If you want to help end mountaintop removal, show it – write a letter to the editor! Letters to the editor are hugely important in showing the broad spectrum of people opposed to mountaintop removal. Your letters encourage others to make a stand, too.

OVEC volunteer Mary Wildfire compiled these tips on writing that letter:

` Most newspapers have a word limit on letters, often 200 or 300 words.

` Many newspapers also have limits to how often they will print letters from a particular person. You may want to send your letter to a different paper if your first choice just printed something from you.

` If the letter is in response to something that ran in the

paper, mention the date and title at the start.

` Don’t engage in name-calling, profanity, personal attacks, or falsehoods. Leave that to the other side.

` Check spelling, punctuation, grammar; if you’re not good at this, ask someone to read over your letter before you submit it.

` As with any writing, specifics and images are more effective than vague abstractions.

` Remember that a letter published in your local or regional paper will influence your representatives as well; they know their constituents are reading this.

To make your letter writing easier, we’ve set up a letter to the editor center with talking points and links to newspapers. See www.ohvec.org/LTEs.