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Published: June 19, 2008 10:52 pm    print this story  

Our Readers Speak, Friday, June 20, 2008

Wind, solar industries offer W.Va. bright future






Watching Morgan Spurlock’s excellent film of 30 Days as a coal miner was an eye-opening journey into the lives and the sacrifices of West Virginia coal mining families. I have the utmost respect for the men and women who go underground and put their lives on the line everyday so the rest of us can enjoy the comforts we have come to take for granted.

They are heroes and I cannot thank them enough for what they do. I wish they didn’t have to do this dangerous work and, even more so, I wish there were other choices of work for them. But, in southern West Virginia, if you want to make a decent living for your family, you are forced to work for the coal company. And until we demand of our leaders to look beyond coal, our children are destined to work for the coal company also.

Our proud mountain communities have been used by rich coal barons as a third world resource economy for the past 100 years. It is time for change; it is time to mold a different future for our children. If West Virginia is to be truly known as the energy state, then we must get away from coal, because coal is eventually going to become either obsolete or gone. The most recent geological study says we have perhaps as little as 30 years of coal left in southern West Virginia.

Wind and solar industries offer a bright, clean and healthy future, and they are the future. For example, Coal River Mountain has been found as an excellent location for a wind farm that can supply over 90,000 homes and businesses with electricity. Permanent, good paying jobs would be created from a project such as this.

Removing coal from Coal River Mountain by means of mountaintop removal will greatly reduce the wind power the mountain now provides. If the DEP approves the strip mining permit, the coal company, the temporary jobs and Coal River Mountain will be gone in 12 years or less, leaving behind nothing to our communities. This may make sense to Wall Street investors, but it makes no economical sense to our communities.

We must stop allowing ourselves to be used. We must stop believing the lies. We must ask ourselves why we allow the coal baron to continue to treat us as subjects beholden to the bread he supplies to our table.

I believe the answer is directly related to our government. The prestige of government in West Virginia has undoubtedly been lowered considerably by the presence of the coal baron. It is time to break this chain of oppression. It is time for change.

I close with this quote from Jesus. A challenge for us, our leaders, our governor. “And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant” (Matthew 20:27).



Bo Webb

Naoma



Ban wheeled vehicles from all walking trails






I am of the opinion the “Rails To Trails” (walking paths) are one of the better ideas and the powers that be should be highly commended. However, when the bicyclist with less than good mental capacity is allowed to ride unsupervised, like two or more side by side, it puts many folks with less than adequate agility in peril.

It appears to me that a white cane or guide dog is a good signal to anyone that the person or persons being approached should be considered. When two or more cyclists come up too fast on both sides of such persons, it gets scary. If a cyclist rides on one side, my dog will push or pull me away only to be in the way of another cyclist. “What is your way?”

It is my considered opinion there should be no wheeled vehicles on walking trails except those in wheelchairs or security vehicles. Am I wrong? I do not like bangs, scrapes or bruises, and then only to be told, “Watch out!” After which, the cyclist rides away laughing. I really believe there should be some re-thinking here. I am not defined by diminished visual acuity. But, don’t I and we count, too?



Leonidas R. (Leon) Moten

Jumping Branch

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