Why We Go to the United Nations

by Randy Wilson, Clay County, KY

I have been going to mining hearings here in the mountains for the past 25 years and its the same old story. Coal operatives cry about losing jobs and energy and people getting run over cry for help. The mountains continue to bleed. The people continue to leave due to a failing economy and quality of life. It’s been happening continuously without remit for the past century and no one, not one leader in this state has alternatives for energy or work. They just pit us against each other and go away. Every generation just gets used to a new level of degradation.

Somebody needs to stand and say that this is not acceptable, that there has got to be a better way. The coal company talks like there is 70 more years of coal in this region, they say it like we have forever!

Friends and neighbors – it is all coming to an end along with our future here in the mountains. Every body bows down to coal. The politicos bow down. The scientists bow down. The engineers bow down. The forest service bows down. The mountains bow down. Some of us will not bow down. We are headed to the UN’s Conference on Energy and Sustainable Development to stand up for our futures. We will not bow down!