Killing West Virginia for coal

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Mining | Photo 02

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uploaded by YankeeJim

Destroying the environment

Driving through West Virginia, visually one of the most beautiful states, you experience the vistas and the climbs to the top of high peaks, the valleys and the rivers, the forests and wildlife. Yet, over the years of doing this from childhood, I have observed the constant deterioration of nature’s splendor as corporations wipe the tops from mountains and remove trees from the forests leaving them sparse and eroded. It may be perfectly legal and regulated. That’s the problem.

We the People went on the cheap in West Virginia to extract coal at the lowest price. Every year we hear of mining disasters whereby company owners put miners at extraordinary risk, pressing the regulations to the limit, getting away with as much as they can. That is no way to operate a responsible business these days.

The one thing West Virginia should hang onto is its natural beauty and its mountains, forests and streams. Employment should come from smart business and green manufacturing.

America needs alternatives to fossil fuels and West Virginia should lead the way to development and discovery to preserve its natural resources. Coal sludge kills fish and wildlife, and coal burning emissions kill people.

Save West Virginia and preserve this national treasure.