Editor’s note: Sandy Reid of the People’s Tribune interviewed Paula Swearengin, born and raised in Appalachia, about the poisoned water, sickness and drug addiction among West Virginians.
“My family moved to North Carolina because my father couldn’t find a job. My hair was orange from the water. We moved back because my grandfather was dying from black lung. My little sister was born with a birth defect. My brother, grandmother and grandfather lost their teeth—my grandfather picked his teeth out with a fork because of the water pollution. People are turning on their faucets and the water is black. We have the most diseased rivers. Our water has been polluted for years by the coal industry. They’re not cleaning up the mess. They’re not going to develop green technology. There’s so much propaganda here—they pose it as the “tree huggers” vs. coal miners. They think we’re after your job. People are fighting to survive.
“So you have these areas highest in the nation for Hepatitis because of the drug use in one of the poorest, sickest states. It’s a trickle down effect. Poor economy. Many here are in pain from not having a promise for the future. Coal is far from being over. They’re planning to make billions and still poison the water. Even if they quit, we still have polluted water and air, and are still living in conditions of a third world country. There’s beautiful people here. We live under a stigma that we are hillbillies. We have brains. But we are so divided with propaganda from the industry and our leadership. Some people are ready to stand up but don’t know who to stand up to. There is no support for people in the southern coalfields. We are collateral damage. I’ve had threats on my life for standing up.
“Activists have fought the energy companies for years. There is an old abandoned coal line that pumps out acid that goes right to a creek and all the vegetation is gone. Poison is seeping from old mines. It won’t go away until somebody cleans it. They wash coal with a couple hundred chemicals. Thousands of sticks of dynamite are right next to this big sludge of toxic chemicals. Those open damns held are held together by earth. Anyone that has well water has poisoned water. The companies don’t care—its profit. Now it’s starting to spread out of these borders—people in Detroit, Florida, all over America are faced with water pollution. It’s time for America to stand up. We should not be begging for clean water.
We’re having a rally to save Coal River Mountain on October 17 at the Charleston, West Virginia, Department of Environmental Protection. Coal River is one of most endangered rivers in America. Come to Appalachia. We’ll be happy to give you a tour! Let’s get together!
Contact Paula at paulawv99@gmail.com
