CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE THOUGHT
In Appalachia today, miners and residents are locked in bitter conflict. At issue is Mountain Top Removal (MTR), the hotly contested form of strip mining in which coal companies blast the tops off mountains to get to the coal and scrape debris into valleys and streams where it pollutes the water, destroys the ecosystems, blights the landscape and poses long-term health risks for the surrounding communities. In an era of heated debate about America's reliance on foreign oil and increasing energy costs, few of us realize that coal remains an important energy source. However, the methods of mining and processing it are significant causes of global warming. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God's creation. Did you know that more than 470 mountains have been destroyed for coal; over 1,000 miles of streams have been buried in debris, coal slurry/sludge sits open in impoundments filled with toxic chemicals; 25 tons of dynamite are used to blast mountains in West Virginia every day -- equivalent to a Hiroshima bomb every week. This is not just a battle to save the environment for the sake of fishes, birds and trees. It is a battle to save the communities and health of the people in these communities. Learn more about MTR at www.ilovemountains.org, www.ohiocitizenaction.org or www.coalcountrythemovie.com. Also watch the new documentary, Coal Country, which shows all sides of this issue fairly; it is educational, entertaining and appropriate for all ages.
In Appalachia today, miners and residents are locked in bitter conflict. At issue is Mountain Top Removal (MTR), the hotly contested form of strip mining in which coal companies blast the tops off mountains to get to the coal and scrape debris into valleys and streams where it pollutes the water, destroys the ecosystems, blights the landscape and poses long-term health risks for the surrounding communities. In an era of heated debate about America's reliance on foreign oil and increasing energy costs, few of us realize that coal remains an important energy source. However, the methods of mining and processing it are significant causes of global warming. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God's creation. Did you know that more than 470 mountains have been destroyed for coal; over 1,000 miles of streams have been buried in debris, coal slurry/sludge sits open in impoundments filled with toxic chemicals; 25 tons of dynamite are used to blast mountains in West Virginia every day -- equivalent to a Hiroshima bomb every week. This is not just a battle to save the environment for the sake of fishes, birds and trees. It is a battle to save the communities and health of the people in these communities. Learn more about MTR at www.ilovemountains.org, www.ohiocitizenaction.org or www.coalcountrythemovie.com. Also watch the new documentary, Coal Country, which shows all sides of this issue fairly; it is educational, entertaining and appropriate for all ages.
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