Environmental group to hold September 27 event in D.C.

A Coalfield citizen group has announced plans for a September 27th event called ‘Appalachia Rising.’ The event is being called a ‘mass mobilization’ of Appalachia groups against the practice of Mountaintop Removal mining. The event will take place in Washington, D.C.

Organizers are asking that you join them to demand that President Obama and his administration take measures necessary to end the practice of Mountaintop Removal mining. Organizers hope to rally thousands from all around the U.S. to take part in this ‘dignified day of action’ in D.C. They hope to increase the public pressure on our elected officials and regulators to abate MTR.

This statement is from the events website:

‘Appalachia Rising has declared that we are not a national sacrifice zone. We will not stand idly by as we see our past and future blasted to rubble, our communities and mountains eliminated, and our neighbors poisoned as coal executives and their shareholders grow rich. Appalachians are not, and never will be, collateral damage. We are proud of our coal mining fathers, hard-working neighbors, and Appalachian past, present and future!

Appalachia is endowed with abundant resources too long plundered by outside interests. We call for the abolition of surface mining, a just transition for coalfield communities, and renewed investment in a prosperous and just economy in Appalachia.’

Boone County resident Maria Gunnoe says: “The state legislature isn't listening. That's why they're taking their anti-mountaintop mining message to Washington, the EPA and the Obama administration.’
Maria Gunnoe and other environmentalists hope the Appalachia Rising event will get the nation’s attention and get President Obama and Congress to begin to work toward banning the practice of mountaintop removal mining.

"We don't only want to stop something,” Gunnoe said. “We want to begin something. We have to. Appalachia has to break its addiction to coal. We have to make a new plan."

For more information on this event visit appalachiarising.org