"Clean Coal" – NO SUCH THING!
Neither Obama or McCain has a leg to stand on regarding this issue; both seem to think “clean coal” is one energy source for America’s future. It isn’t clean, and it won’t be around much longer at the rate we’re using it. More here.
Heads up, West Virginia!
Sarah Palin is headin’ for Appalachia this weekend. Perhaps the self-proclaimed energy expert can give us one good reason why mountains must be leveled and drinking water polluted so we can have “clean” coal.
Today’s oxymoron: clean coal
Clean coal? Don’t be fooled – there ain’t no such thang. Want to protect the Appalachians? Visit ILoveMountains.org.
There is simply no such thing as clean coal. Prying it loose from the ground is a dirty business and burning it produces a variety of pollutants and greenhouse gases. The Clean Air Act and subsequent regulations have sharply reduced nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions that caused smog, soot and acid rain by forcing utilities to build expensive scrubbers. Now many environmentalists are trying to block new coal-fired power plants because the existing ones produce 36 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
Big Coal’s Campaign of Lies
First, a confession: I bought the latest issue of Rolling Stone for my Jonas Brothers-loving daughter. But inside I found this article about the coal industry’s ability to dupe all of us into thinking that coal is “clean.” It’s not even close. And, as I’ve posted before, mountain top removal threatens tens of thousands in the Appalachians.
“Then there’s the environmental impact of mining, especially in Appalachia, where ‘mountaintop removal’ has already polluted 1,200 miles of streams and swallowed up entire communities. By the time the industry is finished, the EPA projects a loss of more than 1.4 million acres — an area the size of Delaware.”
Next month, I’ll try to meet with Congressman Vern Ehlers (R – MI) and encourage him to co-sponsor the Clean Water Protection Act. You can help too by visiting ilovemountains.com and getting in touch with your elected officials.
My Level V Whitewater Experience – Photo Evidence
For those of you non-believers. . .
Ruining the Gauley/New River Area
There’s no doubt that we need coal for our short-term energy needs. But blowing off the tops of mountains – now common practice in coal-rich states like West Virginia – causes major long-term harm for short-term gain. The Gauley Mountain is now a target for this irreversible procedure. You can stop it. Visit ilovemountains.org today. Please.
Shout out to Sanger Whitewater!
I’m still giddy after my whitewater rafting experience on the New River last week. Our group had the amazing Mike as our river guide – dude got some serious air and stuck the landing when we dumped at the end of our trip! If you’re going to hit the raging rapids of West Virginia, do it with Sanger Whitewater.
Get ready, we’re coming home!
Friday is almost finished, and we are tired, exhausted, and spiritually refreshed. We worked together on some extreme weeding today in historic Lewisburg. The guys ganged up on an obstinate shrub while the ladies plowed through piles of weeds to clear space for a future yard. We ended our afternoon in a Civil War cemetery for a closer view of US History.
It’s been an incredible adventure, and while the kids have been great, we’re all more than ready to hit the road and sleep in familiar surroundings. Hope to see you all in church this Sunday when the kids share a little during the children’s message. Thanks to everyone for their support to get us here – you’ve made a big difference in the lives of many, many people.
From the top: The kids take to the weeding this morning, Moby the Van is ready to head home, Kevin tears into the shrub that wouldn’t die, and a tombstone in the Lewisburg Civil War cemetery.
Happy Birthday, Kyle! (or, "It felt like the worst spanking of my life!")
Careful, now. Don’t get ahead of me . . . while today is Kyle’s 17th birthday, there was no spanking in West Virginia. That quote refers to the reaction of Kate Quinn after flying off Jump Rock, a 25-30 foot drop into the New River. (She’s fine, Ann. We all jumped off the rock, even Pastor Tracey!)
Austin did make New River history when he found himself caught in a “hydraulic” that kept him between a rock and a hard place for quite a few seconds before being pulled to safety by one of our river guides. Kevin also spent some time under our raft, but kept his cool and popped right back up.
Our white-water rafting trip is something we’ll never forget. Awesome doesn’t even begin to describe the sensation of soaring along Stage V rapids or tipping our rafts on purpose as we approached a massive rock. Awesome does describe the painful sunburn on my pasty white legs (photos to come – just thought I’d prepare you). A few ibuprofen and a gallon of aloe vera should do the trick.
Pictured above is the New River Gorge bridge, the largest arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere. That’s not us in the raft, but we did go through the same pass at the end of our trip!
Save Energy, Save the Mountains
Our focus in WV tonight was mountaintop removal, a process that blows up the tops of mountains throughout Appalachia to get to the precious coal underneath. While it’s a much more efficient way to mine, it leaves a permanent scar on the pristine hills and valleys of West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The Bush Administration has helped their coal industry donors keep up this practice, but you can help the people of Appalachia reclaim their land, their clean water, and their heritage.
Please visit ilovemountains.org or christiansforthemountains.org to see how simple it is to take action. Write a member of congress. Turn off your lights. Raise the temp on the AC. Pray.
(graphic from NY Times)
