Recent Events

October 17, 2008: Dominion 11's trial in Wise County, Virginia posted September 29, 2008

On September 15, 11 people were arrested for blockading the entrance to a coal plant Dominion Power is trying to build in Wise County Virginia.

Please come support us at our trial on October 17 at 9:30 a.m. in at the Wise County Courthouse in Wise, Virginia, the seat of Wise County in Southwest Virginia.

September 15, 2008: Lockdown at Dominion construction site posted September 23, 2008

Protesters from across the country join Wise County VA residents to oppose power plant's impact on environment and health, and to demand a clean energy future.

Ten activists locked down to steel barrels and other devices to blockade two gates at the site.

September 12-14, 2008: Weekend in Wise, Wise County, VA posted September 10, 2008

Join us for a Weekend in Wise County, in the incredible mountains of Appalachia. The weekend will include tours of Mountaintop Removal sites, service projects, local music, hiking and canoeing trips, as well as trainings on how to bring the fight for a clean energy future back to your own home town. Meet the folks leading the charge against the greed of coal and energy companies by standing up for a brighter future. See the beauty of the land we are all fighting to protect, and see the devastation that threatens the future of Appalachia.

September 16, 2008: Rally for Jobs AND Mountains, Charleston, WV posted September 8, 2008

On September 16th, Appalachian residents - with the support of local, regional and national community and environmental organizations - will be holding a rally on the steps of the West Virginia State Capitol from 5-6 pm, calling for the development of a wind farm on Coal River Mountain. The rally will be a celebration of the amazing potential for renewable energy development and the creation of Green Jobs in West Virginia, and Coal River Mountain stands as a symbol of the transition that West Virginia must make in order to prepare for a post-coal, sustainable future.

September 19-21, 2008: Appalachian Community Economics conference posted August 14, 2008
On September 19-21 in Abingdon, VA the Appalachian Community Economics conference will bring together people who want to build sustainable economies in areas traditionally dominated by the coal industry. Whether you have skills to share, want to learn how to make money with your skills or start a business, have a small business and want to network with potential customers, want to learn new skills that can help sustain you economically, or just want to work toward sustaining Appalachian life and culture beyond coal, then ACE is for you.

[UPDATED] July 20, 2008: Four arrested at Zeb Mountain posted August 8, 2008

**UPDATE 8/8/08** There was no jail time or fines imposed by the Campbell county judge today. Your generous donations helped pay the $1156 in court costs. THANK YOU!

July 20th at Zeb Mountain four protesters were arrested in solidarity with United Mountain Defense, Three River Earth First!, Mountain Justice and coal-impacted residents of Appalachia.

Holding hands and singing Amazing Grace, with more than 50 protesters behind them, they crossed the line onto National Coal's property. Once across the line police calmly handcuffed and arrested them.

What Can I Do to Fight for Mountain Justice? posted August 6, 2008

Looking for ways to get involved in the Mountain Justice movement? Want to help but not sure how to get started? Then check out the "What Can I Do?" quick list to help spark ideas and then contact us.
We need your help!

July 20, 2008 - 1 PM: March on Zeb Mountain! posted July 8, 2008

United Mountain Defense, Mountain Justice and Three Rivers Earth First! ask you to march with us for Appalachia. This is a call for you to take a Sunday out of your life to help preserve some of the oldest mountains and watersheds on Earth. March with us in solidarity against the watershed annihilation machine known as mountaintop removal. This is a call not for any organization or group — but for the Mountains of Tennessee.

BREF! / MOUNTAIN JUSTICE ACTIVISTS' TRIAL DATE SET! DONATE TO THEIR DEFENSE TODAY! posted July 3, 2008

On the morning of June 30, 2008 , twelve activists from Blue Ridge Earth First! and Mountain Justice were arrested in Richmond, Virginia while participating in a blockade of the Dominion property on Tredegar Street.

Please help these courageous frontline activists today by donating whatever you can to their defense!

July 5-6, 2008: Mountain Keepers Music Festival posted July 3, 2008

On Saturday, July 5th and Sunday, July 6th, the annual Mountain Keepers Music Festival will be held at Kayford Mountain's Stanley Heirs Park . This concert is the premier music festival that celebrates environmental justice in southern West Virginia.

Help Larry Gibson surprise his bride-to-be... posted June 26, 2008

Make this years Mountain Keepers festival the most memorable yet, even if you can't make it. Help Larry Gibson surprise his bride-to-be with the best wedding gift ever - a composting flush toilet!

MOUNTAIN JUSTICE ACTIVISTS HOLD FOURTH ANNUAL GATHERING posted June 5, 2008

Action Camp equips Appalachian citizens to resist mountaintop removal
Photo by Mary Kroeck, Parson Brown Productions.

Blanton Forest, KENTUCKY - Last week, citizens young and old from coalfield communities across Appalachia flocked by the dozens to historic Harlan County, Kentucky, for the fourth annual Mountain Justice Summer Action Camp...

Michael O'Connell's film, Mountain Top Removal wins Nashville film festival's Reel Current Award posted May 27, 2008

MOUNTAIN TOP REMOVAL, Michael O'Connell's revealing look at mountaintop removal mining in West Virginia, has been named the 2008 winner of the Reel Current Award. The winner is chosen and award presented each year by Al Gore to a documentary at NaFF that provides extraordinary insight into a contemporary global issue.

May 17-23, 2008: Mountain Justice Summer Camp posted May 13, 2008

We have found a great location for our fourth annual Mountain Justice Summer Camp: Camp Blanton at Blanton Forest, in Harlan County, Kentucky, in the heart of the eastern Kentucky coalfields.

We have a full week planned of workshops on Appalachian coal mining, music and culture featuring well-known Appalachian activists, plus hiking, Appalachian mountain music, dancing, campfires, and excellent healthy food.

Preliminary schedule...

More info...

Already registered and looking for or offering a ride? Check out the 2008 Training Camp ride board...

May 9-10, 2008: Jam down at the Bank! posted May 9, 2008
Mountain Justice is asking for musicians and others to join Action Jackson in a great big jam down at the bank on Friday May 9th and Saturday May 10th. Where will this jam be held? At any Bank of America or Citi location near you.

Help Support Clean Energy: Sign the Mile Long Petition posted May 7, 2008

It's not too late to sign the petition!
Dominion Energy has proposed building a dirty coal-fired power plant in Wise County, Virginia that will pollute the air and water, further destroy our mountains, and contribute to global warming.

Citizen’s of Southwest Virginia are standing up for their mountains and communities by leading a grassroots campaign to defeat the plant.

Fossil Fools Day: April 1, 2008 posted April 2, 2008

On April 1, 2008, Fossil Fools Day, activists throughout the world joined together in hundreds of autonomous actions against the fossil fuel industry and their facilitators...(read more)

Dec 3, 2007: KY State Legislators Tour Devastation of Mountaintop Removal posted December 6, 2007
More than a dozen state legislators came to Hazard, Kentucky on December 3 to view mountaintop removal sites and hear testimony from Eastern Kentuckians about this form of coal-mining. The media was out in full force, as well. As recently as a year ago it seemed impossible to ever get this many politicians to listen to those who were against mountaintop removal, so this was an important day in the fight against mountaintop removal and was a well-organized event set up by Kentuckians for the Commonwealth.

WAR DECLARED ON THE APPALACHIAN PEOPLE posted December 6, 2007

The federal Office of Surface Mining (OSM) recently announced plans to change surface mining rules. These rule changes would make the destruction of our Appalachian mountains and communities even easier and more profitable for wealthy coal execs and their investors.

The end result is an acceleration of the irreversible damage occurring right now. Communities throughout the region are in danger and need your help. Spread the word to everyone you know that this can not be allowed to happen and that public comments opposing the rule change are urgently needed.

Nov 16-17, 2007: Day of Action Against Bank of America and Citi's Coal Investments posted November 13, 2007

Join Rainforest Action Network, Coal River Mountain Watch, Appalachian Voices, Mountain Justice and a cast of thousands as we mobilize to stop Bank of America and Citi's investments in the coal industry!

Nov 10-11, 2007: Come to the Mountain Justice Summer Revisioning Meeting! posted October 30, 2007
This is a chance for organizers, allies, and friends working with Mountain Justice Summer to examine our accomplishments over the past 3 years and create a plan to move forward together.

Oct. 24, 2007: Buffer Zone Hearings Set; Comment Period Extended to Nov. 23 posted October 17, 2007

Public hearings on the proposed Office of Surface Mining's Stream Buffer Zone rule change have been scheduled for four locations on October 24, 2007 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.

Oct.19-21: Student / Youth Summit posted October 16, 2007
Join us October 19-21st in the Coal River Valley, WV to see MTR up close, hear from community activists, and meet other young activists.

October 12-14th: Convergence of the Virginia Climate Action Network posted October 5, 2007

Come to Wise County, Va on October 12-14th for a Convergence of the Virginia Climate Action Network (VaCAN).

Bank of America targeted in nationwide Day of Action posted September 4, 2007
On August 31st there was a coordinated day of action against Bank of America for it's part in funding the complete cycle of coal, including MTR.

August 31: Day of Action on Bank of America posted August 30, 2007
Join us on August 31 in your hometown to tell Bank of America to stop funding coal!

Southeast Convergence for Climate Action Shuts Down Asheville Bank of America posted August 28, 2007
Following the Southeast Convergence for Climate Action, several activists locked down in a Bank of America Lobby and blockaded the entrance demanding Bank of America stop funding coal mining and burning.

Virginians say "No" to a new coal-fired power plant in Wise County; Protests at Massey and Dominion posted June 26, 2007
On June 25, SAMS and MJS help a protest in Richmond to call on Massey to stop strip mining and Dominion to abandon plans for a new coal fired power plant in Wise County, VA.

Tell Dominion Power No New Coal Plants in Virginia posted June 21, 2007
Concerned people from all over Appalachia will come together in Richmond, VA to tell Dominion Power "No New Coal in South Western Virginia!"

Monday, June 18: Stop Coal to Oil Boondoggle in Pikeville,KY. posted June 13, 2007
Come tell Kentucky Senator Jim Bunning that converting coal into a highly-subsidized liquid fuel for the US Air Force is a terrible idea for the communities, the environment, and the world.

Help support the Marsh Fork Elementary Campaign. posted May 3, 2007
The 13 people who were arrested demanding a new school in the community for the kids of Marsh Fork need your help for their legal defense.

MJS Training Camp! posted May 1, 2007
The third MJS kickoff training camp will be held May 20-27 at the Narrow Ridge Earth Literacy Center in the mountains of East Tennessee.

Major Legal Victory! posted March 25, 2007
Judge Chambers ruled that The Army Corps of Engineers has been issuing permits in violation of the Clean Water Act and the National Environmental Protection Act and rescinded four permits.

13 Arrested Demanding a Clean Healthy School posted March 21, 2007
13 Southern West Virginia Residents and Activists were arrested at the State Capitol Demanding a new school be built further than 160 feet from a coal loading silo.

Mountain Justice Spring Break posted February 20, 2007
Join us in Charleston, WV March 10th - 18th for a week of learning, celebrating and action!

Campus Climate Challenge posted February 20, 2007
America and Canada's youth are calling for five days of demonstrations to jumpstart the second semester of the Campus Climate Challenge and put the heat on a new U.S. Congress and a returning Canadian Parliament to begin aggressive national power shifts on global warming. In December, a wide cross-section of young activists took part in a national brainstorm to come up with the theme "Rising to the Climate Challenge: Visions Of Our Future."

Dave Cooper and the MTR Roadshow posted February 4, 2007
Dave Cooper's Mountaintop Removal Road show has a new website!

Coaltrans Conference, Jan 31-Feb 1 posted January 17, 2007
At the end of the month, the coal industry will have a large conference in Miami, FL. All are invited (sort of).

In Memory of A Friend posted January 5, 2007
We lost a much loved member of the MJS Family this past fall. Some thoughts and memories of Jamie McGuinn.

Mountain Links Fundraiser posted December 7, 2006
There will be a fundraiser for Mountain Links, the new community resource center in Appalachia, VA on December 10th in Asheville, NC

Bill to Ban Surface Mining in TN! posted November 18, 2006
A bill to ban all surface mining has been introduced to the Tennessee Legislature. Find out what you can do to help.

Dominion waste coal power plant hearing, Oct. 17 posted October 12, 2006
Dominion Virginia Power is trying to put a 500 - 600 Megawatt waste coal burning power plant in Southwestern Virginia. There will be a hearing in Richmond, VA (conveniently 330 miles from the planned site of the plant)

Call to Action Ed Wiley to Arrive in Washington DC posted September 7, 2006
After 40 days and and 455 miles, Ed Wiley will reach Washington DC. Please support Ed and the kids of Marsh Fork.

2nd loading silo above Marsh Fork Rejected! posted August 21, 2006
The WV Department of Environmental Protection rejected Goals Coal's second attempt to put another coal loading silo behind Marsh Fork Elementary School.

National Governors Association Press Release posted August 5, 2006
This is the first press release from down in Charleston, SC. There have been all sorts of great activities and actions and more is to come.

National Governors Association Convention August 4-6 posted July 31, 2006
On August 4-6th, the Governor's from all 50 states will meet in Charleston, SC to talk about how great they are. Not all of them are telling the truth. And we're going to let everybody know.

Kayford Mtn., Labor Day Celebration Sept. 2-3 posted July 31, 2006
This is early notice to let everybody know that they should find their way to Kayford Mountain this Labor Day Weekend for the annual celebration.

Pennies of Promise Call to Action posted July 31, 2006
On August 2nd, Grandfather Ed Wiley will leave the capitol steps in Charleston, WV and walk to Washington DC to raise awareness and meet with federal representatives.

What happened with that Rendezvous? posted July 13, 2006
Following a week of learning new things, meeting new people, and catching up with old friends in the woods of South Western Virginia, Earth First! blockaded a 40 year old dirty coal power plant.

Great Series in the Roanoke Times posted July 13, 2006
As you can see by all the links in the news section, the Roanoke Times has done an amazing series on mountaintop removal coal mining.

Fourth of July Celebration posted June 27, 2006
Hey Everybody, it's the fourth of July weekend and that means it's time once again to gather at Kayford Mountain in West Virginia.

Three Great New Short Films posted June 8, 2006
Hey Everybody, check out three great new videos on MTR and surrounding issues at TruthOut.

MJS Camp posted June 7, 2006
Wondering how the Camp went?

Pennies of Promise posted June 6, 2006
A new community effort has sprung up in the Coal River Valley in Southern West Virginia. Since WV Governor Joe Manchin has failed to act, residents are raising funds to build the kids of Marsh Fork Elementary a safe new school in their own community.

MJS Training Camp, May 20-26 posted April 27, 2006
Hey everybody, Come to the MJS Training Camp in Southern West Virginia to Kick off another great summer of resistance

Heartwood Forest Council and Summit for the Mountains posted April 21, 2006
Join us this Memorial Day Weekend (May 26 - 29) to learn about and celebrate the mountains and forest.

Beyond Coal: Building Healthy Communities in Appalachia posted April 21, 2006
April 28 4pm-7pm & April 29 9am-6pm
What does Appalachia do after coal? Sometime in the near future the Appalachian economy will face an end to the era of coal. Just as with oil and natural gas, experts now predict a "peak" for coal production in the foreseeable future. This conference seeks to discuss the challenges facing Appalachians as economies based on coal transition in the future.

Join us for an engaging lineup of speakers, workshops, and discussions. Conference activities will take place at the historic Hindman Settlement School in the heart of the central Appalachian coal region.

Coal Field Residents to Participate in United Nations Meeting posted March 27, 2006
The first Coal Field Delegation to the United Nations will be attending the U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development this May. A group of ten inspiring Coal Field residents are prepared to take the truth to the UN, but we need your support if we are going to make it.

2006 Student Renewable Energy Conference posted March 22, 2006
April 7th and 8th. Knoxville, TN. Rad Conference.

Black Diamonds, Virginia Premier, April 12 posted March 17, 2006
"...a searing 90-minute documentary. ...mixes history, sociology, advocacy journalism, and personal portraits vividly depicting the catastrophic ecological and cultural effects wrought by mountaintop removal." Michael Yockel, Baltimore Magazine, May 2005.

West Virginia Energy Gathering posted March 6, 2006
Were you wondering how the West Virginia Energy Gathering went? I know I was. We now have a full report back from the amazing, inspirational, and fun weekend. See you there next year.

MJS and Black Mesa posted February 17, 2006
MJS activist, Summer, presented a letter of solidarity on behalf of Mountain Justice to Black Mesa and Big Mountain residents and activists today at the Local to Global Justice Convergence in Phoenix, AZ., where she also gave a presentation about mountain top removal.

CRMW Statement on Sago Mine Tragedy posted January 4, 2006
In light of the recent tragedy at the Sago mines, Coal River Mountain Watch wishes to extend its most heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the fallen miners.

Two Rad Demos in Huntington, WV posted October 8, 2005
Come one, come all! On October nineteenth and twentieth the coal industry's "Coal Quality '05" expo will occur in Huntington West Virginia.

Group says WV Governor broke promise on Marsh Fork Elementary posted October 7, 2005
A citizens’ group and concerned parents of the children at Marsh Fork Elementary School in the Coal River Valley of West Virginia expressed disappointment in Governor Joe Manchin’s decision to drop his investigation of health concerns at the school. The school has gained attention over the summer as residents protested Massey Energy’s coal operations next door.

Music for the Mountains posted August 24, 2005
August 27 is the end of Mountain Justice Summer and you are invited to attend!

MJS Takes on Gordon Gee at Vanderbilt posted August 14, 2005
Today about a dozen mountain defenders from MJS paid a visit to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, home of Chancellor Gordon Gee who sits on the board of directors of Massey.

Protesters Gather at TDEC to Raise Awareness of Mountain Top Removal Mining posted August 11, 2005
On Thursday, August 10th we stormed downtown Nashville with hundreds of flyers, street theater, and the TV news.

Coal Field Resident, Local Activist, Vandalized posted August 10, 2005
Urgent: Donations Needed! Help longtime activist Larry Gibson!

A shameless plea for cash for Mountain Justice Summer posted August 10, 2005
Mountain Justice Summer needs gas cards, copy cards and cash so we can do even more against Mountain Top Removal.

Some Songs for Download! posted August 7, 2005
We had rally today at Zeb Mountain and folks wanted to hear some of the songs that we're sung. Here are two...

Urgent! Request A Hearing Now! posted August 4, 2005
Request a hearing to stop a Tennessee mountaintop mining site before it starts.

Elk Valley Rally Press Advisory posted August 3, 2005
Environmentalists and Citizens Take a Stand Against Mountaintop Mining in Tennessee