Winds of Change Newsletter, December 2005     See sidebar for table of contents

Students Pray for Kayford

Students from seven different universities gathered on Kayford Mountain November 11-13 to talk with local residents impacted by mountaintop removal and see the destruction for themselves.

On Saturday morning, they visited Marsh Fork Elementary School, and talked to Ed Wiley, whose grandchild attends there. Marsh Fork Elementary is located directly beneath a leaking 385-foot earthen dam that holds 2.8 billion gallons of coal sludge. A coal processing plant and coal silo are also located within 260 feet of the school. Coal dust and toxic chemical fumes inside the school have caused many students and staff to complain of health problems.

Back on Kayford Mountain, students were joined by members of Christians for the Mountains, a newly formed group focused on raising awareness and stimulating involvement by people of faith to end the destruction of mountaintop removal. Saturday afternoon, everyone gathered for a blessing of the mountain.