|
|
 
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Crunch Time (When the Going Gets Tough, the Slackers go South)
Comment on Blackwater Canyon Logging Road
Easy Web Actions: Beat Back the Clean Air Attack and Take Action for The Cerulean Warbler
COAL BUCKET OUTLAW Two bills on coal truck problems have been introduced to the legislature. (See CAG and WVEC legislative updates).
Now's a perfect time to come out for Appalshop's controversial documentary on overweight coal trucks, "Coal Bucket Outlaw," which will be screened at 7 p.m. Jan. 22 at the George Buckley Community Center, 8505 MacCorkle Ave. in Marmet, across from the ball field, on the left. There's a big American flag flying in front of the building. Please invite your friends, your legislators, and your neighbors. More about the documentary.
Note: This just in (1/22): "Coal Bucket Outlaw" will be in Marmet City Building not the rec building. Its on the other end of Marmet. Its next to the Trading Post store. It sits back from the road farther than the Trading Post.
While you are thinking big-*** coal trucks, check out the damage these monsters do to bridges. See Dave Cooper's photos at on OVEC's overweight coal truck page and its associated Stollings bridge and Pike County Ky galleries.
Rumor has it, Mothman has returned to West Virginia to warn of impending bridge collapses.
CRUNCH TIME (AND SLACKERS HEAD SOUTH) The legislative session is on, and the West Virginia Environmental Council and need you to make calls and send e-mails. Bush has sucked the life right out of over 50 environmental laws and regulations (that story-and even some good news on renewable energy-is in the news sections of the OVEC website) and every state and national environmental group needs you to make calls and send e-mails. The whole planet recoils in horror at the prospect of war.and what do your friendly OVEC slacker-staffers do? Head south of course!
Just kidding about the slacker part. But, staffers Dave and Maryanne are wondering why staffers Janet, Dianne and Viv aren't bugging them as much as usual. Jan returns Sunday night from an amazing trip to Mexico, which she will tell you all about in our next newsletter. Dianne and Viv leave Sunday for the World Social Forum in Brazil. Read more here.
Both of these trips are a result of Dianne, Janet and Laura Forman winning the Ford Foundation's and Advocacy Institute's Leadership For A Changing World Award in 2000. And what does it all mean? Why, no Action Alerts! Jan. 20-31. Be sure to check in at the OVEC website, though, to see what's up.
CALENDAR (also check OVEC's event calendar): Jan 21 and/or 22: The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection will explain its valley fill proposals (arising from its study of flooding and mountaintop removal) to the public and the flood investigation advisory committee on Jan. 21 at the agency's Hansford St. office in Charleston. The meeting will begin at 2 p.m. in the downstairs conference room. Those who can't make Tuesday's meeting can join Division of Mining and Reclamation staff in the Nitro office at 3 p.m. on Jan. 22. For more information on the flood study, go to www.dep.state.wv.us. Follow the link under citizen information.
Jan. 1-31: Photographer and OVEC member Paul Justice, who took some incredible shots of the coal sludge disaster, has a photo exhibit called "Landslides" at Morehead State Univ., Camden-Carroll Library Tower, 5th Floor, Morehead, Kentucky.
Feb. 21: The documentary on MTR entitled "Razing Appalachia" by Sasha Walters will be shown at 7 p.m. at the McClintic Library in Marlinton in Pocahontas County.
Every Wednesday: 7-9 p.m. Turn off your lights for peace. Jimmy Carter had it right! Peace does not come by killing other people's children. We suggest every Wednesday from 7 to 9 everyone opposed to war with Iraq and for peaceful solutions, turn off their lights. It could start here and spread across the nation. There are more of us out there than are being counted. Wednesdays used to be prayer-meeting night. Those so inclined can bring it back. Start with Psalm 27:13 and sit in the dark and pray for peace. Submitted by OVEC board member Elinore Taylor and her sister Nancy. Conservation is also one key to ending mountaintop removal.
Every Friday: Red Friday. Granny D says, "Please wear something Red each Friday to protest the Bush Administration's rush to war abroad and the attack on our Bill of Rights at home." Beginning at age 89, Granny D walked across America to raise awareness about the need for campaign finance reform. In West Virginia, she became good friends with many OVECians. It's always good to do what Granny asks!
Remember to check the OVEC events calendar page often!
COMMENT ON BLACKWATER CANYON LOGGING ROAD PROPOSAL
The United States Forest Service has extended until February 3, 2003 a public comment period on the proposal by the timber company Allegheny Wood Products, owned by John Crites, to turn the scenic Blackwater Canyon Trail, on Monongahela National Forest land, into a commercial logging road.
The Forest Service has NOT decided whether or not to let Crites turn the Canyon Trail into a logging road. The Forest Service is currently only deciding what to study (this is called a "scoping" process) -- in order to make a decision at a later time about the road proposal.
During this short but important scoping process, it is critical that thousands of people tell the Forest Service to prepare a full Environmental Impact Statement ("EIS"). Lesser studies, like environmental assessments, do not look at a proposal in depth. Only with an EIS can the Forest Service properly evaluate all of the interconnected and cumulative impacts and threats of this most dangerous and unwise proposal.
Go to www.saveblackwater.org and click on "Action Alert," and you can quickly create and send your comments by e-mail. If you can't go to the website, read on in the addendum to this message -- and you'll get all of the information you need.
CRITICAL SENATE VOTE ON BUSH ATTACK ON CLEAN AIR ACT-NEW SOURCE REVIEW
Also on this, please call the Capital Switchboard toll free at 1-800-839-5276. Ask for Senators Byrd and Rockefeller's offices with a message like this:
Hi, this is ____ from ____. I'm calling to urge Senator ____ to support the Edwards amendment to stop the weakening of the Clean Air Act. The Bush Administration has issued rules that would weaken requirements that aging power plants and oil refineries reduce their air pollution if they expand. One study found that pollution from these sources cause thousands of premature deaths and tens of thousands of asthma attacks annually.
Senator John Edwards, (D-NC) is offering an amendment to block these weaker rules that would allow more air pollution. Can I count on Senator _____'s support for this amendment on the floor?
JAN 21. DEADLINE TO COMMENT ON CERULEAN WARBLER'S ENDANGERED SPECIES LISTING
The New Jersey Chapter of the Sierra Club has an automated letter for this issue already set up here.
|
OVEC Home Issues Contact Join Site Map |
|