As soon as students in ShepPAC at Shepherd University heard that the West Virginia Coal Association was promoting a state-sponsored workshop coming to their town, the students contacted OVEC and Coal River Mountain Watch. Together, we organized a demonstration to counter the latest in WV Governor Bob Wise’s Energy Task Force Energy Roadmap Workshop Series – "The role of coal in economic and homeland security."

We wanted to make certain that people know that an energy roadmap which includes mountaintop removal / valley fill coal mining is no high road to the future, but is instead a Highway to Hell.

Telling the truth whether Big Coal wanted to hear it or not, more than four dozen people rallied on July 22 near the hotel where there the "coal guys" were having their mis-information marathon in Shepherdstown.

There is no economic security in destroying ecosystem services which support our lives and culture. There is no homeland security when thousands of tons of explosives are unleashed upon the Appalachian Mountains each day. There is no homeland security when your home is destroyed by floods raging off denuded mountains, when your community is driven away by blasting.

Other groups joined us to make certain Americans understand other ways our continued heavy reliance on coal is harming our health and our futures.

For instance, Tri-State Citizens Mining Network described the stream-eating, building-wrecking, union-busting ravages of longwall mining. Citizens for Alternatives to Longview Power reminded us that, compared to all other states in the country, West Virginians have the highest risk of dying from heart disease and lung cancer caused by power plant pollution. Pollution from these coal-fired plants can cause or worsen heart disease, asthma, lung cancer, and other lung diseases. In addition, these plants release mercury, which can cause brain damage in babies and children.

Chesapeake Climate Action Network delivered a ton of coal, which marked the both the beginning and end of the Highway to Hell.

On the very hot and humid July 22, about 60 people rallied alongside the football field at the Shepherdstown Middle School, close to the Clarion Hotel where the coal cronies were engaged in their mis-information marathon. At our event, coalfield residents spoke of the horror of living near mountaintop removal operations. Musicians Ryan Harvey and Andrew McKnight presented rousing songs about injustice and activism against injustice. We posted signs marking the Highway to Hell. As usual (despite grueling transportation glitches), we had loads of fun while getting our message across.

Remember, if we obey the Stop Signs (Stop Global Warming, Stop Mountaintop Removal) and Yield to Alternative Energy, we can get off the Highway to Hell and onto the road to a sane, safer future.

Dozens of members of Coal River Mountain Watch and OVEC trekked from the coalfields and Huntington to Shepherdstown, WV as guests of Shepherd University students active in Shepherd Progressive Action Committee (ShepPAC).

Appalled by mountaintop removal, the students wanted to help. They conceived of an awareness- and fund-raiser event for our groups on July 21, followed by a gathering to counter Big Coal’s propaganda on July 22.

When singer/songwriter Andrew McKnight, who is on OVEC’s Action Alert e-mail list, heard about the plans, he rallied fellow musicians on the Moving Mountains: Voices of Appalachia Rise Up Against Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining CD. Our fund-raiser became a CD release party! Besides McKnight, musicians Keith and Joan Pitzer and Cherylann Hawk, as well as Falling Mountain label founder Michael DeLalla, all joined ShepPAC in contributing much time and labor to making the event a success.

Coal River Mountain Watch’s Judy Bonds presented Appalachian Treasures. Next, coalfield residents answered audience questions about what it is like to live in the shadow of mountaintop removal operations.

After a short break, the musicians began making us laugh and cry. Out in the lobby, folks were buying up OVEC T-shirts, designed by artist Joe Lung and the Moving Mountains CD. Many thanks to all!