Coal miner’s daughter speaks about the fight for clean water

Latest

Paula Swearengin
Paula Swearengin

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

PT Logo collage
+ Articles by this author

Free to republish but please credit the People's Tribune. Visit us at www.peoplestribune.org, email peoplestribune@gmail.com, or call 773-486-3551.

The People’s Tribune brings you articles written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Unsigned articles reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: ©2024 peoplestribune.org. Please donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured

Journalist Says Why ‘I Can No Longer Work With Reuters’

A photojournalist says why it is impossible for her to maintain a relationship with Reuters "given its role in justifying and enabling the systematic assassination of 245 journalists in Gaza."

Abrego Garcia Detained Again, Could be Deported to Uganda

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant worker, was freed from detention in Tennessee Aug. 22 and then re-arrested by ICE on Aug. 25 in Maryland. The Trump administration is trying to deport Abrego Garcia to Uganda.

An Open Letter to Mayor Matt Mahan of San Jose, CA.

From the San Jose CA Frontlines: Stop the sweeps. Unhoused people want a safe place to stay. All people should be respected, shown compassion, understanding.

Global Food Authority Declares Catastrophic Famine in Gaza

On Aug. 22, the world's top authority on hunger crises officially declared that a catastrophe-level famine in Gaza exists—a humanitarian disaster engineered by Israel's relentless blockade of food aid and other life-saving supplies.

Thousands of Texans Protest Trump’s Redistricting Plan To Get More Votes

The Texas capitol of Austin saw 5,000 people protesting Trump’s unconstitutional redistricting plan and other issues threatening our democracy.

More from the People's Tribune