So there's this story in the New York Times, reporting on a recent protest in West Virginia against mountaintop removal methods of coal mining. Apparently Hansen says "coal is the number 1 issue," in reference, of course, to the climate crisis.
Hansen is big time. He's the guy who reported way back in the 80's what I've been talking about more and more for years now: catastrophic climate change is the biggest, most serious problem facing us today. It will affect our lives more drastically, for better for worse, than any other socio-political issue out there. It's really leaning toward the worst, and Dr. Hansen was one of the first ones to make this news public.
Here's the New York Times Article (6/23/09).
And here's some video footage (awesome!) But there is so much opposition from those whose livelihoods rely on coal. But it's not so good for health -- in fact, the health care costs and other related downsides of having all this coal mining and coal production and coal burning far outweigh the benefits, such as employment, and commerce. According to researchers at West Virginia University,
"Coal mining costs Appalachians five times more in early deaths as the industry provides to the region in jobs, taxes and other economic benefits, according to a groundbreaking new study co-authored by a West Virginia University researcher." (Charleston Gazette, 6/20/2009). I found this through good ol' Dave Roberts at grist.org.
The situation is so backwards that coal just got named the official state rock... I kid you not (here's the story, West Virginia Gazette, 6/2/09).
Fight the good fight, sir. My hat off to you, Dr. Hansen. Still one of my biggest heroes.
PS: Daryl Hannah got arrested, too. That is awesome.
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