Mountain Justice


Donate by mail:
Mountain Justice
PO Box 86
Naoma, WV 25140



Still Moving Mountains - The Journey Home

A unique combination of music, visuals, and community involvement, "Still Moving Mountains: The Journey Home" unleashes the passion and urgency empowering the movement against mountaintop removal at this critical moment. The album includes all facets of the movement for justice and progress in Central Appalachia.

All proceeds from the album go to assist grassroots organizations like Mountain Justice and local community groups to help raise awareness of the impacts of mountaintop removal coal mining.

Visit auroralights.org for more information.

 
IN THE NEWS

Alexander asks EPA to hold coal ash hearing in Roane County
Knoxville News Sentinel 9/2/10

Activists seek ban on mountaintop removal mining
Lexington Herald-Leader 9/2/10

Banks Grow Wary of Environmental Risks
New York Times 9/2/10

Judge orders Patriot to clean up selenium discharges
Charleston Gazette 9/1/10

Court Orders Patriot Coal to Pay $45 Million to Treat Toxic Selenium from West Virginia Coal Mines, Holds Company in Contempt
Sierra Club 9/1/10

Banks Toughen Lending Rules to Coal, PNC & UBS Still Bucking the Trend
SolveClimate 8/29/10

W.Va. churches taking 'hard walk' on mining
Charleston Gazette 8/29/10

Appalachia Rising: On September 27th, A Resounding “No!” to Mountaintop Removal
Common Dreams 8/26/10

Activists Block Entrance to DEP Headquarters, Condemn Failed Enforcement
Climate Ground Zero 8/26/10

Mountaintop mining shows need for change
Knoxville News Sentinel 8/25/10

Coal Industry Drinks Up Massive Amounts of Water
Epoch Times 8/24/10

Southern coalfield residents lawsuit against Massey Energy finally gets court date
Examiner 8/23/10

Ecological Society of America presents conclusive evidence MTR is destroying water ways
Examiner 8/23/10

Coal Ash: 130 Million Tons of Waste
60 Minutes 8/22/10

Coal, Dirty Lies and a time to Rise Up!
Greenpeace 8/22/10

A Mountain in the Stream
New York Times 8/22/10

EPA says its new mining guidance 'stands'
Charleston Gazette 8/18/10

Waiting on Joe for reply
Charleston Gazette 8/18/10

Mining proposal splits Alabama coal town of Cordova
The Birmingham News 8/18/10

A Battle in Mining Country Pits Coal Against Wind
New York Times 8/15/10

Mountain mining damages streams
Nature News 8/12/10

Wall Street Backs Away From Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining, Says Rainforest Action Network
TradingMarkets.com 8/12/10

Vigilance, courage essential in protecting our mountains
Lexington Herlad-Leader 8/12/10

Denying mining's role in flooding
Lexington Herlad-Leader 8/11/10

W.Va. can't afford mountaintop mining
Charleston Daily Mail 8/11/10

New Maps Reveal Massive Forest Loss from Mountaintop Coal Mining
SolveClimate 8/10/10

Selenium showdown: Key hearing over coal's water pollution begins today before Judge Chambers
Charleston Gazette 8/10/10

Citizens talk about environmental impact and health effects of mountaintop removal mining
SW VA Today 8/7/10


More news...

 

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September 25-27, 2010: Mass mobilization in Washington DC
posted July 31, 2010

Appalachia Rising is a mass mobilization in Washington DC on September 27, 2010 calling for the abolition of mountaintop removal and surface mining.

It is a culmination of the national movement against surface mining and a foundation upon which to build a pan-Appalachian movement for prosperity and justice.

Coalfield citizens and organizers envision a vibrant mobilization of thousands -- coalfield residents, students & youth, Christians & people of all faiths, families, celebrities, underground miners, activists, artists, and all who yearn for justice -- to converge on Washington DC for a day of non-violent action and dignified civil disobedience targeting the politicians and agencies who could abolish surface mining with the stroke of a pen.


Monday July 26th, 2010: Keep Ison Rock Ridge Standing and Call-in to Senator Jim Webb's Office!
posted July 20, 2010
Please join Mountain Justice in calling Senator Jim Webb on Monday July 26th and ask that he "KEEP ISON ROCK RIDGE STANDING" and support the communities of southwestern Virginia from mountaintop removal coal mining.

Call Senator Webb and ask We are asking the senator to step to to 1. Thank the EPA for all they have done to protect coalfield communities from surface coal mining and 2. Ask the EPA to continue to intervene with the Ison Rock Ridge water permit.


To reach Senator Webb's DC office call: 202-224-4024
or Toll Free: 1-866-507-1570


Activists stop strip mining machine on Coal River Mountain
posted July 15, 2010


MARFORK, W.Va.—Protestors associated with Climate Ground Zero and Mountain Justice have locked to and shut down a highwall miner on Coal River Mountain today. Colin Flood, 22, and Katie Huszcza, 21, are locked to the mining equipment on Massey Energy's Bee Tree Surface Mine, near to the Brushy Fork Sludge Impoundment. Their banner states "Save Coal River Mountain" alongside images of ginseng, a morel, a deer and a bear.


June 15, 2010: Thousands to March in DC Calling for the Abolition of Mountaintop Removal
posted June 12, 2010

WHEN: June 15, 10:00 AM

WHERE: WV State Capitol Back Steps Near Fountain, Charleston, WV

WHAT: On June 15 at the capital in Charleston, WV, coalfield residents and allies from across Appalachia will announce Appalachia Rising a mass mobilization set for September 27 in Washington DC. They are calling for thousands to join them in demanding the Obama Administration abolish surface mining and investment in sustainable economic diversification in Appalachia. Groups aim to mobilize thousands from across the country for a dignified day of action in DC to increase public pressure on elected officials and regulators to ban surface mining.

www.appalachiarising.org

...read more


Video: clowns release floating banner in PNC Bank
posted June 8, 2010

More photos from the rally outside the bank are available by clicking the image to the left.


Mountain Justice shames PNC Bank's mountaintop removal financing
posted June 7, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, June 7, 2010
CONTACTS:
Ashley Browning 859-248-7027, Martin Mudd 859-963-5574

Lexington Protest Shames PNC's Mountaintop Removal Financing
PNC Bank is the biggest US financier of Appalachian mountain destruction

LEXINGTON, KY--At least 40 concerned citizens rallied in downtown Lexington today to express their anger at PNC Bank for financing mountaintop removal (MTR) coal mining. Local activists were joined by members of the group Mountain Justice and residents from mountaintop communities, who spoke out about the direct impact that this destructive form of mining has on their community, health and environment.


More recent events...


ANTI-MTR ACTIVISTS NEED YOUR HELP

Non-violent protestors are facing steep fines, court fees and jail time for the escalation in civil disobedience this past summer. Can you help support the brave men and women who have put it all on the line to stop the crime of mountaintop removal?

Any amount you can give will help - $5, $20, $50 or as much as you can afford. We need to raise more than $50,000 ASAP for the legal defense fund.

Or send a check payable to:
"Mountain Justice - Legal Defense"
PO Box 86, Naoma WV 25140

Can you help organize a fundraising event in you town? Can you provide legal assistance? Can your college, university or organization host speakers on MTR and provide a big speaking honorarium? We have a fast-growing crew of speakers willing to go on the road to help raise money, but we need more gigs and more speakers. Contact us if you can help.

THANK YOU!

“Voices for Appalachia”
Written and Narrated by Hundreds
An Appalachia Portrait-Story Project

In early March of 2008, The Portrait-Story Project came for the first time to the Southern Highlands of North America. The results, now available for posterity have come to be known as "Voices for Appalachia - A Portrait-Story Project - Written and Narrated by Hundreds." (voicesforappalachia.org)

These portraits indicate every community that The Portrait-Story Project bottom-liners had the privilege of co-generating content with during their nearly two years of travels. Dozens of households embodied this "art-media-social phenomenon" by inviting these creatives amongst themselves, kin, neighbors and associates, supplying them with bed, board and morale for their volunteer service and then asserting their narratives upon the original drawing of themselves. As awareness of The Portrait-Story Project spread throughout Appalachia, it tended to keep manifesting, provided specific request or an explicit desire to participate, which happened by word of mouth or e-mail, and hospitality upon arrival.

On these Appalachian Portrait-Stories we have a panorama of expressions: snippets of everyday life, celebration of the land and culture and struggles for empowerment or at least survival - as handwritten by those living it. In a few cases where an otherwise able participant stated their illiteracy, a relative by blood or marital commitment volunteered to write their words for them and annotated so.

We are very proud to be able to present this body of over 500 Appalachian Portrait-Stories originals. If you have adequate interior wall space within Appalachia to exhibit the bulk of this original art and handwriting at approximately eye level, and desire this precious, unique collection for your public event, then contact United Mountain Defense; umdvolunteerhouse [at] yahoo.com or 865-689-2778.


Click for facts about Mountain  Top RemovalThere is a manmade ecological disaster of geologic proportions occurring in the rolling mountains of the southern Appalachians; its called mountain range -- or Mountain Top Removal (MTR) mining. It is the ultimate in theft of a people's heritage -- the destruction of watersheds -- and the annihilation of one of the most diverse places on earth.


Mission Statement

Mountain Justice seeks to add to the growing anti-MTR citizens movement. Specifically Mountain Justice demands an abolition of MTR, steep slope strip mining and all other forms of surface mining for coal. We work to protect the cultural and natural heritage of the Appalachia coal fields. We work to contribute with grassroots organizing, public education, nonviolent civil disobedience and other forms of citizen action.

Historically coal companies have engaged in violence and property destruction when faced with citizen opposition to their activities. Mountain Justice is committed to nonviolence and will not be engaged in property destruction.

We work together to create diverse and sustainable economies in Appalachian regions traditionally dominated by the coal industry by supporting businesses, jobs and ways of living that are not environmentally or culturally destructive and are nourishing to the social and biological fabric of healthy communities.