Up to this point, I have refrained from expressing my rage about the mining industry in West Virginia. However, today an NPR story reminded my just how very pissed off I am about it all.
Both my grandfather’s retired from the coal mines and were card carrying member of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) until the day that they died. My brother-in-law works at a Massey mine, and complained silently to his family about safety issues until the day of the Upper Big Branch disaster, an event that took the lives of two of my high school classmates. Until a disabeling injury a few years ago, my father worked manufacturing mining equipment, and my mother makes a living caring for the children of coal miners.
Though, I personally have never descended into an underground coal mine myself, the coal industry has had a huge impact on my life just as it does for all residents of Southern West Virginia.
Until the past few years when Massey Energy and mountain top removal coal mining became the main players, I was a great supporter of the coal industry. UMWA miners – all miners at the time – made good money to support their families and keep the region afloat, and the union made sure that the risks that these minors faced were as low a possible.
However, the dynamics changed a few years ago when non-union Massey energy became a major player. Though Massey miners still make good money and have great benefits. The delicate system of checks and balances that the union made possible has been disrupted. Miners, without the protection of union contracts are now afraid to speak out against safety violations for fear of loosing their jobs, and prior to upper big branch, Massey officials were free to take short cuts on safety in favor of larger profits.
Now on to mountain top removal…
In 2001, at the age of 16, I stood by, defenseless with the rest of my family as the river behind our house rose, and rose, until their was a foot and a half of water in our home. We spent the next 6 months doubled up with my grandmother, or living in a FEMA camper. Needless to say, not an ideal situation for a 16 year old girl! (2001 flood)
This disaster was determined to be directly related th clear cutting of forests and valley fills associated with mountaintop removal coal mining, and while this incident, stands out brightly in my mind, it is by no means an isolated event. In fact, there are devastating floods in at least one southern WV county each spring. Just Google Southern West Virginia flood, and look at what you come up with! This is not a historical characteristic of the land. Ask anyone who has lived in the area for more than 15 years, and they will tell you that severe spring floods before the 1990s were the exception, not the rule.
This brings me to the saddest part of all of this: how the big name, big money coal companies are turning southern West Virginia’s on them selves. Massey energy CEO Don Blankenship struck out a few years ago in an attempt to put his hand picked candidates in office with his “for the sake of the kids” campaign, but he hit a homer when Massey Energy founded the “advocacy group” Friends of Coal.
While swooning residents with perks like free Charlie Daniels concerts, the Friends of Coal have managed to make West Virginia residents speak out – loudly – in favor of practices that kill and endanger our coal miners and destroy our land. They have convinced a large majority of the public that large corporation, non-union mines and mountain top removal mining is the only hope that WV has, and that anyone speaking out against their agenda is an outsider with no interest in the fate of West Virginia.
Well, let me say it loud and proud: I am a heaven’s only know’s how many generation West “By God” Virginian, I love my state and it’s people, and I see and understand that big dollar coal companies and mountain top removal mining are raping my beautiful state and her people.
