Zeb Mountain Destruction Halted by Escalating Anti Mountain Top Mining Campaign
15 Aug 2005 09:38 GMTAs dawn approached this morning (15 August, 2005), activists stood on an ancient Appalachian mountain in a dramatic protest against mountain top mining. This is the first time a mountain has been taken over in the struggle to protect the Appalachian Mountains from the devastating practices of mountain top mining. Dedicated citizens are blockading National Coal's strip mine in scenic Campbell County, Tennessee, United States to halt the destruction of Zeb Mountain. Activists affiliated with MountainJusticeSummer.org and Katuah Earth First! are using creative non violent tactics to bring attention to the modern atrocity of mountain top mining.
In an unprecedentated non-violent intervention, individuals are blockading the entrance to the mine by locking themselves to a car on the haul road and sitting in a tripod to prevent access to the mine. Other activists have locked themselves to drilling equipment. Citizens are using their bodies to create a giant “no blast” zone across the mountain. These drastic tactics are being used because strip mining companies are not allowed to use explosives when unauthorized people are nearby. “Coal companies bend and break laws in order to blow apart Tennessee's mountain headwaters. Since regulatory agencies refuse to protect our mountains, non violent citizen intervention has become necessary. We stand for the preservation of the mountains, water, forests, and communities of Appalachia” said Maria Johnson of Kingsport, TN.
“These mountains are our homes, and they are being stolen and destroyed by companies like National Coal and this must be stopped. To put my body between the mountain and the companies' machines may be the only way to stop them” said Nable Wallin of Asheville, NC.
Zeb Mountain is located above beautiful Elk Valley in Campbell County, just 40 miles north of Knoxville, TN. (Directions Below) Mountain top mining practices involve removing the tops and sides off mountains with explosives and heavy equipment to access thin seams of coal.
“We are reclaiming Appalachia. We are calling on Governor Bredesen to do the same by enforcing Tennessee's water quality laws and ban mountain top mining” said Mere, perched upon a tripod in the middle of the road on Zeb Mountain.
(Directions: From I-75, North of Knoxville, take exit 141 to Hwy 63W. Follow 63W for 4.3 miles and turn right at the Pioneer Post Office on to 297E. Follow the road 5 miles down, passing a cabinet shop and a church on left. About 1/2 mile after that, turn left onto Lick Fork Rd the mine site is about an eighth of a mile down on right.)
Hourly updates, including photos and quotes available at www.MountainJusticeSummer.org
photos
mjs 15.Aug.2005 14:13
Heres some photos.
MJS in need of Bond money
voice 15.Aug.2005 20:14
Hello friends --
Nine of our people were arrested this morning and the judge has set the bail for EACH defendant at $10,000. We are therefore making an urgent appeal for funds. If you can help, please visit our website at:
WWW.Mountainjusticesummer.org
Help save Appalachia!
Stop King Coal!
media
yellow 16.Aug.2005 23:38
could somebody with access to the knox news and other press websites repost some articles on here if they get a chance?
this is absolutely absurd
Silent87 17.Aug.2005 20:27
I will bet anything that these demonstrators aren't even from Tennessee, or even know anything about it. Here's some statistical information from the Census Bureau for you guys; Tennessee ranks 42nd in average median income and 47th in state revenue per capita. This mining operation will bring jobs and revenue to Tennessee, but I guess the welfare of trees and birds and deer is more important than the welfare of people.
mountaintop removal destroys jobs as well as mountains
Blue 18.Aug.2005 01:35
I and many other MJS activists are from TN, our family his/herstories in these mountains going back for generations upon generations.
The people of Appalachia, and therefore the jobs in Appalachia, are our main concern-- we want to save these mountains so that the mountain people and their culture-- past, present, and future-- may be saved. Mountaintop Removal Mining replaces people with machines and is transitory employment at best. Once the mountain is gone, what more is there for a laborer to do? Go on welfare? Work at the Wal-Mart that's built on site after "reclaimation"?
One strip mining machine can replace 100 workers. That's not an increase in employment or income for anyone, except the already-wealthy executives (and THEY're the outsiders, i.e. Florida's Massey Energy Co.)
For the Mountains,
blue from Chattanooga
Live Strong
Chicken of the Woods 23.Aug.2005 18:07
Hey Y'all the FAMILY is rooting for you.
Bail is a bit steep. How come y'all got arrested?
TN is GREEAAAT and the mountins are too pretty to get the tops chopped off.
Is is jobs when you kill the source of your existence?
That's like cutting your head off to make thinking more effective.
PEACE
OUT
PS: Next time don't get arrested. Take the #uckin' mountin. Keep it. That's legal considering what is happening to that place with the mining. How much money to replace the lives and town washed away in the floods unleashed by this mining?
THIS IS THE NORTH AMERICAN BOPHAL
Inspiring
travla 16.Sep.2005 01:13
you all are an inspiration. whether you are from tennessee or not. we all live on the same big ball of earth that feeds us. We kill her, we kill ourselves. heads up freedom fighters, you're not alone.