Extraordinary Activism Starts with Ordinary People
posted by: Beth Buczynski 175 days ago
Beth B. is a mountain lover, freelance copy writer and environmental blogger living in Colorado.
As much as we try to be open minded, the terms "environmentalist," "activist," and "protestor" can still conjure up some stereotypical images for the average person. Try it, what's the first thing that comes to mind when you close your eyes and think about these words?
Tree huggers? Hippies in radical clothing? Bullhorns? Violent action?
It's true that sometimes in the struggle for environmental awareness, sensitivity and action, those who support conservation, preservation and sustainability have often resorted to abrasive, disruptive actions just to be able to get the attention of society and the media. While these actions usually result in a short-lived flare up of attention, this can often be negative and work against the core cause. Soundbites and video clips can't really educate the general public, but they can alienate or frighten them.
In my opinion, the best activists are ordinary people. People who work 9 - 5 jobs, have kids, and care about the health of their communities. On Wednesday, 32 people were arrested for protecting the peaks and valleys of the Appalachian Mountains. Many of these people are not your typical activists- they are natives of the West Virginia mountains: mountains that they've lived, died and loved in for generations. What is threatening these mountains and causing ordinarily quiet people to risk their criminal records? Mountain top removal mining (MTR).
Read the latest information about the 32 arrested protestors here.
MTR is one of the most devastating coal mining practices that has ever been invented. According to Mountain Justice Summer, a grassroots organization in the Southeastern US that is dedicated to saving our mountains, streams and forest from greedy coal companies, MTR should be called "strip mining on steroids."
When traditional mountain coal mining methods prove too inconvenient for the insatiable coal companies, the tops of these mountains are clear cut to remove trees and wildlife, then completely destroyed with explosives. Essentially, the mountain tops are blown up just to expose a single seam of coal. Once the coal company has taken what they want from the mountain, the "fill" (which used to be a mountain top) is simply shoved off into the valleys below, destroying ecosystems and permanently polluting streams with toxic chemicles from the mining process.
Because the vegetation and root systems that formerly absorbed rainfall are completely eliminated by this process, the small towns located down among these valleys are now subject to devistating flash floods and mud slides. Ordinary people are losing their homes every day so that the coal companies can attempt to sustain a dying fossil fuel industry for just a few more years. (See images of what can happen to towns in the wake of MTR here).
Most mountainous areas NEVER recover from mountain top removal mining.
Stop supporting the vicious, greedy companies that are willing to destroy our planet in the name of King Coal. Demand that our President take decisive action to protect the lives and homes of ordinary American citizens by eliminating, not reducing or restricting this devastating mining technique. Start by signing the Care2 Petition to oppose the destructive practice of mountain top removal mining TODAY!
Tree huggers? Hippies in radical clothing? Bullhorns? Violent action?
It's true that sometimes in the struggle for environmental awareness, sensitivity and action, those who support conservation, preservation and sustainability have often resorted to abrasive, disruptive actions just to be able to get the attention of society and the media. While these actions usually result in a short-lived flare up of attention, this can often be negative and work against the core cause. Soundbites and video clips can't really educate the general public, but they can alienate or frighten them.
In my opinion, the best activists are ordinary people. People who work 9 - 5 jobs, have kids, and care about the health of their communities. On Wednesday, 32 people were arrested for protecting the peaks and valleys of the Appalachian Mountains. Many of these people are not your typical activists- they are natives of the West Virginia mountains: mountains that they've lived, died and loved in for generations. What is threatening these mountains and causing ordinarily quiet people to risk their criminal records? Mountain top removal mining (MTR).
Read the latest information about the 32 arrested protestors here.
MTR is one of the most devastating coal mining practices that has ever been invented. According to Mountain Justice Summer, a grassroots organization in the Southeastern US that is dedicated to saving our mountains, streams and forest from greedy coal companies, MTR should be called "strip mining on steroids."
When traditional mountain coal mining methods prove too inconvenient for the insatiable coal companies, the tops of these mountains are clear cut to remove trees and wildlife, then completely destroyed with explosives. Essentially, the mountain tops are blown up just to expose a single seam of coal. Once the coal company has taken what they want from the mountain, the "fill" (which used to be a mountain top) is simply shoved off into the valleys below, destroying ecosystems and permanently polluting streams with toxic chemicles from the mining process.
Because the vegetation and root systems that formerly absorbed rainfall are completely eliminated by this process, the small towns located down among these valleys are now subject to devistating flash floods and mud slides. Ordinary people are losing their homes every day so that the coal companies can attempt to sustain a dying fossil fuel industry for just a few more years. (See images of what can happen to towns in the wake of MTR here).
Most mountainous areas NEVER recover from mountain top removal mining.
Stop supporting the vicious, greedy companies that are willing to destroy our planet in the name of King Coal. Demand that our President take decisive action to protect the lives and homes of ordinary American citizens by eliminating, not reducing or restricting this devastating mining technique. Start by signing the Care2 Petition to oppose the destructive practice of mountain top removal mining TODAY!
Read more: protest, environment & wildlife, coal mining, mountain top removal
comments
What a valid point. I am 16 and I truly believe that people like me are the ones that can make a difference. I have an activism blog at www.juliablack.squarespace.com and I am in Kenya and South Africa on a trip right now, for a portion with Free the Children and then Virgin Unite. Check out my blog, its the first step to a better world!
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Instead of removing mountain tops why don't they use that labor force to start putting up windmills or solar panels on those same mountain tops. That would mean more jobs and less destruction of Mother Earth.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Look at the picture of the people being arrested! These are not idealistic young ones, these are mature people with knowledge! The point of a new president was to have a new way of thinking about the environment! If it's necessary for THE PEOPLE to also look for new representatives with the same goal as the people they represent - that can be taken care of as well. The destruction of our environment has to stop NOW - we have too many alternatives sources of energy to act as if coal and oil are the only options any more.
Jade
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
I love how in a capitalist society, the economy is used as an excuse for everything. If you need a reason to destroy humans, animals, the environment, love, compassion, hope - anything people would naturally cherish - just say something like, "But if we didn't do that, we would lose out on jobs and the economy would suffer!" And everyone nods solemnly and resigns themselves to the REAL loss. Of humanity. Because money is more important.
Anyway I don't have any negative connotations of activists, but that is probably because I am one. And I know some who are quite stereotypical and making a difference. And others who are at odds with the image yet still making a difference. It's quite beautiful.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
this good since we all want to fight for aniamls
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
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