Why Can't We Be Friends?

The Catholic Committee of Appalachia has recently begun the initial stages of organizing a dialogue between local West Virginian environmentalists that are oppossed to Mountain Top Removal (MTR) and members of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). This is a potentially volitile situation that could get very, VERY heated due to the history between these two groups. The value of members from both organizations coming together, despite their seemingly polar opposite priorities, is to raise awareness and even possibly to help each other recognize that they really have a lot in common. Despite outward appearances, the MTR opponents and UMWA members could stand to collaborate their efforts on some issues of concern that overlap with each group.

Since I first heard of the issue I have been obsessed with learning everything I can about MTR in West Virginia and it didn't take me long to conclude that I am adamantly opposed to it. In fact, I am often shocked that such blatant practices of desecration upon our land are tolerated even a little bit, let alone in epidemic proportions. Originally MTR was proposed as an efficient, safer way to extract the valuable coal that streaks the literal centers of the Appalachian mountains. During an era of U.S history when the prominence of coal in building the ever expanding empire of the U.S was crucial, the practice of MTR was an attractive method that was successful in supplying a hungry, growing country's demand. Not only was it safer for the miners (no more going underground) but it was timely (just blow and scrape) as well as cost efficient. What wasn't taken into careful enough consideration was the long term (permanent) effects it would leave on the region. As the practice became more popular and prominent, MTR's impact was becoming more obvious. Now, decades later, a visitor just driving through the southern coal fields of West Virginia can't help but see the devastation that MTR has brought to the region. Once verdant rolling hills are razed into barren wastelands that prominantly contrast the natural landscape of the region.

Well what credibility does a native Seattleite, a mere Appalchian transplant, have in criticizing the time honored tradition of coal mining in West Virginia? None really. But by looking at the statistics objectively, it seems to be obvious why the environmentalists and UMWA would want to collaborate.

Since the introduction of MTR, and its more efficient mechanized methods, the coal industry has steadily decreased the amount of jobs that once sustained the region. Putting all environmental concerns aside, the fact is: MTR costs WV coal miners their jobs. In 1950 there were 125,000 coal miners in West Virginia and by 2005 there were fewer than 15,000. Yet in that same time period coal production by ton steadily increased. The environment as well as the value of human labor are being trivialized for the sake of profits.

Not only do the environmental organizations and UMWA have a lot to benefit from a collaborative relationship, but both organizations would have much to gain from the facilitation by the CCA. The CCA is a powerful witness to the value of Catholic Social Teaching in the Appalachian region. Since it's inception it has been a champion for the sacred stewardship of land, the dignity of the human person and the rights and dignity of the worker. The mutual collaboration of these three group has the potential the raise awareness and bring attention to all the unique aspects of the region that have been slowly eliminated as well as restore/rehabilitate the broken and desecrated land and people.

For more information: http://www.ohvec.org/