AV and iLoveMountains Launch No More Excuses Campaign

Appalachian Voices, in conjunction with iLoveMountains.org, recently launched a two-pronged campaign to solicit reelected President Obama to end the devastating practice of mountaintop removal coal mining.

With our new report summarizing the human cost of mountaintop removal coal mining and a nationwide campaign through iLoveMountains.org, we are telling the Obama Administration, “No More Excuses — End Mountaintop Removal Now.”

Since the president took office, more than 20 peer-reviewed studies have concluded that mountaintop removal contributes to significantly higher rates of birth defects, cancer, and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases among individuals in the region where the destructive form of mining occurs.

The No More Excuses campaign features children who are already campaigning against mountaintop removal through various groups, including some children that have lived in or near areas impacted by mountaintop removal.

Shortly after winning the election in 2008, President Obama said: “Science holds the key to our survival as a planet and our security and prosperity as a nation… It’s about listening to what our scientists have to say, even when it’s inconvenient – especially when it’s inconvenient.” During his first administration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency made steps to curtail the rubber-stamping of permits, which made it more difficult for companies to obtain mountaintop removal mining approval, but the measure was struck down by a federal court.

Our special report, “Mapping The Human Cost of Mountaintop Removal,” is also a companion piece to an interactive mapping page unveiled last spring on iLoveMountains.org and designed by Appalachian Voices’ technology team. To read the report, visit appvoices.org/the-human-cost.
Please join us in telling the Obama Administration that there are no excuses to legitimize the destruction of the Appalachian Mountains: visit ilovemountains.org/no-more-excuses to send a letter today.

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