Winds of Change Newsletter, February 2006     See sidebar for table of contents

JOIN US FOR
Healing Mountains
The 16th annual Heartwood Forest Council and the 6th annual Summit for the Mountains

Memorial Day Weekend
May 26-29, 2006
Cedar Lakes Conference Center,
Ripley, WV
(38 miles north of Charleston)

With programs on Forests, Mountains and Coal: The connections between them; their impact on air, water, and climate; their role in our history, economy, and culture; with a special focus on ending the devastation of mountaintop removal coal mining. Invited and confirmed speakers include: Granny D*, Cynthia McKinney, David Orr*, Jack Spadaro*, Woody Harrelson, Judy Bonds, Maria Gunnoe*, Larry Gibson*, Willie Nelson, Bobbie Ann Mason, Erik Reece, Ed Wiley and more. *confirmed

What is the Heartwood Forest Council?

Every Memorial Day weekend for the past 16 years, Heartwood has invited those who care about the health and well-being of our nation’s forests to gather together to learn, to organize and to make plans.

The Forest Council is an energizing gathering in a beautiful setting, featuring inspiring speakers, workshops, field trips and strategy sessions. But that’s not all! The Heartwood Forest Council is also a time of joyful celebration, with great music, amazing food, bonfires, hikes, dancing and rejuvenation!

To learn more about Heartwood, visit www.heartwood.org.

What is the Summit for the Mountains?

For the past six years, coal field residents, activists and organizations working to stop the devastation of mountaintop removal coal mining have gathered to share stories, find inspiration and empowerment and develop coordinated strategies for protecting their homes, their communities and the mountains of Appalachia, and to challenge the entrenched power of “King Coal.”

This year the organizers welcome activists from other regions and organizations working on other issues to join them in this epic undertaking to preserve our heritage, protect our air, forests and rivers and to heal the mountains that sustain us. To learn more about the Forest Council/Summit, or to help with planning, please contact: Janet or Tonya at (304) 522-0246.