Hearing today on coal protests

Coal is king, and yet only 5 percent of domestic coal production ... (4.00 / 2)

comes from the mountaintop removal process:

From Devilstower on Dkos:

Just over half the electricity generated in the United States comes from burning coal. If you're concerned about climate change (and who wouldn't be?) that figure alone is alarming.

[snip]

Just over 5% of our coal production comes through a process called "Mountaintop Removal Mining" or MTR. Mountaintop removal is just what it sounds like. In most areas, when a company mines coal they are required to reclaim the land to a close approximation of its original state. This is called "return to contour," as the final ground has to closely match the topography of the site previous to mining. The reclaimed land has to have the same mix of plant species, the same level of productivity, and streams have to have the same course, volume, and water quality as before mining.

Essential reading:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyo...

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by: benjaminwalter @ Mon Mar 09, 2009 at 21:50:32 PM UTC

If you even think you hate coal...you're a suspect! (4.00 / 3)

Next Judge Hutchison will declare that "if you even think you hate coal" then you must be an "associate" and therefore subject to arrest.  All kidding aside I think these folks on the front lines are true heros who are waging a domestic, non-violent protest against those that do harm to our beautiful mountains, streams and consciousness, what's not to like!

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by: JBdem4usa @ Mon Mar 09, 2009 at 23:18:33 PM UTC

they'd (0.00 / 0)

be heros to me if they hauled to a landfill the junked vehicles and related parts along with the trash just down the road from the grade school.....check out the Google Map Street View of Naoma, WV and scroll to the left to see it in all its glory....

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by: stevewvu @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 19:25:58 PM UTC

steve (0.00 / 0)

Don't you believe that is something the markets will take care of?

When a man embarks upon a crime, he is morally guilty of any other crime which may spring from it. Sherlock Holmes.

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by: Carnacki @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 20:54:14 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

stevewvu, what address? i'm curious (4.00 / 1)

You're not talking about the Massey coal ash pond site near March Fork School?

NFTT: Support My Team or I Will Dance

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by: CA Berkeley WV @ Wed Mar 11, 2009 at 22:08:12 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Didn't any body tell him the Constituion and the Bill of Rights are back? (4.00 / 1)

NFTT: Support My Team or I Will Dance

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by: CA Berkeley WV @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 20:33:09 PM UTC

is anyone who reads this diary an associate? (4.00 / 2)

If Gov. Manchin reads a news article about the protest, does that make him an associate?

How about the workers who work there? Once they learn Rory McIlmoil's name, aren't they associates?

They should be careful about going to work tomorrow, if they take a break and sit down in the wrong spot, they could be in big trouble as associates of the wrong type.

Someone needs to nominate Judge John A. Hutchison for Olbermann's worst person of the day award.

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by: Clem Guttata @ Tue Mar 10, 2009 at 23:43:01 PM UTC