Kennedy vs Blankenship in Charleston

by: wvblueguy Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 15:51:23 PM EST

by: wvblueguy Mark your calendars this ought to be a good one. In an article today in the Charleston Gazette by Davin White, Robert Kennedy Jr will be debating Don Blankenship on the future of energy. This will take place on January 21st, 2010 at the University of Charleston. You can read the short piece by clicking here. UC President Ed Welch said he looks forward to having the pair debate issues such as mountaintop removal and climate change.

A successful CD Release/ Premiere of Coal Country in Bloomington, Indiana

The Buskirk-Chumley Theater in Bloomington, Indiana was the venue for a fantastic event to publicize the release of “Coal Country Music”, the companion CD to “Coal Country” the movie.

A post from Ann and John

THANK YOU ALL for all it took to put this story together. It is compelling, technically well-done, and our hearts and thoughts are with you.
We strongly oppose mountaintop removal, and ANY use of coal when alternatives are available or can be developed. We are so sad for the destruction and the inability or unwillingness of people to learn and adapt.
Appalachia should be promoted for travel and recreational industries, not coal extraction.

Strange as it may seem, one of the most irritating little things we noted was the well-meaning coal employee who pointed out what “nice stuff” they were using to revegetate the destroyed living ecosystem in one area — including persistently invasive exotic Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), which is on a par with Russian Olive, and sadly it is on some State lists as suitable to plant in “landscape restorations”.

Coal Country Premieres on Discovery’s “Planet Green” Tonight

NOVEMBER 14th, SATURDAY CH. 221 COMCAST

A calm river trip

Cheap, Abundant, Cheap

Stars gather to talk Music Saves Mountains

From: http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2009/11/10/stars-gather-to-talk-music-saves-mountains/

The Monday-night event came with a strong lineup: Emmylou Harris, Randy Travis, Ben Sollee, Big Kenny Alphin, Delbert McClinton, Dierks Bentley, Gloriana, James Otto, J.D. Souther, Matraca Berg, Jeff Hanna, Michelle Branch, Kid Rock and Patty Griffin.

But despite falling on CMA Awards week, the gathering focused on mountains rather than trophies. The recording artists met Monday evening at manager Ken Levitan’s house to discuss the Music Saves Mountains campaign, an artists’ initiative intended to help protect the Appalachian mountains from a form of strip mining called “mountaintop removal.”

Country Stars Headline Eclectic Coal Country CD to Stop Mountaintop Removal

By Jeff Biggers from the Huffington Post

While one did sing, the other did shout,
And the angel unlocked the door.
He had the keys to the kingdom, Lord

Any CD album that begins with a haunting Uzbek-influenced trumpet and percussion backup on Ralph Stanley’s gospel classic, “Keys to the Kingdom,” and ends with Willie Nelson strumming a stunningly unaffected and heartfelt acoustic version of “Blowin’ in the Wind,” goes straight to platinum on my charts.

CNN Mentions The Journey Home and Coal Country

Check out this link to hear about the CD from Aurora Lights, Still Moving Mountains: he Journey Home, and “Coal Country”.
CLICK HERE

Sierra Club Hosts 850 Parties to Preview Film, Take Action

Film Star Ashley Judd Delivers Special Message to Thousands as they Watch Coal Country, ask Obama Administration to End Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining

San Francisco — This week thousands of Americans are gathering at more than 850 parties organized by the Sierra Club to watch the award-winning documentary, Coal Country, and to take action to stop mountaintop removal coal mining. Coal Country is a stunning film that reveals the devastation of mountaintop removal coal mining to the forests, streams, and communities of Appalachia. More than 4,000 people are expected to attend the parties to organize their communities and to take action. Sierra Club is an underwriter and national outreach partner of Coal Country.