But This Album!

You will thank me later...

Kathy Mattea's new release Coal is an awesome collection of Appalachian folk songs that deal with the "life-blood of the region". Many of the songs focus on the hardships of the industry and the regions where coal excavation is prominant. Haunting songs about Harlan Co. KY will linger with you and the images they conjure are as sad as the melodies.

Fast and Pray for Peace in the WV coalfields.

Just a couple of updates:

• As of today the petition has 440 signatures. I'm completely amazed that it has been passed around so succesfully. There a couple signatures that grasped my interest. The first was Maria Gunnoe, the MTR activist that lives in Bob White, WV and the other is Sr. Helen Prejean the author of Dead Man Walking. Both of these women are heroes of mine so it was thrilling to see their names on the petition.
• I had a very brief letter to the editor published in America. It is in the Mar.31-Apr. 7 issue.

This recently came out from the West Virginia Council of Churches. It would be great to have as many people as possible participate in this action.

WV Council of Churches’ Government Concerns and Peace and Justice Programs Call for Peace in the Coalfields


On May 13, arguments will be heard in a West Virginia case being reviewed before the Fourth Circuit Court in Richmond, Virginia. This case is the appeal of an October 11, 2007 decision by U.S. District Judge Robert Chambers, prohibiting a coal company from starting new valley fills at Jupiter Holdings Callisto mine in Boone County. Judge Chambers ruled that permanent damage to streams and forests outweighed temporary and speculative economic harm to the company.

As the time for a decision on this appeal approaches, it is clear that whichever way the Court decides, many West Virginia residents will consider themselves to be adversely affected. Some in the coalfield communities fear their homes and heritage will be lost, and their health threatened by valley fills. Miners are worried about losing surface mining jobs and their capacity to support their families.

As people of faith, we feel it is of great importance that we support all our fellow citizens involved by calling for calm, non-violence, and reasoned dialogue surrounding this issue and the upcoming court decision. Therefore, it is our intent to invite people of conscience to a period of fasting and prayer for peace in our communities. We are designating the two weeks prior to May 13 as a “Fast for Peace in the Coalfields,” and invite our neighbors to select one of more days to join us in this effort.

Individuals or groups desiring to join the fast are asked to contact Carol Warren, Chair of the Council of Churches’ Government Concerns Program Unit at peacelovemom@gmail.com to sign on. This will aid us in verifying that people are participating each day throughout the two-week period of April 30 to May 13, 2008.