two sides of coal...

I came across a decent anti-coal video here that gives a quick summary of the some of the damages done during the coal life cycle and includes some powerful photos of coal industry destruction.   Please pass it on. 

PS: I often hear the frustrated retort that these sorts of videos only tell one side of the story.  So, here's the other side - a few thousand coal miners in economically depressed areas get paid decent wages to obliterate the landscape, a few coal industry big boys get real rich obliterating the landscape, coal counties get tax money and we all get real cheap electricity to waste.    The "other side" can be summed up in one word - money.   So what's more important to you, money or life?     Basically it's like arguing that a video saying we shouldn't beat up homeless people for fun only tells one side of the story.  Yea, that's because that's the only side that needs to be told.  It's wrong.   It needs to stop.  End of story. 
       Or, imagine if all the rapists in the world got together, hired a marketing firm, bought a bunch of advertising, and demanded that their side of the story be told.  Would that make it worth listening to?   

Regarding climate change....

 I saw several articles recently related to a recent poll finding "that the number of Americans who believed that man-made global warming was occurring, or that a hotter planet was a serious problem, had fallen precipitously. In April 2008, 71 percent of Americans said that global warming was happening, and 47 percent said it was man-made. In the new poll, only 57 percent of Americans said any global warming was happening, and 36 percent said it was man-made."   

       It reminded me of an on-air conversation I had with a right-wing radio host in Columbia last year during so-called 'Earth Hour' where people across the country (world?) turned off their lights simultaneously for an hour.  This host, by the name of Gary Nolan, was encouraging his listeners to turn ON their lights during earth hour in protest.   I was driving home when I heard this and had to pull over and call into the show to point out to him how pathetic that was.   We had a fine on-air conversation about some of the negative consequences of energy production.  Unfortunately we were cut short by the end of his time slot.  After I  returned home I felt compelled to write him and e-mail clarifying and expanding on our conversation.  It went like this....

 __________________________________________________________________________________

       Hi Gary,

My name is C---, I called your show Monday at the end of your discussion on global climate change.  I've actually never heard your show before, I just happened to be flipping stations and the topic caught my attention.  Therefore I don’t know much about you or your politics.  I’m assuming from our short discussion that you are libertarian and I would bet that we could agree on many points.  I for one support gun ownership rights, very limited small government, and I dream for the day that people in our society will take responsibility for their own actions rather than forever shifting the blame and making excuses.  Above all, I believe in the importance of wilderness preservation and of clean air, water, and land, accessible to everyone, because without those things we cannot have true freedom.  Without clean air, land, and water we will always be utterly dependent on those in power for our very lives.   Whether that means being forced to buy water from a corporation because we can no longer drink from our own wells (as is the case in many parts of Appalachia due to coal mining and gas drilling) or being dependent on the pharmaceutical corporations for the oxygen we breathe (as is the case for hundreds of thousands of children and adults in the southeast United States who have developed asthma and other respiratory diseases from breathing air polluted by particulates and heavy metals from coal fired power plants and are now dependent on inhalers and medications for their ability to breathe).   

    When the environment that literally sustains our lives is destroyed and polluted we lose our health and we lose our freedom to live independent lives.   I could go on and on about the ways in which freedom and healthy ecosystems are absolutely inseparable.  I can only guess at your stance on guns but I am always amazed at how forcefully many conservatives will fight for their right to own firearms while ridiculing those of us who fight for our right to clean air and water, as if a healthy environment is any less critical to our lasting freedom and self-determination. 

    That is actually what motivated me to call in to your show.  When you boasted of turning all of you lights ON during earth hour I felt as though your broader statement was to ridicule and diminish the importance of the work being done to conserve energy and other resources around the world.   Like I said on your show, I don’t know if human instigated global climate change is real or not.  And I don’t particularly care.  I agreed with your guest, the professor, on the point that there probably is no ideal climate for planet earth, the climate moves and changes in cycles and life on earth adapts.   My reason for calling was to point out that uncertainty over the global climate situation really should not detract from our resolve to change our habits as individuals and as a society because those solutions invariably address other major issues of public health, national safety, and the extent of our liberty.   Global warming or not, our actions have real world consequences.   We need to stop mining and burning coal, we need to embrace energy efficiency, we need to change the way our cities are structured so that people aren’t forced to drive, we need bike lanes and more efficient cars, we need to do ALL the things that global climate change activists are working for but we don’t need to do it to prevent global warming; we need to do it because it will make us happier, healthier and make our cities and our planet more pleasant and livable.   So fine, debate global warming all you want, but don’t let your skepticism of one issue be an excuse to ignore the inarguable consequences of our way of life.

    And yes, like you said, when things get bad enough and resources scarce enough then market solutions will likely emerge.  Unfortunately we don’t always have the luxury of waiting for a market solution.  If we’re not switching to alternatives until all the coal is gone, then that means my homeland is gone with it.  That means the mountains, valleys, rivers, streams, forests, and communities I love and was raised in will have been completely wiped out so the rest of the country (not to mention china) can burn “cheap” coal till the very end.      The market doesn’t care about the mountains of my home or the people who have lived in them for generations; the market cares only about the cheapest and most efficient way possible to extract the maximum amount of coal.

     I’m interested to learn more about your comments on water ownership rights and how well that has worked where it has been tried.  Unfortunately, about 75 percent of the land in the WV coalfields is owned not by individuals but by corporations.  So could we sue them for infringement of fishing rights, etc. even if we aren’t waterfront landowners?    My other concern is that historically, many if those living in coalfield communities are extremely reluctant to challenge coal company practices, even if they oppose them, because of the likelihood of retaliation against them and their families.  In southern WV coal industry employees who speak out against the coal companies lose their jobs.  Their family members lose their jobs.  Those who don’t work for coal are threatened.  Their families are threatened, they are run off the road by coal trucks, their dogs are mysteriously shot.   In an economically depressed area with few employment opportunities the choice too often comes down to participating in the destruction of your own community by working the mines or being unemployed (or maybe commuting an hour for a min. wage job at the nearest wal-mart).

    Resource and energy issues are close to my heart.  Boasting of turning on all your lights to make a point about global warming implies that there are no consequences to our unnecessary consumption, it implies that people are not suffering for our excess.  It’s important to remember that people really are suffering when we flip the switch.  Right here in our own country.

 

-C---

 __________________________________________________________________________________

Autumn in Appalachia...

from a recent walk in the wallace-hartman nature preserve off of south ruffner rd.

i love this land.  I hate the people who are killing it.

Breaking: Mountaintop Removal Begins on Coal River Mountain -- Help Needed Now

BREAKING NEWS: Reports are coming in from residents of West Virginia's Coal River Valley that Massey Energy has begun mountaintop removal mining operations on Coal River Mountain. Sprawling across thousands of acres of diverse and pristine hardwood forests, this mountain is home to the tallest peaks ever permitted for destruction in the state of West Virginia. The mountain also became a powerful symbol of hope for a better future in the Appalachian coalfields after a study showed those peaks and ridges have wind resources as high as "Class 7," which is the highest rating on the scale.

Read more here and here

THE PERMIT AREA FOR THIS MINE IS COVERS OVER 6,000 ACRES.

All of the shaded area in this photo will be leveled and destroyed if it isn't stopped.

 

Solar Powered Renovation!

I finally got my solar system set up.  I haven't used any electricity thus far in the project but with the days getting shorter I wanted to be able to illuminate my workspace at night.

 

More Finds...

 

 

First Frost....

First Fire...

Autumn...

The twin Dogwood trees out front turned a beautiful red.  They're a little past peak here and dropping leaves.

abortion deal.

I'm getting slightly more accustomed to the idea of actually writing on this blog, rather than just posting house pictures and letting them speak for themselves.  And as the blog and I get to know one another I'm feeling the desire to interject my random thoughts into the house-renovation narrative.  Thus, the blog will be what is was probably destined to become from the start - a long winding bi-pedal journey down house renovation avenue, with frequent stops at local establishments serving morsels of my cerebral interactions with the insane culture I've the misfortune of being born into.
And if anyone is actually reading this, feel quite free to comment by submitting notice of your firm agreement or your thorough and profound disgust at the content and nature of these occasional rants. 

So, to start things off......

Someone on the radio a few days ago mentioned the abortion issue and I thought of a fantastic compromise that could really put the whole thing to rest. 

Ready Pro-lifers? Here it is - I'll agree to allow you to outlaw abortion on the condition that we ALSO outlaw all industrial activities that harm, disfigure, poison, or maim unborn babies.  This means no production, transportation, or use of toxic chemicals, this means no water pollution, this means no coal mining or burning (the mercury is rough on the little fetuses, you know), no industrial agriculture (pesticides and herbicides -  bad for the babies), no air pollution (sorry internal combustion engine, gotta go) and definitely no war (air raids and depleted uranium- yukky!).  

This is all about the rights and well-being of unborn children right?  Well then let's not half-ass the solution, lets do it right.  Protecting the unborn is noble sentiment so let's go all the way.   Let's completely eliminate pre-natal toxicity.  DEAL!

Of course, if they stopped doing all those things, their insane civilization would collapse anyway and enforcement of the no-abortion law would be disappear.  it's a win-win.

The Permit!

Here's my official city permit. Thank god the government is here to protect me.

Now, if they'd just do something about this pesky civilization of ours that's killing the planet.

I got the cellar window well bricked in to above grade and the new window frame built.

I've never laid brick before, it took some getting used to.  The consistency of the mortar mix makes a big difference.  The bricks are from the back chimney that's being deconstructed.

 

BUSTED!

Well, In our old hometown of Columbia,  one isn't required to secure a city building permit for cosmetic alterations to a home.  A permit is needed for structural changes, additions, decks, and changes to the systems of the house (electrical, plumbing, hvac), but if you're just changing a wall covering, tiling, re-roofing, etc. then you're all set.  Not so in Charleston I've discovered.  No, here in Charleston, one is required to get a permit for EVERYTHING.

So, I found this friendly note on my front door a couple weeks ago in the midst of removing the interior plaster from the walls and the outer layer of siding from the exterior.

I visited the building dept to find out what I needed to do to be in compliance and was told that before ANY renovation can commence on a residence in city limits, any suspect material must be tested for asbestos.

Having already taken samples of suspect materials and sent them to the lab for testing myself in August for my own safety I figured I could show them the lab results and be on my way.  Nope, they can't accept my test results, as I may have falsified the samples (because I want lung cancer...and mesothelioma, yep that's right).

No, I have to have an asbestos abatement company come to my house so THEY can take the samples and send them to THEIR lab for testing.  The cost for this 20 minutes of work?  $420.00.

I got the work done.  The results of course were the same as my own samples from august.

Now, after significant waste of time and money, I have my permit and I'm back to work.

I was pleased to find that the folks at the building department were actually really friendly.

I met the inspector who left the note on my door.  He said to call him anytime, with any questions about the codes.  He'll even come by the house for free consultations throughout the project.

A few days ago I rented the truck again and hauled another 6,000 pounds of plaster to the landfill.

I bought most of the windows for the house over the weekend because they were 10% off, plus I had a 10% off coupon, plus there's a statewide Energy Star sales tax holiday which saved me another 6%.

Then, the guy at the big-box corporate hardware store didn't charge me for three windows, which saved me another $500.  I figured that pays for the BS asbestos test for the city.

Bargain hunter extraordinaire!

Now I'm working on securing the cellar so that I can safely store windows and tools down there.

The old cellar window was long gone and the door was rotted out so I'm re-framing them both and a sash from one of the old windows in the main house will become the new cellar window.