Activists occupying WV governor offices

Demanding action on elementary school below coal slurry pond

Posted by David Roberts at 12:59 PM on 16 Mar 2007

Gristmill readers have heard before about Marsh Fork Elementary school, in Raleigh County, West Virginia, perched about 300 feet downhill from a massive, leaking coal refuse dam holding back billions of gallons of toxic coal slurry (click below the fold for a picture).

As we speak, a group of about 60 activists has occupied the office of West Virginia Governor Manchin, demanding that he build a safer school for the Marsh Fork kids. About 11 people have been arrested so far.

For updates on the situation, see this post and watch It's Getting Hot In Here throughout the day.

Marsh Fork Elementary
Photo by Vivian Stockman. That's the school in the lower left.

For story: Activists occupying WV governor offices
4 Comments | Post a Comment

they are not demanding enough

Sure, a new, safe school is important. But the activists should be demanding of the governor much more. He should insist that the mining industry pay abundantly for all environmental and health-related damage that their mining activities have caused; and then, that they pay abundantly for new facilities in compensation, including schools and hospitals, as well as terrain restoration; and then, that they commit themselves to a timetable, and an exit date out of WV.

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

by caniscandida at 1:50 PM on 16 Mar 2007

Governor Appointed Board Overturns Previous Ruling

This was a human rights action for the kids at Marsh Fork Elementary.

Last year the Department of Environmental Protection denied Massey Energy's request to build a SECOND coal silo next to the school because it violated state and federal law.

Curiously, this ruling was overturned Tuesday by the Governor-appointed Surface Mine Board.

I guess when you own the Governor, you own the law.

by EndMTRNow at 6:34 PM on 16 Mar 2007

You Tube video of sit-in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jqENyow0cQ

by hollyriver at 8:22 AM on 17 Mar 2007

Lock

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by inconnii at 7:00 AM on 03 Jul 2007

ADVERTISING POLICY

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