Chapel Hill

Written by UNC-Chapel Hill student and event organizer Stewart Boss

North Carolina is the number one importer of mountaintop removal coal, but it’s a fact we easily forget. Despite our addiction to mountaintop removal coal, the irreversible damage and destruction it causes is often forgotten here because there’s no coal mining in our state.




Larry Gibson’s trip to Chapel Hill, N.C., and UNC this week was an inspirational reminder that we need to do something about what’s going on in West Virginia. Whether through our dirty electricity or our poisoned water systems, North Carolinians ARE connected to mountaintop removal. Larry was joined by Adam Hall, who is a U.S. Army veteran who has dedicated his life to combat surface mining and fight for what he calls: "The God-given right to drink clean water."



On Tuesday night, Larry and Adam joined the Sierra Student Coalition, the Institute for the Environment, the Parr Center for Ethics, CUAB, and the UNC Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity for a program on “Mountain Justice.” He candidly shared his personal experiences and Larry called on students, faculty and community members to get “mad as hell” and actively engaged in stopping the systematic destruction of his home.




Larry made it to several classes at UNC on Wednesday to keep spreading the word about how mountaintop removal has devastated his corner of West Virginia. That night, Liz Dowling-Sendor invited friends and family for a fundraiser party with some of the best brownies I’ve ever had and some fantastic cider. UNC professor and filmmaker Chad Stevens screened his powerful documentary “Leveling Appalachia,” setting the stage for a candid discussion with Adam and Larry about the rampant greed and corruption that has allowed the coal companies to take away our mountains and monopolize West Virginia’s economy.



“They told us that North Carolina would never survive without tobacco,” one lady said. “Well, here we are.”



An inspiring thought indeed. A big, warm thanks to Adam and Larry for bringing their stories down to Chapel Hill this week and adding fuel to our fire as we begin a new year.




Leveling Appalachia: http://e360.yale.edu/content/feature.msp?id=2198

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Standing Up to Show the True Impacts of the Coal Industry


We and many other coalfield residents and allies came together today to stand up to the coal industry and showed the TRUE impacts of coal. This is our march through the "Rally for Coal" - fearless people.

Our Solemn Presence Today:

 

The Coal Industry's Presence Today:

 

Larry Gibson's Words:


Junior Walk's Words:

And Remember: 

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Show the True Impact of Coal on Thursday, January 20th


"Impacts of Coal" Rally
Thursday, Jan 20
1:30 p.m.
Meet at Laidley Field Parking Area (1549 Piedmont Road at Elizabeth St,
Charleston, WV)


RSVP to the Facebook Event & Spread the Word

Acting-Governor Tomblin is hosting a "Rally for Coal" at the state capitol
on Thursday to show his opposition to the EPA's veto of the Spruce No 1
mountaintop removal mine.  The governor has announced that the purpose of
his rally is to "show the EPA how coal impacts our lives, and the lives of
our fellow countrymen."  So let's go and remind the governor of coal's
impact - slurry injections, blasting, poisoned water, destruction of our
communities, cancer and death.  The EPA finally did its job and now it is
under attack by our own state government. The governor does not speak for
us. He speaks for coal. We must support the EPA's decision and make our
voices heard.

Please show up, bring your friends, bring a camera and bring signs, photos
and any other visuals that illustrate the devastation that coal has wrought
in our region. We will gather at the bus stop at Laidley Field and leave at
1:30 to walk together to the capitol, near the acting governor's rally. We
will walk together, stand together, leave together.


RSVP to the Facebook Event & Spread the Word

IMPORTANT:
* This is a non-violent event; we intend to demonstrate in a peaceful and
respectful manner.
* Please do not engage with pro-coal demonstrators, regardless of how they
react to us.
* Do not bring anything that could be construed as a weapon, including signs
with wooden poles
* Take responsibility for the safety of the people standing next to you.
* Please stay with the group at all times.
* Dress in layers so you will be warm.

------

If you can stay in the Charleston area on Thursday, People Concerned About
MIC would greatly appreciate you presence at the Chemical Safety Board
meeting, which begins at 6:30 WV State University Student Union in
Institute.
The Chemical Safety Board's meeting will inform the community on the
agency's final investigation report on the August 2008 at the Bayer plant
and their recommendations to regulators and industry about how to make the
our valley safer.

Show the True Impact of Coal on Thursday, January 20th


"Impacts of Coal" Rally
Thursday, Jan 20
1:30 p.m.
Meet at Laidley Field Parking Area (1549 Piedmont Road at Elizabeth St,
Charleston, WV)

Acting-Governor Tomblin is hosting a "Rally for Coal" at the state capitol
on Thursday to show his opposition to the EPA's veto of the Spruce No 1
mountaintop removal mine.  The governor has announced that the purpose of
his rally is to "show the EPA how coal impacts our lives, and the lives of
our fellow countrymen."  So let's go and remind the governor of coal's
impact - slurry injections, blasting, poisoned water, destruction of our
communities, cancer and death.  The EPA finally did its job and now it is
under attack by our own state government. The governor does not speak for
us. He speaks for coal. We must support the EPA's decision and make our
voices heard.

Please show up, bring your friends, bring a camera and bring signs, photos
and any other visuals that illustrate the devastation that coal has wrought
in our region. We will gather at the bus stop at Laidley Field and leave at
1:30 to walk together to the capitol, near the acting governor's rally. We
will walk together, stand together, leave together.

IMPORTANT:
* This is a non-violent event; we intend to demonstrate in a peaceful and
respectful manner.
* Please do not engage with pro-coal demonstrators, regardless of how they
react to us.
* Do not bring anything that could be construed as a weapon, including signs
with wooden poles
* Take responsibility for the safety of the people standing next to you.
* Please stay with the group at all times.
* Dress in layers so you will be warm.

------

If you can stay in the Charleston area on Thursday, People Concerned About
MIC would greatly appreciate you presence at the Chemical Safety Board
meeting, which begins at 6:30 WV State University Student Union in
Institute.
The Chemical Safety Board's meeting will inform the community on the
agency's final investigation report on the August 2008 at the Bayer plant
and their recommendations to regulators and industry about how to make the
our valley safer.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Victories in Our Fight for Justice

This has been a huge week for us. We have seen an interim committee in the West Virginia State Legislature advance a bill that would ban coal slurry injections and another bill that would regulate natural gas drilling of the Marcellus Shale, we have also see Bayer announce the elimination of its storage of the deadly chemical M.I.C near Charleston, and finally we have seen the E.P.A. announce the historic veto of the Spruce #1 Mountaintop Removal Permit.



In fact these are rungs on the ladder to our ultimate victory. We should not get too comfortable in these steps, rather these should be fuel to keep our fire going and movement gaining momentum. We should keep our ultimate goal in mind and continue taking steps in the right direction.



These long overdue and responsible changes will take only take place within our Government and within the coalfields themselves if we continue to act. I appeal to you, the people, to be vigilant and look to the future.



Please Call Lisa Jackson at the EPA to thank the EPA for its veto of the Spruce #1 Permit at 202-564-4700



Thank you,
Larry Gibson

Keeper of the Mountains Foundation



P.S. We are appealing to you for donations to help fund our upcoming year to continue our daily fight against the crimes of the coal industry, please donate to help fuel our fight

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Larry Gibson on Judy Bonds' Passing

My friends its a sad day. We've lost a voice of the mountains, one of the great voices of the mountains, and most certainly a soldier, to cancer. Her voice will not die or cease because she's left. In memory of her and what she stood for, most certainly, the voices from the hollers and the mountains will continue simply because who she was and what she stood for.




Do not let her passing be in vain. Let her be an example for you to stand and speak out and say, "Enough is Enough." The price we pay in the Appalachian Coalfields, as you can see by the passing of this young lady, Judy Bonds, is far far too high. And so when you're wondering what you can do, take a stand give her her voice back. Don't let her voice die, you be the voice she had.


Be the voice of the people oppressed so we can have equality, the health, the fresh water, the fresh air that the rich people take for granted. And those of us who live in the Coalfields of Appalachia cannot take it for granted. This is Larry Gibson reminding you that the fight is not over, it has been raised to a higher level. Keep her and her family in your thoughts. Continue to fight and if in any given time you wonder, you think about the lady who fought as hard as she did and she will be the fuel for your fire.

Take her passing to be the fuel for your fire. Concentrate on the issue at hand. She would say, as i do, never give up what you believe in. I will give you this promise that i will never back down on what i have told you. So, i encourage you to step up to the plate and ring your voices through the hills and hollers and let them know you're not going anywhere. I look forward to having a long future with you.


Larry Gibson, Keeper of the Mountains Foundation