‘I’ve seen first hand what is happening to people living around coal mining’

Latest

Chuck Nelson.
PHOTO/BRANDON LAVOIE

 
WEST VIRGINIA — I hope you know the health impacts from living in an area surrounded by mountaintop removal operations, and how coal mining has destroyed our water, air, and our beautiful communities. I know in our area, a man doesn’t have much opportunity as to what he does for a living and supporting a family. And that’s not our fault, but that’s exactly how this industry intended it to be. We live in a sacrificial area.
Sure I worked in the mines, and was born and raised in Sylvester, West Virginia. That’s until I spoke up about how this criminal enterprise was destroying the community I loved. I saw neighbors, family, and friends getting sick and dying with cancer, kidney disease, heart problems, respiratory problems. Then they took my job and I was forced to relocate. Since forced into retirement, I’ve worked with scientists, biologists, professors, doctors, US Geological Survey, and I’ve seen first hand what is happening to people living in and around coal mining communities, especially with Mountain Top Removal. The public is denied the information that we have a right to know.
If you think these companies have our best interests in mind, that’s just not true. And, it’s a criminal act what they are doing and allowed to do. I think the world of coal miners, but they are fed misinformation. History has always told us that the coal company has never been a friend of the coal miner, and today, it’s even gone way further, and it’s wrong.
There was and still is a depopulation plan in effect to uproot families, bulldoze over communities, and make people relocate, because they are standing in the way of “progress.” Coal mining has been nothing but a curse upon the land.
Churches should take a stand, and condemn the actions of these criminal enterprises, for destroying God’s creation. But most are reluctant to do so because a lot of their congregations have ties to the industry. What an excuse. What a shame. What a sin!

+ 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

A Love Letter to Altadena

Our elected officials seem unable or unwilling to keep the financial vultures out of Altadena. We can only win if we fight together to ensure our future.

The Urgency of Unity to Tackle Climate Destroyers

As thousands remain homeless and vulnerable to the negative effects of global warming, Trump is doubling down on opening new leases to fossil fuel corporations.

Where’s Trump? America’s Poorest Counties Devastated by Historic Flooding Speak Out.

West Virginia people devastated by the flooding are crying out for help from the Trump administration. They speak on whether FEMA should be abolished, as Trump is proposing.

An All-American Nightmare

The machinery of mass deportation has been set up in a nightmarish fashion. It is meant to be impossible to stop — or to appear that way. But, like any machine, it can be brought to a halt, when understood.

As ICE Jails Palestinian Protester, Universities Must Commit to Academic Freedom

University faculty call on everyone, on behalf of Mahmoud Khalil, Columbia graduate detained by ICE, to organize on behalf of those who are today's targets, supporting academic freedom and free expression before it is too late.

More from the People's Tribune