Toxic West Virginia: Mountaintop Removal- Episode 1

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Toxic West Virginia: Mountaintop Removal- Episode 1

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FOR MORE OF TOXIC WEST VIRGINIA VISIT:
http://www.vbs.tv/player.php?bccl=NDEzMjk4MjU0X19ORVdT=
Meredith Danluck is a New York artist, director, and all-around amazing person who has a killer collection of power tools. VBS bumped into her a few months ago and discovered that she has been working on a film in West Virginia, a sort of impressionistic account of the current environmental catast
rophe in the Appalachian Mountains. Mining companies are destroying entire mountains in order to get at the coal inside them. Quickly and efficiently, the oldest mountain range in the world is being systematically obliterated. We sent Meredith and VBS correspondent Derrick Beckles to the hills and h
ollers of West Virginia to show us what the end of the world looks like.

Tags for this video: Moutaintop Removal Toxic VBS vbs.tv Vice Virginia West www.VBS.tv

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Do you all know why ... ( 2 months ago by poopsix)

Do you all know why they do this? Because the seams of coal are so narrow. Up in Northern West Virginia, they do underground mining. It wasn't an arbitrary decision to wreck the environment, it was seen as the only cost-effective way to get at that coal and get jobs in there. Now, I don't think it's a good idea- it wrecks the environment. But, at least there is reasoning behind it.

Amen, sister. I ... ( 2 months ago by JeffFurrowMusic)

Amen, sister. I work on a strip job, and if it wasn't for coal mines...West Virginia would be a severely poor state. Many families would go hungry.

I have been on top ... ( 2 months ago by njlace)

I have been on top of the mountains in Boone County, WV. It is a shame how they are destroying the beautiful trees that have been growing for years and replacing them with cheap vegetation that will never grow and replace what was cut down. Yes, many jobs are provided to the citizens of Boone County but compared to all the money the companies take in, there is no financial comparison. They are literally raping the land and its people.

WV is a severly ... ( 1 month ago by pfunkmonster)

WV is a severly poor state (JeffFurrowMusic) there has always been a select few who have access, prob got the best land deal from VA, and there are others who took theirs but then this land has been tossed around for awhile the people here, especially in the mining areas have been sick and suffering for quite awhile-I am 50 and I am a Hatfield on my mothers side and A Mccoy on my fathers side I have been around here for awhile coal does very little for the state considering the damage

your lucky I own 10 ... ( 1 month ago by mdcjackson)

your lucky I own 10 achers in boone county. I now live in montgomery,The mud slides and massive run off made my property unliveable.But the still expect me to pay taxes on it

sounds familiar. ... ( 1 month ago by pfunkmonster)

sounds familiar. Somehow, we will find out the
true story and stop all the madness here, I stil believe because I know the strength given to me and the strength of the people here hang in there and thanks for the response it will take all of us together for this battle

I dont understand ... ( 1 month ago by WV24985)

I dont understand everyone saying WV is a poor state...I'll give you that with the exeption of mining jobs, the pay rates are lower, but at the same time, the cost of living is lower, and it balances out. Everyone here I know that will work, has everything they want. Where else can you buy a 4 bedroom two story house with a full basement on an acre of land for $25,000? You dont need 100k a year for that.

Wal Mart is #1 ... ( 1 month ago by pfunkmonster)

Wal Mart is #1 employer followed by hospitals and Kroger Car Insurance is the same as if I lived in a larger city most jobs pay 10 grand So obviously your WV is not my WV oh and most cannot take a bite of ya cause we have never been offered dental care and medical is not there as well I have been working much as well and I have made on average 12 grand with 2 years I was able to have a better pay and this is from 1992

Please understand ... ( 1 month ago by wvhollergirl77)

Please understand there are so many sides to any story...but the bottom line is we are destroying our earth. I am from WV, raised in the middle of nowhere (and proud of that), coal miners daughter but a mountain hugger. I love these mountains. I realize that so many families are fed by tearing off these mountains - but I still have to stand against it. Coal mining is our heritage but there are better ways of extracting the coal.

now to finish...I ... ( 1 month ago by wvhollergirl77)

now to finish...I was never really involved in standing up against this until it happened in my own backyard. I hated it, but ignored it because it did not effect me...now it does and all though I never did anything in the past, I am now. Yes, workers are paid well by these companies. However, these companies could give a crap about those who work for them. Big Coal - is Big Business, they fill us with propaganda with the Friends of Coal Commercials to the freaking concerts.

i know what its ... ( 4 weeks ago by cowbubbles)

i know what its like i grew up in these mountains deper than any of you aLL NOW LISTEN MY FATHER HAULED COAL FOR OVER 10 YEARS AN WAS RISED IN BRADSHAW AN IF IT WASNT FOR THE COAL WE ALONG WITH THE REST OF THIS STATE WPOULD BE POORER THAN MEXICO BUT WITH IS COAL WE ARE THE LUCKY MILLIONARES WE ARE AN I STILL WORK IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIE WITH MY FATHER AN YOU UPPER WV. YANNKS CAN KISS MY ASS . COAL IS WHAT KEEPS THIS STATE GOIN !!!!!!!!

an you people make ... ( 4 weeks ago by cowbubbles)

an you people make it sound so bad an the people do know whats goin on an they like it becuase im one of them so get over it no one gives a fuck about the enviroment not evan the town people so shut up !!

wow what a great ... ( 4 weeks ago by zakaslamuk)

wow what a great way to get coal well done you american dudes this is great we should do this here

You people know ... ( 4 weeks ago by ern552)

You people know nothing about coal companies in here. You take a few people and apply their mistakes to every coal company in West Virginia. Until you've lived here your entire life and been involved in the industry, don't say a word. As for those of us who really know what mining is all about, including strip mining, it's way different. And yes, I do absolutely love the mountains! They're my favorite site in the world. But guess what, I'd rather eat. Without coal, my family would be destitute.

dont make fun of ... ( 3 weeks ago by avatar00101)

dont make fun of west viginia i live in marlinton west virginia isnt allways minning coal with dynamite somtimes

I was born and ... ( 3 weeks ago by rockdusted)

I was born and raised in the coal mining towns of WV. My father and grandfather were killed in the mines. I know that many people make their living from coal. You can make a living at it without being a total imbecile. You destroy the mountains, water, and wildlife, then what's the point of being there? I'm hearing people claim that the only way they can make a living is to shit where they eat! Dogs don't even do that! Wake up! If you can't find a job in a deep mine, move.

I am a 7th ... ( 3 weeks ago by CoalBlackRain)

I am a 7th generation West Virginian on both sides too, and we made a living without mining coal; my grandfather was an environmentalist :) They make you think there is no other way, because they want us to feel powerless so we

WV has a long ... ( 3 weeks ago by rockdusted)

WV has a long history of neo-colonialism (semi-slavery). The coal companies have a lot of money, and what they want you to think is that there's no other way but theirs. The truth is that when the populace works together, they can get something done - like forming the unions, for example. As long as you act independently, you are at the company's (lack of) mercy. Remember when WVians blocked the proposal to take NJ's landfill waste? Fight for yourselves together!

Oh, and "upper WV ... ( 3 weeks ago by rockdusted)

Oh, and "upper WV Yanks"? Nice.

Thank god I live in ... ( 3 weeks ago by ckthekiller)

Thank god I live in Oregon.

OK I finally found ... ( 3 weeks ago by thewhitetrashmuseum)

OK I finally found it, activist groups involved with this are: Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, Ohio Valley Enviromental Coalition, and the West Virginia Highlands.

I worked for 16 ... ( 1 week ago by kb8njh)

I worked for 16 years in the Mine mentioned in the Paint Creek watershed. It was approx. 2900 in elevation we took off 900 feet. You see the Landscape before it is reclaimed. The property was useless the Company spent 4 million Dollars to build 1 access road 3 lane
to the top. The Paint Creek Watershed while
we were working stocked trout in Paint Creek
2 additional roads were built later. A Park was built for the Public by the Coal Company.

Don't say a word? ... ( 1 week ago by fizzybgood)

Don't say a word? Forget about it - if you think we're going to shut up you can take that and stick it where the sun don't shine. Most of my extended family lives in WV, both of my grandfathers were coal miners and although I did not grow up in the area, I will continue to fight for my heritage and for my family who has to deal with the hazards of this type of mining. I will never stop, not until the practice has ended.

Larry Gibson has ... ( 6 days ago by eng1225)

Larry Gibson has not had a job in 40 years. I know.

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Toxic West Virginia: Mountaintop Removal- Episode 1

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