The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Our Readers Speak

April 22, 2009

Our Readers Speak — Thursday, April 23, 2009

Deeds done to get coal are often evil





The rock, coal, is not evil, but the deeds done to get the coal are often evil.

Communities are being blasted and poisoned. What do we have left to compromise?

If you saw a baby’s bottle being poisoned, wouldn’t you stop it? That is what this situation boils down to.

We are not against underground mining. It is strip mining and sludge dams that we’re suffering from.

There will be plenty of jobs on the destroyed mountain sites trying to repair them. There will be jobs in construction and green jobs.

The dry press method can be used to dispose of coal waste instead of dangerous sludge dams. This coal will soon run out, that is inevitable, and we must transition soon.

But a job blasting and poisoning people is not acceptable.

Coal companies continue to shut down mostly underground mines due to “weak market conditions,” but what that really means is rich CEOs and stockholders might not get that fancy French vacation or some other luxury.

But if we poor community residents ask the EPA to enforce the law and put a stop to the destruction to our homes, mountains and streams and stop poisoning us, then we are demonized by politicians and industry minions incite violence against us.

Why aren’t politicians concerned for loss of underground miners’ jobs due to corporate greed? Where are the rallies and letters to help the underground miners?

Is it because it is easier to fight poor, powerless community people rather than fight the outside rich polluting coal companies?

The underground coal miners and our communities are paying the price as demolition crews and explosives on strip mines make profits for the coal companies.



Julia Bonds

Rock Creek



Students are shining examples for all of us





It seems like we are constantly being bombarded by negative stories and I wanted to share a positive story.

My mother is a student at Mountain State University. She is 62 years old with several medical problems, including multiple sclerosis. It is difficult for her to walk with a steady gait and therefore it takes her a little bit longer to get to her destination.

Most people walk past her without a second thought. There are several students at the school, from both the U.S. as well as international students, in particular students from Nepal, who seem to go out of their way to be friendly and even concerned about my mother and are always quick to ask her if she needs help.

I would like to commend these students for their helpfulness, friendliness, courtesy and overall good citizenship. I think these students are shining examples for all of us and should be recognized as positive people in our world.



Melissa Leonard

Cool Ridge

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