Miscellany

We're crushed that Gov. Wise didn't include this entry in the final round of the state quarter design contest - even though this is just an "artist's conception" of how bad the actual mountaintop removal process can be. Go figure ...

Just Say NO! to Overweight Coal Trucks

Hundreds of people gathered at the state capitol in Charleston in February to oppose an increase in the weight limits for coal trucks. Not enough politicians heard the people. The rest ignored the people's will and well-being and instead capitulated to the coal industry. Campaign finance reform, anyone?

Leadership for a Changing World awardees and friends agree that they love WV's mountains while at Kayford Mountain, WV, in May.

A New Way to Help Out OVEC, and
Keep Turning Your Trash into Cash!

Now you can use your credit card to donate to OVEC on-line. Go to www.ohvec.org and click on the "Donate" button or the disappearing mountain to use your Mastercard or Visa. Many thanks to OVEC’s web wizard, Don Alexander, for setting up this system.

Of course, you can still donate the old-fashioned way, too, by sending us a check. Your financial support keeps OVEC at work. Thank you!

And another big "Thank You!" to Daniela Woodyard and other folks who recycle their empty printer ink cartridges by sending them off to Envirosmart, which refills and sells them. Envirosmart provides us with free, postage-paid bags, with an OVEC code stamped on them, to give you.

Each month, the company counts how many OVEC supporters sent in cartridges, then sends us a check.

Call or e-mail Maryanne, (304) 522-0246, or mago@ezwv.com  to get your supply of bags.

A Little Justice for the Coalfields, If You Please!

On June 23, about 100 people gathered outside the Charleston branch of the U.S. Office of Surface Mining to condemn that agency’s dismal record of enforcing mining laws. Enforcing the laws would go a long way toward reining in the excesses of mountaintop removal/valley fill strip mining. People also gathered simultaneously in Lexington, Ky., and Pittsburgh, Pa., to demand justice for coalfield residents and as a way to demonstrate that this is not just a West Virginia issue. 
photo by Abe Mwaura