West Virginian speaks on environmental clean up

Latest

Maria Gunnoe stands in her yard in West Virginia, which is 3,500 feet from the mountain in the background that was blasted away by Jupiter Coal Company.

 
Maria Gunnoe speaks to the People’s Tribune about what needs to be done to clean up after the industrial polluters in West Virginia. Maria is a 2009 Goldman Prize winner from Boone County, West Virginia who has organized in opposition to mountain top removal in Appalachia for more than 20 years. She speaks nationally.
“It’s time we employ half the country to clean up after the other half. When industry profits from an area for 150 years, the least they can do is clean up after themselves. We have huge coal preparation plants and underground mines full of copper that could be recycled too. There is employment in cleaning up these messes. Everyone needs to stop pointing fingers at West Virginia’s problems and start fixing what they can, where they can. We all love where we live and this is where our people belong.
Reparations are owed to West Virginia and Mother Jones Community Foundation (MJCF) is bringing it all to the table.”
Editor’s note: MJCF works to improve the quality of life in many of the most impoverished regions of our country and can be found at  facebook.com/MotherJonesCommunityFoundation

+ 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.

1 COMMENT

  1. Maria and company are an inspiration for me. Because of her and Emily Satterwhite, I became a pipeline activist. Amazing warrior women will save the planet, or die trying.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured

Where Do We Go From Here: It Does Matter

Those of us who have a history of being on the front lines knew this moment was coming and we’re telling ourselves it is not the time to fatigue out! We know either way it lands, that it’s in our laps and we need all boots on the ground.

Pregnant Teen Died: Seeks Care in Three Texas Emergency Rooms

Nevaeh Crain cried in pain, too weak to walk, blood staining her thighs. Vomiting and feverish at her baby shower, the teen went to two different emergency rooms, returning home, worse than before. Pregnant women have become untouchables.

No, Immigration Is Not Making Housing Less Affordable

Despite politicians' claims to the contrary, immigration is not making housing unaffordable. In fact, immigration can be part of the solution.

Make Your Vote Count 

This 2024 election is gaining on us and the pressure to get to the ballot box is intense and...

Michigan’s Prescient Lesson: Vote While You Still Can!!! 

Michigan's non-elected Emergency Manager dictatorship made Flint's water crisis possible. Pay attention to the danger of losing our Democratic rights as we’ve known them in this election. Vote while you still can!

More from the People's Tribune