Tree Sitters Occupying Coal River Mountain

Tree Sitters Occupying Coal River Mountain

It’s ON! This is how 2010 begins in the Coal River Valley, with a non-violent bang not a whimper.

After almost a year of sustained direct actions in southern West Virginia, three Climate Ground Zero activists scaled trees to stop blasting on Coal River Mountain. David Aaron Smith, 23, Amber Nitchman, 19 and Eric Blevins, 28 are on platforms approximately 60 feet up three tulip poplar trees. They are located next to where Massey Energy is blasting to build an access road to the Brushy Fork Impoundment on its Bee Tree Strip Mine. Their banners read: “EPA Stop the Blasting,” and “Windmills Not Toxic Spills.” 

In the past two weeks, mountaintop removal coal mining has thrust itself into the national consciousness with an article in the prestigious science journal Science calling for a ban on mountaintop removal, a feature on the popular comedy show The Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert and tonight’s debate between Massey CEO Don Blankenship and environmental attorney Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the University of Charleston. Never before has MTR received such scrutiny. 

Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved a MTR permit in West Virginia signaling the weakening of their position on the issue. EPA inaction for decades has left over 500 mountains in Appalachia barren moonscape, poisoned numerous communities and profiting mining execs throughout the region. Obama’s EPA had promised to act on MTR, but has yet to take any significant steps to outlaw the practice. Likewise, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson had failed to even visit the region or do a flyover of affected areas.

The tree sitters are committed to staying until the blasting ends on Coal River Mountain. 

Currently, a winter action camp is underway at Climate Ground Zero in Rock Creek, WV and more actions are expected throughout 2010. It’s going to be a kick ass year.

Tree Sit on Coal River Mountain Strip Mine

“Coal River Mountain was the last mountain around here that hasn’t been touched and they could’ve been using it for windmills…But Massey wants to get that coal. It seems like they just don’t care about the populace. Just the land and their checkbook.”

- Richard Bradford

MARFORK, W.Va. – Protestors associated with Climate Ground Zero and Mountain Justice halted blasting on Coal River Mountain today with a three-person tree-sit. David Aaron Smith, 23, Amber Nitchman, 19 and Eric Blevins, 28 are on platforms approximately 60 feet up two tulip poplars and an oak tree. The mountain has become a rallying point for local activists, representing for many the cleaner, more sustainable possibilities of wind energy. Their banners state: “EPA Stop the Blasting”, “Windmills Not Toxic Spills”, and “Save Coal River Mtn.” 

The sitters are calling for the EPA to protect American air and water by putting an end to mountaintop removal and encouraging the development of clean energy production in central Appalachia. The lack of EPA enforcement combined with Dr. Margaret Palmer’s findings, published in Science Magazine’s January issue, that “Considering environmental impacts of MTM/VF[mountaintop mining/valley fill], in combination with evidence that the health of people living in surface-mining regions of the central Appalachians is compromised by mining activities, we conclude that MTM/VF permits should not be granted,” 

encouraged Joshua Graupera, a member of the support team, to take part in this action. He said, “I knew that until I took an active role in the struggle to end MTR, I was passively condoning the poisoning and displacement of countless communities.”

Massey Energy’s blasting on the Bee Tree Strip Mine threatens both the possibility of wind power on Coal River Mountain and the foundations of the nearby Brushy Fork impoundment. “The government has given them [Massey Energy] permission to blast next to a dam full of toxic coal waste that will kill 998 people if it fails,” said Blevins, who works with Mountain Justice. The Brushy Fork Impoundment, permitted to contain over nine billion gallons of toxic coal waste, lies on a honeycomb of abandoned deep mines. If the foundation collapses the coal slurry will blow out from all sides of Coal River Mountain, harming communities in the mountain’s periphery, as occurred at Massey’s Big Branch slurry impoundment in Kentucky. 

“Brushy Fork sludge dam places the downstream communities in imminent danger. The threat of being inundated by a wall of toxic sludge is always present. Blasting next to this dam increases the risk as well as destroying the opportunity for renewable wind energy,” said Coal River Mountain Watch’s Vernon Haltom. According to the Coal River Wind Project the wind energy produced by a turbine farm on Coal River Mountain could power 70,000 homes, provide permanent jobs for local residents and annually bring over a million more dollars in tax revenue to Raleigh County than coal currently does.

The sitters plan to remain in the trees as long as it takes to stop blasting on Coal River Mountain. Climate Ground Zero’s action campaign, begun in February of last year, has kept up a sustained series of direct actions since that time, continuing the decades-long resistance of dedicated individuals and groups like Mountain Justice to strip mining in Appalachia.

UPDATE:Ground support held on $1500 bail. They are charged w/ conspiracy & trespass Donate to legal @ http://bit.ly/6tjVsS 

posted by Sparki in RAN General on January 21st, 2010

Contact: Kim Ellis – 304 854 7372
Email: news@climategroundzero.org
Note: For more info, see www.mountainjustice.org, www.climategroundzero.org, www.ilovemountains.org

and see

Coal baron debates Kennedy over mountaintop mining

 

From - http://understory.ran.org/2010/01/21/tree-sitters-halt-blasting-on-coal-river-mountain/

Xtra Images - http://www.wesjones.com/images/reece8s.jpg

http://auroralights.org/userfiles/marshfork-prepplant-labeled2-thumb.jpg

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Elementary Blockading: Saving the Planet with Direct Action

Elementary Blockading

Saving the Planet with Direct Action

Do you really want to save the planet - or just talk about it?

So you want to know a little bit more about blockading? Well let’s have a look at the elements and aspects that have become part of the culture of blockading.

When most people think of blockading, they think about the front line action that happens at the particular forest area which is everybody’s concern, not realising all the support work that has happened before the blockade, the work going on away from the blockade site, the outside support, or the follow-up work involved in seeking a legal resolution.

We’ll start at the ‘frontline’ & look at the ‘whole picture’ later in the article.

Blockading - Front line action

* Media - To get a clear message out to the world a media liaison person, or group spokesperson should always be present at a blockade. It’s this person’s role to speak to media, hand out media releases, answer questions and assist media people such as TV crews.

* Transport - Transport to and from the protest site and at the site is essential. If you have a four wheel drive your vehicle will be very handy.

* Food - Good food is always a bonus and cooking and preparing food for the group is a satisfying job. Whether you are a gourmet chef, consider yourself to be handy in the kitchen or just want to cut up vegies you’ll be welcome. Being able to design meals for large groups of people and order foods are very useful skills.

* Structural Building - Structural support systems such as large tarp frames, kitchen benches, tripods etc are built with rope and dead limbs and tree branches (5 Star adult size cubby house style). Tying rope and wet weather camping skills are useful in this area of activity.

* Communications - Radio communications is used to communicate within the camp, from one camp to another, and to the outside world back to a telephone base. Radio comms help keep the group cohesive and informed and gives a sense of safety since there is a connection to essential services on the outside. Mobile phones can work, but in remote areas, they often don’t!

* Entertainment - Musicians, Story tellers, fire twirlers etc. always have a positive effect on the camp.

* Documentation

- Video is a great form of documentation as you can record exactly what’s going down, which can then be used for legal evidence (court cases etc), educating the public (documentaries, fundraising etc). You can also use the video camera as a tool of protection (it’s amazing how differently people behave when they know they are being filmed).

- Cameras are useful for the same reasons as videos except you can use the photographs for newspaper articles, flyers and pamphlets. A zoom lens is a particularly handy gadget.

- Written documentation can take the form of a media release which can be sent to radio, newspapers and TV stations. Communicating to different parties, such as state forests and the Minister for the Environment can take the form of handwritten letters and may be useful in court at a later time.

* Survival Basics - It’s important that someone ensures that there are always good supplies of fresh water and dry firewood available. This may entail organising people and vehicles to go of & fetch before supplies actually run out. Also crucial is the digging of a deep pit toilet, large enough to cater for many people for several days at least. Toilet paper, soap and hand washing water will also be needed.

* Tools & Gear - Blockades in the bush require tools and all kinds of equipment. Gear & tools are both expensive and difficult to replace when you are miles from the nearest town, it’s after midnight and you have until dawn to get ready. Keeping track of all tools and equipment, ensuring that they are safe and operational is essential if a blockade is to survive.

* Facilitation - More than likely at some time during the blockade there is going to be a group meeting (a circle) and this is when a good facilitator becomes very useful. A facilitator is some one who can keep the group to the topic, in order, clarify an agenda and help the group come to agree on resolutions. A timekeeper can help the facilitator by advising people when they are approaching the agreed time limit, whatever that may be set at.

* Legal - The ‘Police Liaison Person’ is nominated by the group and is a group representative, not its leader. The PLP should not be easily intimidated, should know the issues involved and the planned action. It is their job to keep communication between the police and activists running smoothly.

- Legal Observers are present at the blockade to support & assist all parties by acting as an ‘observer’ to events. With a good knowledge of the relevant laws, and usually clearly identifiable in white T-Shirts with the words “Legal Observer’ in red embroidery, Legal Observers have a similar effect on peoples behaviour as a video camera and increase the safety of an often tense situation.

- With their legal experience Legal Advisers can advise blockaders (& if necessary industry or forestry personnel) of their legal rights in relation to the situation as it happens.

The roles of Legal Observer and Legal Adviser can overlap or remain separate depending on the availability of lawyers & the scenario underway.

* Mediator - To mediate between two or more conflicting parties is to bring all to some agreement everyone will abide by, whether it be professional and/or personal. A mediator, someone who takes on this role, is always a bonus at a blockade.

* Child Minding - Often there are children at blockade camps. Child-minding can be an important aspect, as it can alleviate stress from parents and give structure and stability for children in high stress situations.

* Artistic - Whenever time permits, people can work on banners, mask making, kids’ workshops, costume making, sculptures, performances etc (Not to mention the inevitable forest song)

* Healing - Providing First Aid, giving massages, using counselling skills, being a good listener, an understanding of ointments & herbs, leading yoga/meditation groups(where time permits) and a variety of other healing skills is always great at a blockade. People inclined towards healing can help with upset emotions, assist people not to get into ‘burn-out’ situations and make for a healthier, more contented group.

Direct support to the blockade from outside

There is a whole range of ways you can support the people at the blockade without actually being there, such as:

* Sending food e.g. getting vegie shops & organic stores to donate or discount food, cooking yummy cakes and treats or just sending the basics

* making financial donations - hard cash is always needed & appreciated

* giving blankets and warm clothes

* writing letters of support

* taking people to and from the blockade

* arranging child minding facilities, for the day or longer periods, depending on your experience & expertise & places available for childminding

* If there is a suitable space, or you can create one, a place to give massages, counselling sessions, etc. to those coming in from or going out to the blockade will be appreciated heaps

* acting as a volunteer coordinator

* in high stress (safety) situations providing a ’safe house’ near the area or the closest town. This gives those on their way to or from a blockade a place to stay while in transit.

Contacting your local environment centre or group is normally a good start to any of these activities.

Work going on in other areas at the same time as the blockade

Office - The office of the local action group involved in the blockade is more than likely to be very busy at the time of the protest keeping other people and groups informed of developments, communicating with the blockade camp, phoning and faxing the media, political parties and affected bodies.

Things you can do include: phone answering, document faxing, drafting media releases, obtaining information, lobbying politicians, co-ordinating people, food & gear to the blockade, receiving & writing up reports of people returning, acting on requests by the blockade camp for items or action

Lobbying - Anyone can sit down and lobby by writing a letter of concern, phoning &/or faxing politicians, political parties and the so-called authorities.

You can also write Letters to the editor of local or the big circulation state and national papers.

Before you start though make sure you have the latest relevant info, understand the issues and know what it’s been agreed to push for. Your local environment centre or group will probably have a list of names and contact addresses and phone/fax numbers for relevant politicians e.g. Minister and Shadow Ministers.

Fundraising - Raising money obviously assists, providing the necessary cash flow to pay for major actions (Phone Bills #@$$$!%) but the other important objective achieved by fundraising is the publicity and awareness of the issues which is generated. Concerts are a great time to network & encourage new volunteers.

Volunteer Co-ordinator - Those with good co-ordinating skills could volunteer at a local environment centre to help other people find things they can do and work out what is required to be done next.

Support work before the blockade

Scouting - Potential blockade sites need careful scouting. Look for water supply, road & foot access, positions to defend, on-site or nearby materials, radio/mobile phone services, stage of works, road constructions, names and good directions. If you’re keen, obtain the relevant harvesting plan & other maps, and camp out, Look for Fauna and rare plants. Play owl tapes at night. Check stream conditions

Office - Co-ordinating people, media releases, writing submissions, research, copying documents, marking up maps, making Freedom of Information (FOI) applications etc

Lobbying - Awareness Campaign - Writing letters to the editor, fundraising events, concerts, media releases, radio and TV interviews, articles for magazines & newsletters, issuing action ‘alerts’ & updates

What needs to be done after the blockade

Awareness Campaign - Issuing a new action ‘alert’, usually ‘green’, unless further blockades remain likely when the ‘alert status’ might only move back from ‘red’ to ‘amber’.

Contacting local environment centres and other relevant groups to advise them of the new alert status i.e. not ‘red’ and asking that all ‘red’ alerts be removed and updated.

Gather all the relevant information from the blockade for further reference later and for the preparation of displays which might feature photos and newspaper clippings

At the Blockade Site - Clean up the camp site, remove all rubbish, close any pit dunnies and compost heaps, disperse the fireplaces, remove any un-needed structural installations e.g. tripods, check that all equipment is collected, repaired where necessary, and returned to the appropriate people. Basically the aim is to leave the site as it was - or better.

Legal - Final liaison with police, which might include formal complaints of police conduct. Collect evidence from witnesses at key events in the blockade, to support those people arrested and charged at the blockade, to support those people arrested and charged at the blockade, by asking that write down immediately their version of those events. Liaise with the lawyers who will defend in court anybody arrested.

Green policing - e.g. checking the status of forestry operations, after forestry operations, to ensure that all logging & road construction conditions are being met may be an outcome of any negotiated settlement which results from the blockade. Green police write reports of breaches and follow up with letters seeking further action &/or remedial works.

So there you go! Hopefully this article has given you some understanding of the bigger picture and you will be able to see where you can slot in and how everyone & everything can relate.

From http://www.green.net.au/adan/index2.html

images - http://www.forestnetwork.net/Docs/eg.htm

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Change Agents

  

 

There was a time, not so long ago, when the ‘Western World’ was infected with an explosion of new, fresh ideas and ideals. It was a time when all authority was recognised as arbitrary, when leaders were routinely questioned, held up to real scrutiny - and sometimes paid real penalties when found to be engaged in illegal or unethical conduct. A time when all war was recognised as an unnecessary evil, a tool of control for the rich and powerful. It was a time when organised religions came to be recognised as pernicious fairy tales and new ways to evolve the spirit were sought in truly ancient places.

 

           

It was a time when young women encouraged, sheltered and praised young men for avoiding government orders to murder strangers in their homes. Many became active in creating an alternative vision of life, love and politics and began to enact real changes in their lives and relations with each other. They stood up to defend the persecuted and rallied to save the environment and bring an end to war.

         They decried injustice and rampant mindless consumerism (shopping) and recognised industry and business as blind behemoths pushing the world toward disaster. 

          They learned to effect change without violence. And often they said, “Never trust anyone over thirty,” as they saw most of those older than themselves as the cause of the world’s problems as they watched them suck up and sell out their dreams and children for imaginary and toxic ‘luxuries’. 

          It was less than two generations ago that the young suddenly outnumbered the old in the West. Not since the Renaissance had well educated youth seized a chance to transform the fossilised crap heaped on them by their terrified bumpkin elders and create new dreams and pathways to growth out of old offal. 

          Today this demographic exists in the ‘East’.

         In reality, 99% of the young people in those halcyon days paid mere lip service to change and burrowed into the cocoon offered them by society when they had the chance, recapitulating the caterpillar lives of their parents and grandparents. They became part of the problem, ignoring the truth they’d known in their hearts and ending up helping to put to sleep the revolution of awareness sweeping the globe. They went out and ‘got a real job’ working for The Man – working for the Beast, working out of fear – fear of being seen as different, fear of insecurity, fear of the unknown, fear of old age and death.

          Only a vanishingly small minority ever actually worked toward changing the dumb oligarchies and transform the feudal fraud foisted on their parents. Only a small number chose to have a great time transforming themselves in this, the best of all possible worlds - instead of blindly burrowing to create their own tomb, mindlessly working, consuming, reproducing and dying.

          While most became lonely box-watchers living in boxes, some entered a different cocoon, a chrysalis, and transformed. They saw, lived and communicated a version of the world which could thrive without the interfering lies of mummified politics, money, religion, aggression - tools used by the burrowing builders of hives for the domesticated, unevolved bulk of terrified humanity. They created spaces where the paradoxical combination of freedom and sharing could replace the blind-leading-the-blind slavery of wage serfdom.

 

Imagine. They knew that none but ourselves can free our minds. Their songs of freedom and redemption pointed out new ways and many people came to see the obvious – that the Emperor wore no clothes and that nothing stood in the way of them all making a just and wonderful world for themselves. They knew that there was no reason to wait and the time for enlightenment is always now.

 

While many adopted hip fashions and patois, only about one percent actually lived and spread word of these new ways of living. Hardly any stood together in the streets or forests and said “Stop – no further!” at peril of their freedom and health. Only a few consciously and actively changed their own lives and the world.

          But they could live with themselves – and die without guilt. They did what they could and seeded the wider cult(ure). Many were infected by these seeds of transformation explored possibilities that their parents and contemporaries couldn’t understand, out of sight and out of the bright glare of history. Yet most of the social and environmental advances we have come to experience in the last generation have been a result of their efforts.

It’s time for the sleepers to awaken. You know who you are.Time for us all to start living our ideas and ideals - again. Look around. Smell the flowers or smell the coffee. How will you live, now that you have a choice? This is the best of all possible worlds.

- R. Ayana

         

 "The majority, oppressing an individual, is guilty of a crime, abuses its strength, and by acting on the law of the strongest breaks up the foundations of society."

-         Thomas Jefferson

Images - mages - author's @ http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3554/5802471777_3b69e75e26_b.jpg http://cla.calpoly.edu/~lcall/204/8-10/flowers_in_guns.jpg 

 http://www.wilsonsalmanac.com/ book/sep22.html

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