Wednesday, August 20th, 2014 | Posted by Brian Sewell | 1 Comment
However dysfunctional, the North Carolina General Assembly always seems to come together in the end — often in literally the final hours of the legislative session. After a last-minute compromise, the North Carolina legislature passed the coal ash bill on Wednesday, but fell short of promises to protect communities in the wake of the Dan River spill. [ Read More ]Friday, August 15th, 2014 | Posted by Thom Kay | No Comments
Since the mid-1990s, the coal industry has blasted the tops off of more 500 of the oldest, most biologically rich mountains in America, and destroyed more than 2,000 miles of headwater streams. Despite a growing movement of Appalachians and thousands of other citizens rallying to end the destruction, it’s still happening. [ Read More ]Thursday, August 14th, 2014 | Posted by AV's Intern Team | No Comments
The latest issue of The Appalachian Voice features a wide range of stories. Read about everything from mountain bogs to fracking regulations and opportunities for rural Appalachian women in the online edtition of our bimonthly newspaper. [ Read More ]Thursday, August 14th, 2014 | Posted by Erin Savage | No Comments
Mountaintop removal's health impacts were the number one concern of eastern Kentuckians that participated in the SOAR Health Impact Series, but the topic was barely addressed at a recent SOAR gathering in Hazard. If they hope to soar beyond political rhetoric, Rep. Hal Rogers and Gov. Steve Beshear must take those concerns seriously, and support more research into the connections between mountaintop removal and health. [ Read More ]Thursday, August 7th, 2014 | Posted by Brian Sewell | No Comments
In recent years, outstanding violations and unpaid fines have weighed down coal companies owned by West Virginia billionaire Jim Justice and burdened the communities where they operate. But rather than paying his debts, Justice just spent $30 million to build a lavish sports complex on the grounds of the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. [ Read More ]Tuesday, August 5th, 2014 | Posted by Guest Contributor | 1 Comment
"Inspiration is something we all can use, especially if it is inspiration to change things for a brighter and cleaner future." - Rusti Mullins, a mother of two and wife of a former Va. coal miner reflects on her summer traveling with her family on the Breaking Clean Tour.
[ Read More ]Monday, August 4th, 2014 | Posted by Thom Kay | No Comments
An Appalachian Voices intern attends her first-ever environmental rally and finds a sense of belonging among other advocates calling for clean energy and climate action. "It’s one thing to wear the pins and stickers; it’s another thing to feel empowered by your peers to take action and work towards a common goal," Marissa Wheeler writes. [ Read More ]Wednesday, July 30th, 2014 | Posted by Eric Chance | No Comments
Over 2,000 miles of streams have been buried by Mountain Top Removal mining, and many more have been degraded. This seems like it should be illegal, but the destructive practice continues. That's why Appalachian Voices has been working to keep the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and industry from opening up new loopholes in our environmental laws that would make it easier to poison streams. [ Read More ]Monday, July 28th, 2014 | Posted by Thom Kay | No Comments
When President Obama first took office, he made a commitment that his agencies would always act on what the science dictated. I guess the way around taking actions, then, is to stop the science from ever being completed. [ Read More ]Monday, July 28th, 2014 | Posted by Kate Boyle | No Comments
Five years ago, the Obama Administration made a promise to take measures to protect the people, waters, and mountains of Appalachia from the dangerous impacts of mountaintop removal mining. Well, it's five years later, and we are done waiting for those safeguards. This September, Appalachian Voices is teaming up with other groups from the Alliance for Appalachia to ensure our communities are heard. Won't you join us?
[ Read More ]Friday, July 25th, 2014 | Posted by Hannah Wiegard | No Comments
Since the release of his administration’s Climate Action Plan in June 2013, has Obama made strides in developing a clean energy economy and protecting the environment? Let’s take a look at his five-pronged approach to address climate change. [ Read More ]Wednesday, July 23rd, 2014 | Posted by Amy Adams | No Comments
Duke Energy has spent six months cleaning up its Dan River coal spill, the third worst in U.S. history, and got a whopping six percent removed. And now it says the job is done. North Carolinians should not accept this -- no less than most parents accept their teenagers' excuses to clean up their rooms. [ Read More ]
