When you turn on the lights in Southern California, there's a 50% chance you just contributed to lung disease risk and air pollution in Utah, as a result of coal mining.
Air pollution migrates, tends to go east, and contributes to climate change.
So I found it extremely interesting to read Michael Shnayerson's account of a small band of community activists who fought Big Coal in Southern West Virginia.
He painted colorful and real characters like community activist Judy Bonds who fought Don Blackenship, Chairman of Massey Coal.
He painted the visual of Appalachian mountain beauty being destoryed as a coal company chops off mountaintops for coal mining.
Coal mining has devastated land, communities, water, and air. We really must be mindful of what actually happens when most of us turn on the TV, lights, and computer. And encourage renewable energy such as solar and wind.
Coal River is a must read book for anyone interested in clean air, clean water, clean energy, and how activists can mobilize and fight for justice in their community.
