Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Sad Times in West Virginia

My thoughts and prayers are with the families in the coal mining communities of Raleigh and Boone Counties.  This week's coal mine disaster occurred in the area where I grew up - the mountain region that I love and the hardy Appalachian souls who live here.  Although I don't know anyone personally impacted in this crisis, many of my childhood friends and their relatives have been employed in the mines or have members of their families there. I know more than I want to know about the hardships and heartaches that they face to keep the fires burning that provide power to let us do and have all the things that we take for granted.  I'm sad for these families, and I'm angry that human lives and our environment are the least important part of this huge industry in West Virginia.  I'm angry that the leaders in this state have sold out to the coal companies and are turning on each other when things seem to be going the other way.  It makes me sick. It's hard to think about anything else after watching the local news that has been focused so much on this tragedy.  I can only hope that our political leaders are sincere when they say that these people have not died in vain, and immediate steps will be taken to make coal mines a safe place to work.

1 comment:

  1. It is truly a sad thing, and it is so hard for those families who have
    to work in the mines because they it what they have and what they
    know. I hope we see some green energy happening in a real way
    soon and maybe there will be new hope for the mountains of
    West Virginia and the people who live there.

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