Celebrate EARTH DAY with us at the premiere of 'Burning The Future,' a documentary about Mountaintop Removal tonight in Charleston, WV
April 21, 2008

Tuesday, April 22

6:30pm

Capital Center Theatre

123 Summers Street

Charleston, WV

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write up from the Herald Dispatch... pictures courtesy of burningthefuture.com

36% of US global warming emissions comes from approximately 501 coal-burning power plants - that's more than the emissions from 377 million cars.

CHARLESTON - Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition and Coal River Mountain Watch are celebrating Earth Day by sponsoring the West Virginia premiere of "Burning the Future: Coal in America" at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at the Capitol Center Theatre, 123 Summers Street, Charleston.

Independent film-maker David Novack will premiere his new documentary "Burning the Future: Coal in America." Three years in the making, the film chronicles efforts by West Virginia coalfield citizens' to raise the nation's consciousness about mountaintop removal and the high costs of so-call "cheap" energy to their heritage, health, and communities.

Maria Gunnoe in the bright lights of Times Square

For more info about the film and about the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, go online at www.ohvec.org.

http://www.burningthefuture.com/

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/x754072564

 
Mountain Justice Coal River Valley and Coal River Mountain Watch host acclaimed artist Franceso di Santis
March 31, 2008

View some of the portraits done so far

For the next 2 weeks, Mountain Justice Coal River Valley and CRMW will be hosting an amazing artist... Franceso di Santis!!!

Francesco is the artist of the Post Katrina Portrait-Story Project.

from his website: "Francesco di Santis is a self taught artist, whose charcoal, carbon, graphite, china marker and pastel drawings have widened the intersection of folklore, oral history, nonfiction, psychology, therapy, fine art and social movement or phenomena."

Check out the website to familiarize yourself with his work, it is very moving...

http://postkatrinaportraits.org/

Francesco will be doing a version of this project for people living in Appalachia that are working to preserve the heritage and land. He will do charcoal drawings and participants  (or a family member who is able) will write a personal narrative DIRECTLY ON THE PORTRAIT in their own handwriting.

Francesco is working with other regional organizations and has already done some work at Mountain Justice Spring Break, the coal fields of Tennnessee, and the Appalachian Studies Association conference.

Here is some general info we first received from our friends at United Mountain Defense:

"I am happy to announce that Francesco di Santis of the The Post Katrina Portrait-Story Project  CONTACTED US and wants to come to Appalachia to start a project here about the mountain justice movement, coal mining, the mountains, and mountain communities."


To date his most noted project is the 2000 drawings that he produced during the year following hurricane Katrina in New Orleans which were compiled into a book containing roughly 400 images at http://postkatrinaportraits.org/  and numerous traveling and publicly displayed shows.  The book is really a wonderful piece of work and most of the books are available IN New Orleans, at local bookstores and through grassroots organizations there.
Anyone of the region who feels they have a story to tell of it is eligible, who can consolidate memories of their experiences into a clear narrative. Anyone may be drawn as many times as they wish to continue participating. Drawings typically take less than an hour.

 A portrait book is one possible outcome of this project and would be called 'Voices for Appalachia - Written and Narrated by Hundreds'. Aside, the portaits will be posted in locations throughout Appalachia, and be available for free download on the the internet at portraitstoryproject.org. The work can also be viewded on websites of other involved organizations, such as Clearfork Community Institute.

We will be coordinating times for people to have their portraits drawn.

I think it is important that we get as many directly impacted people as possible to participate, as well as those involved and/or connected.

We are very excited about this and I hope you all are excited as well! :)

Francesco is here for 2 weeks so let us know if you are interested and what days you are available. I am sure he will do many portraits in our office for this area but is willing to travel to other areas in WV as well.

Please contact us if you would like to be a part of this wonderful experience!


(304) 854-2182

or email Sarah to set up a time and date to participate...

sarah@crmw.net

 
Blessing of the Mountains II
March 31, 2008

Please join us. We will gather on Fire Tower Mountain, just above Ansted, WV, joining hands and hearts in community, giving thanks for the gifts of the earth and seeking Divine intervention and wisdom to contradict devastation created by mountaintop removal mining practices.

Saturday, April 5  - 10 a.m.

 
Mountain Justice Spring Break 2008!
February 8, 2008

Mountain Justice Spring Break is back for 2008!  After last years great camp and action, we decided to have two weeks of learning, teaching, networking, and fun.

The first week is March 1-9 at Camp Ahistadi in Southwest Virginia where they are fighting Dominion Energy's proposed 585 Megawatt waste coal plant in Wise County, VA.  The cost of this plant has gone from $800 million to $1.8 billion and is still climbing.  This plant will rely heavily on MTR coal from Virginia.  There is currently a public comment period open on the plant on the plant until March 3.  You can learn more and then comment here.

The Second week will be March 22-30 in Meigs County, Ohio where they are fighting the full life cycle of coal, from harmful mining practices, to burning and waste disposal.  There are currently plans to bump the number of coal fired power plants in and around this rural community up to 8.  The increased mining will cause land subsidence under people homes and the existing power plants have already literally destroyed the town of Cheshire, OH with toxic air pollution.

Contact info@mjsb.org for more information and be sure to register.

MJSB filled the West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin's office last march demanding a New Safe School in the community for the kids of Marsh Fork.

 
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