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Winds of Change Newsletter, December 2010 See sidebar for table of contents
Worried about your water? Concerned about a slurry pond or sludge impoundment nearby? If you want to take action, SSP can show you how. The Sludge Safety Project (SSP) works with West Virginia communities that are concerned about the quality of their drinking water, the safety of nearby impoundments, and the spills, breaks, and mishaps that often occur from slurry ponds. SSP is a project of OVEC, Coal River Mountain Watch and West Virginias concerned communities. SSP stands on the front lines of: H Holding coal companies accountable.H Making West Virginias DEP do its job.H Ensuring that local and state decision makers hear the voices of their constituents.H Educating communities about slurry-based health and safety dangers.H Taking action to access clean water and improve the safety and stability of sludge impoundments.How to Get Involved SSP has numerous ways for concerned West Virginia residents to get organized and involved. Here are just a few: Host an SSP Community Meeting for Water Rights SSP is organizing meetings across southern West Virginia in kitchens, churches and community centers to talk with residents about their water rights and community safety. Invite a few friends over, and lets get together at your place next! Organize a Movie Screening & Potluck Host or organize a screening of the movie, SLUDGE, an Appalshop film about the 2000 sludge impoundment break in Martin County, Kentucky, and the communitys response to that sudden disaster. This film offers valuable lessons for success in community organizing. Contact SSP for a Coalfield Organizing Tool Kit SSP has built a strong information base and connections with key allies, locally and nationally. Our Coalfield Organizing Tool Kit gets helpful resources into the hands of people who need them most. Concerned residents receive direction and details on how to get started. Give us a call, or drop an e-mail; and well send a kit your way. Contact Your Legislators to Take Action on Banning Slurry West Virginians are suffering from bad water, disease and unsafe living situations near dangerous coal waste impoundments. This is not acceptable, and our representatives and senators need to know the facts. SSP is here to help you get ready to educate them and share your concerns. You can also find your legislators contact information online at www.legis.state.wv.us. Join SSP at its Annual Legislative Kickoff as we Team Up to Send a Message to West Virginia Legislators On Jan. 15, we will meet to celebrate our success stories, learn how to work with legislators and gear up for the 2011 Legislative Session. Details are in this newsletter. Make your voice count! Take Action to Keep Sludge Safety Issues in the News Did you know that you can leave a free, anonymous voice message on the "Readers Speak" line? The Charleston papers review the voice messages and sometimes print them for all to read. The number for the Gazette is (304) 357-4451, and for the Daily Mail, (304) 357-4330. Call Now! Contact SSP: Stephanie Tyree at (304) 574-6121 or stephanie@sludgesafety.org.
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