Raising Awareness and Action at the University of Cincinnati

Written by Geoffrey Bliss, Graduate Student at the University of Cincinnati

On Wednesday April 18^th, Donna Branham, Speaker with the Keeper of the Mountains Foundation spoke at the University of Cincinnati’s (UC) MainStreet Cinema. UC is a large public research university located in southern Hamilton County with a total enrollment of 42,421 and the university was a poised to hear her words. Members of students groups such as UC Beyond Coal, part of the nation-wide Beyond Coal Campaign, were in attendance as well as others representing groups working in distinct branches of green initiatives extending towards green building design, political activism and historic preservation.  

The true cost of Mountain Top Removal, the process of extracting coal developed in the 1970s in Appalachia is “a conventional strip mining technique” that involves the clearing, blasting, digging and extraction techniques necessary to obtain coal, forcibly removing 500-800 feet of mountaintop was made very real, clear and deliberate.

This “cost efficient form of coal production,” which has innumerable side affects such as decreasing the number of available mining jobs, furthering economic disparity in the region, destroying old forests, devastating indigenous fish and wildlife communities and adding to a host of other problems distressing the health, safety and welfare of local populations living in close proximity united students, faculty and staff who absorbed information from an unscripted and vivid portrait of destruction for the sake of profits.  

Donna shared her story of fighting Big Coal - after decades of suffering, struggle and personal loss.

She spoke in a delicate but firm voice, a voice, which echoed the continuing struggle of thousands. The perils of mountain top removal suddenly became extremely vivid and real, carried forward by a strong narrative, which mirrored her travels, her experiences and her longing for social justice. The dangers of fueling the continuing demand for energy, especially that companion the countless coal burning power plants, which dominate the countryside in many urban and rural communities in WV, were suddenly brought within full view. The spectrum of desperation indeed demands action, now.  

Donna provided a stirring introduction, presenting a slideshow of images recounting the destruction wrought by Mountain Top Removal in Mingo County WV, which has affected the livelihood of her family, her friends and her entire community. Mingo County, as Donna explained was noted to be one of “…the poorest and most fragile communities in West Virginia,” She then provided audience members with a short documentary with interviews with residents living in the shadow of Kayford Mountain, whose once tall peaks have been slowly torn apart since 1986, which showed images of trees being torn from the ground and blasts devastating mountainsides, all being set to the harmony of traditional Appalachian cultural music, whose lyrics pleaded and begged for change.      

Her story was intimate, comprehensive and emotionally moving. Donna, who still lives on a small farm with her husband, explained how she has through the years filed numerous petitions and written countless letters against Mountain Top Removal, making her an both an “outcast” and a “target” for harassment. “You’re noted to be an enemy if you speak out against coal.” She explained being pushed around in public, receiving threatening letters, phone calls and even a standoff between her husband and the coal company who forcefully demanded to pass through her property without a proper permit. One could only imagine being treated this way.   

The audience remained speechless. Her presentation continued.

She exposed the mass efficiency of Mountain Removal, which has assisted in creating great profits for coal companies, ruining the natural landscape, increasing the risk for surface runoff of rainwater, causing mass flooding in her community while poisoning the air and groundwater, thereby increasingly the likelihood for preexisting conditions such as asthma from air from air and waterborne illnesses. One could only fathom the following questions: How could coal companies allow coal production to cause such terrible destruction fully knowing the adverse affects to health, safety and well-being residents living there? How can they get away with this? How are coal companies able to continue without sympathy, remorse or regret? How can I stop the continuation of this horrendous disaster wrought upon the natural landscape?

Questions such as this would forever permeate the minds of the audience that day.

Donna explained to students how they could become involved but many of them had already filled out or collected advocacy information well before her presentation finished. You and your colleagues have aroused great hope and change in Mingo County and other parts of Appalachia. Your successes and the continuing stories shared through the Keeper of the Mountain’s On the Road Again campaign were incredibly well received at UC and we look forward to seeing you again at our campus soon.

We can only hope to see the full return of the landscape that you so love and are so connected to. Our hearts and minds are with you and your struggle.

And let it be known that a group of vey interested UC students are already planning their visit to Kayford Mountain in coming months!   

Thank you for sharing your story with us at the University of Cincinnati.

Please stay in touch. We certainly will.

Staunton, Virginia Comes Together

This Post is Written by Event Planner Shay Claton

Chuck Nelson spoke at a house party fundraising event for Keeper of the Mountains Foundation in Staunton, Virginia on the evening of April 18th.

There were 16 people in attendance at the event, which included dinner and drinks with a time for discussion about the issues surrounding Mountain Top Removal mining. Chuck spoke movingly about the effects of Mountaintop Removal on the communities of Appalachia. He told stories of the health problems in his own community in the Coal River Valley as well as the disappearance of whole towns that were once home to many families that had lived there together for generations. He also shared his stories of life as a union miner and his experience as a miner in the employment of Massey Energy the company involved in 1000's of violations of safety rules and environmental regulations.

Chuck also showed a segment of the film "Mountain Mourning" featuring Larry Gibson and the story of Kayford Mountain, home to the Keeper of the Mountains Foundation. Many people were profoundly moved by Chuck's heartfelt stories and by Larry's story and the scenes in the film of the devastation of the mountains by Mountaintop Removal. Everyone left ready to act to help the Keeper of the Mountains in their effort to stop MTR and ready to support their mission to create a sustainable economy and life that honors mountain culture, justice for the people, and respect for the beauty and diversity of these ancient mountains.

Growing Our Movement: 8 States, 10 Days, 25 Events

Adam Hall is Touring through Wisconsin & Indiana on a 9-Day Tour

Amber Whittington of Ameagle, WV, is Touring with Appalachian Voices through Washington on a 9-Day Tour

Chuck Nelson of Glen Daniel, WV is Touring through the Shenandoah Valley on a 2-Day Tour

Debbie Graff of Ghent, WV is Touring through Western North Carolina with Larry Gibson on a 5-Day Tour

Donna Branham of Lenore, WV is Leading an Event in Cincinnati, OH then is Leading Multiple Events in New Paltz, NY

Larry Gibson is Leading an Event in Marietta, OH, then Participating in the National Earth Day Event in Washington, DC then hopping on a plane to Tour through Western North Carolina with Debbie Graff on a 5-Day Tour

April 16th
--> Adam Hall Speaking at 7:00 PM in Room 2650 of the Humanities Building at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

April 17th
--> Chuck Nelson Speaking at 5:30 PM at the "Hokies Love Mountains" Rally (facebook event here) on the stage outside the Squires Student Center at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA
--> Adam Hall Speaking at 7:00 PM at "The Encore Room" in the Dreyfus University Center, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

April 18th
--> Donna Branham Speaking at 6:00 PM in the Main Street Cinema, Tangeman University Center at the University of Cincinnati (facebook event here)
--> Chuck Nelson Speaking at 6:00 PM at a House Party Fundraiser in Staunton, VA (email Jennifer@MountainKeeper.org for details)
--> Adam Hall Participating in a Presentation at 7:00 PM in Room 2650 of the Humanities Building at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

April 19th
 --> Amber Whittington Speaking at 5:30 PM in Miller Hall- Room 152, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA
 --> Larry Gibson Speaking at 7:00 PM at Marietta University, OH

April 20th
--> Adam Hall Speaking at 12:00 PM in the Lundeen Lecture Room in Doudna Hall in the University of Wisconsin-Platteville (webpage here)
--> Amber Whittington is Speaking at 7:00 PM in the "Coal Hard Truth" Panel in the YWCA Ballroom, 1026 N. Forest St, Bellingham, WA

April 22nd
--> Larry Gibson will Participate in the Earth Day Rally at the National Mall in Washington, DC (webpage here)
--> Amber Whittington is Speaking at 6:00 PM in The Theater at Braeburn Condos, 1410 E Pine St, Seattle, WA
--> Adam Hall is Speaking on the "Coal: A Human Element" Panel at 7:00 PM in Room 210 of Matthews Hall at Purdue University (facebook event here)

April 23rd
--> Donna Branham is Speaking at 3:00 PM in a Round Table Discussion in the Student Union Building at SUNY-New Paltz, NY
--> Donna Branham is Speaking at 6:00 PM on Extreme Energy (website here) in the Lecture Center 100, SUNY-New Paltz, NY
--> Debbie Graff and Larry Gibson are Speaking at 7:00 PM in the Scott Concert Hall of the Porter Center, Brevard College, NC

April 24th
--> Amber Whittington is Speaking at 12:00 PM at the Ram Restaurant,10019 59th Avenue Southwest, Lakewood, WA
--> Donna Branham is Speaking at 6:30 PM at SUNY-New Patlz, NY
--> Amber Whittington is Speaking at an event by the Transition Fidalgo & Friends who will present the 7th Generation Supper at the Senior Activity Center, 1701 22nd St, Anacortes, WA
--> Debbie Graff and Larry Gibson are Speaking at 7:30 PM in the Cannon Lounge of Warren Wilson College, NC (facebook event here)

April 25th
--> Amber Whittington is Speaking at 7:00 PM in the Port Townsend Community Center, 620 Tyler St, Port Townsend, WA
 --> Debbie Graff and Larry Gibson are Speaking at 7:30 PM to the River Management Symposium, at the Asheville Crowne Plaza, 1 Resort Drive, Asheville, NC (event program here)

April 26th
--> Amber Whittington is Speaking at 7:00 AM to the Olympic Kiwanis Club, Cornerhouse Restaurant, 101 E Front St, Port Angeles, WA
--> Debbie Graff and Larry Gibson are Speaking at 7:00 PM in the Solarium of the Student Center at Appalachian State University, NC (website here)

Adam Hall Speaking Out In North Carolina

Amber & Larry Speak Out in Nebraska

Larry Gibson and Amber Whittington came to Creighton University to share a part of their lives with us. It is one thing to learn about mountaintop removal in a classroom from a professor but Larry and Amber are experts on what it is like to live in West Virginia. They came to share a part of their human experience with us. Some people were familiar with the issue and learned the personal
stories to put a face to statistics. Others who heard Larry and Amber speak had no idea this was an issue and were not aware of where their energy comes from.

Monday they met with students, faculty and staff. Events included a green bag lunch,a lecture to environmental science students, and a talk in a 500 seat auditorium that was open to the public. The director of facilities at Creighton enjoyed Amber & Larry’s “outstanding passion for the environment.”

A Powerful Weapon

Post Written by Volunteer Event Planner Lou Martin

On Tuesday, February 21, Larry Gibson and Amber Whittington spoke in Margaret Sanger Hall at Chatham University, a small school in Pittsburgh with an enrollment of about 2,500 students including 700 who attend the all-women undergraduate college. The event began with a brief video taken on Kayford Mountain, just beyond Hell’s Gate, overlooking the destruction of the mountain. Then Larry and Amber shared their stories with us. Amber explained the problems with water quality that she and her family now face in Raleigh County and asked the audience if we thought it was right for them to drink discolored water that smelled. Larry shared stories from his decades of fighting strip mining.




Back in November 2011, two other professors and I held a panel discussion at Chatham University about the March on Blair Mountain that had occurred in June and about the problem of mountaintop removal. We felt connected to this issue because we grew up in West Virginia and Kentucky, but some in the audience had a common reaction. They asked, “How do the people from that area feel about this?” “Do you think the miners who need those jobs will ever oppose mountaintop removal?” We tried to explain that the March had been organized by people who live closest to mountaintop removal sites. We tried to explain in words the impact of mountaintop removal on the people, their communities, and the land. We had planned to show videos, but our equipment failed; so too did our words fail to capture the magnitude of this problem.



It is one thing to hear your professor tell you that there is a crisis unfolding just a few hours’ drive away. It is another for two people to speak from the heart about an issue affecting their daily lives and to ask you for help. And that is exactly what Larry and Amber did. They spoke to an environmental class in the morning, a social issues class in the afternoon, had lunch with creative writers, and spoke to a crowd of about 60—a big crowd for a very small school—in the evening.

Larry told me that public speaking is not about facts and figures. While he has the facts and figures available, it is far more important to tell audiences how you feel and to have them recognize you as a fellow human being. We might detail the role of coal in the national and state economy. We might detail how stream buffer zone rules are worded. We might detail the biodiversity of the Appalachian Mountains. We might detail the problems of soil erosion. But those issues seem abstract to people who have never witnessed mountaintop removal, who have never met the coalfield residents who face the destruction of their land.



And Larry was right. Students later told me that what made the experience so powerful was hearing from fellow human beings who are faced with a terrible loss. The rest of the week I had people asking me about details of Larry’s talk. What agency oversees mountaintop removal? Why is this not illegal? Did the coal operators really drop bombs on the miners at Blair Mountain? And a number of students signed up for volunteer work. A stark contrast to the panel discussion I participated in back in November.



There simply is no substitute for hearing about mountaintop removal from coalfield residents who must live with the trucks, the processing plants, the dust, the explosions, the flooding, and the contaminated water. That is why a presentation by a Keeper of the Mountains is one of the most powerful weapons in the fight against mountaintop removal.



Lou Martin, Assistant Professor of History, Chatham University

Larry Gibson to Speak at Hawks Nest Premiere

This Post is a reprint of a press release for this event 

Presenting: Hawks Nest: Blood Beneath Our Feet

A Black History Month Program sponsored by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History

Where: Cultural Culture Center

Capitol Complex, Charleston, West Virginia

When: Sunday, February 19, 2012, 3pm

Contact: Kate McComas (304-521-7444 )

For immediate release:

Award winning film makers Mari-Lynn Evans and Phylis Geller will premiere the trailer for Hawks Nest: Blood Beneath Our Feet as part of the Black History Month Celebration at the Culture Center on February 19, 2012 from 3pm to 5pm.

The keynote speaker will Dr. Wilburn Hayden, a leading expert on the history of blacks in Appalachia with long and distinguished as a university scholar and social activist.  He was featured in the PBS documentary film "The Appalachians," which has been shown regularly on local PBS stations since April 2005. Dr. Hayden who grew up in Forsyth County, North Carolina, has taught in three Appalachian institutions of higher learning and has been involved in Appalachian studies for a lifetime.

Rev. Ron English, Rev. Mathew Watts and Pastor Paul Dunn will speak about the tragedy and triumph of the Hawk Nest Tunnel Disaster as an untold story hidden in the hollows of Appalachian hills and its relevance to critical issues shaping the current narrative of socio-economic injustice in our state and nation. Moreover, the Hawks Nest story amplifies the insult of marginal visibility of African Americans in Appalachia whose history has been largely ignored primarily due to the paucity and decline of the black presence in the area.

Industrialization stimulated the migration. The Hawks Nest documentary uncovers details of events that betrayed the hopes of African American ex-slaves who migrated into Appalachia to work in the mining and railroad industries at the turn of the century but were left vulnerable to massive exploitation and victimization by corporate giants in the 1930s. Yet the story also reveals the peculiar paradox of triumph emerging out of tragedy and the genesis of the black middle class in West Virginia.

To honor the victims of the Hawks Nest Tunnel Disaster, Dave Saville, of the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, will announce the donation of 2,500 trees for a memorial forest .

Kenny Perdue, President of the West Virginia AFL-CIO, will speak about the significance of the Hawks Nest Tunnel Disaster on the formation of Worker’s Compensation legislation.

Larry Gibson, the founder of the Keeper of the Mountains Foundation and longtime community activist whose father worked at Hawks Nest, will also be a featured speaker.

Music for the program will reflect the shared cross cultural “roots” of soul music. Gospel and praise music will be performed by the Shabbat Choir from First Baptist, Charleston and blues and country sounds will be provided by well-known local artists John Lily, Lady D and other special musical guests.

A reception will follow the program. This event is free and open to the public.

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