and some progress is made...

Yes, I voted for Obama.
Yes, he's done a few things to disappoint me, such as opening up protected waters to off shore drilling (after insisting it was a terrible idea in his campaign) http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/31/science/earth/31energy.html

But on April 2nd, 2010, he did something that made me really proud, or... his administration did anyways.

The EPA has greatly increased their standards for water quality and proclaims that very few valley fill permits will pass under the new guidelines (regarding water conductivity)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/01/AR2010040102312.html

Granted, this is one.... medium. step (we've been making small ones all along, and while this doesn't solve all our problems, its certainly) in the right direction. We still have huge strides to make, but alas, I am currently incredibly grateful for Lisa Jackson, and the EPA, for taking our neighbors water quality into account.

Thank you! to everyone and anyone that assisted in any fashion, to making this happen!

eastern ky

Last week, my family and I visited family in NC. Before baby #3 was born, I longed to drive through eastern Kentucky on our way home from NC sometime, but it hadn't happened for one reason or another. I really didn't plan or expect for it to happen this time either as baby #3 is still so young and not terribly fond of the car, I figured we'd be better off to just get home as quickly and safely as possible.

Well, the common route, through West Virginia, has a few ever increasing tolls, my husband wanted to avoid them, so we took the secondary route (to NC) which involves driving down I75 to I40, then on over to the coast. Much to our surprise, we were forced to take a detour upon our travels down I40, due to some rock slide which involved us going substantially out of our way. In any case, we arrived on the coast with little delay.

As we started the trek home I checked online to see the status of the rock slide (it seemed like they could just blow up these rocks and shovel 'em over the side or something, thats what they do with entire mountain tops, I couldn't fathom it being bigger than that.) and it seemed as though the though of it being cleared was a distant fantasy, so a long detour was still in the cards (that or tolls, which wasn't even an option at this point).

So we start heading on our detour, when my husband decides to make his own detour through all these small virginia towns. Finally, I proclaim that we should just go on through eastern Kentucky.

I made a deal with myself that there would be no camera involved. No pictures, not even with my phone. I was to take it in, with only my eyes and my mind this time. There will be a next time, I'll make sure of it, and next time, is when the camera comes out.
But this time. This time, I tried to drink it all in.
In some ways, I expected it to be worse. The folks in West Virginia said its much worse (eky) because theyll mine right up to the road side. Based on what i saw, this is partly true. The worst, was when we were on this curvy mountain road, that took us to the top of a hill. From that hill i could look in 3 directions (everywhere but behind) and see, quite clearly, an incredibly unnatural landscape, but there wasn't rubble pushed right up to the asphalt. Yet several miles later, on this same mountain road, we looked out at the most breathtaking landscape in all the world. Nothing but mountains, intact mountains. Clouds nestled in the valleys. It was as if nature made this little perch, on the side of this mountain, seemingly much larger than its surrounding siblings, solely for "us" to come to this point, and look out, and see just how glorious things can be, and are!

The West Virginians also commented on how much less hostile eastern Kentuckians are. Every time we'd have to stop for gas, or to use the rest room, my heart would race. Our hybrid import, slathered with activism stickers, manned by young environmentalists makes no attempts at being discreet in these situations, yet aside from a few cross looks, the worst we got was me overhearing a couple miners comment on how easy it is to say "that" when its not your pay check or what have you. (likely referring to the "topless mountains are obscene sticker") And while i didn't make any attempt to let them know, I can empathize with that. Alas, I married a marine, at my height of disent for the military. Sometimes we compromise a few values, for the sake of maintaining the highest value, feeding our family. There is often a thin line between a job, and a life style, but I can see that line, and i respect those that reside on the job side, even if i don't respect their job.

waste

the other day i was talking with someone that commended my work/activism for MTR.
she mentioned that she was from eastern ky, and her parents live in north eastern ky.

the significance? she mentioned that there was no coal (or at least none worth mining) where her parents currently live, but they still blow up the mountains there. why? for gravel.
as sad as it is that they blow up mountains for gravel, its just one more thing to add to the draw backs of MTR coal mining as far as im concerned.

from an objective point of view. if we HAVE to get the coal, and we HAVE to do it by removing the mountain top, it seems logical (and not only environmentally sound, but also economically) to harvest the trees, but instead theyre dumped over the side (into the streams).
and now that its brought to my attention how gravel is ... harvested? (why had i never thought of this?) all of the shale and sediment below the top soil (which is likely the richest in the nation and could probably be sold as well) could be gathered and sold as well, instead of blowing up completely different mountains for that.

all sorts of birds. one stone.

but instead, we strip forests from one area.
blow up mountains for gravel in another.
and distant from all that, were tossing mountains into valleys for coal.

need a movie to watch?

recently, we watched kilowatt ours (NOTE: the previous link will allow you to watch the complete film.) at the recommendation of a cousin whom i was discussing my documentary goals with.
pretty good film. the first half discuss' a good part of what im trying to cover (though i think the toxicity, use, and misuse of coal ash needs to be covered as well)

so, following that i finished up somethings rising and was duely impressed.
what better way to learn about the history, in addition to current events, in appalachia, than from those who live it? numerous stories, from those best equipped to tell them.
such rich history, makes me jealous that i didnt grow up with that. but alas, i have found my.... "calling"? if you will.

and then, last night, thanks to our local library and someone leaving the search field of "dvd" up without my realizing it, we checked out and began watching harlan county, usa .
which just reinforces the damage coals been doing to this area since long before i was born.

knowledge is power, eventhough ignorance is bliss. i think, that regardless of what you may think or feel, its important to know where your electricity comes from, and what it really costs. your bill puts a monetary value on it, and there is so much more to it than that. coal may very well be cheap. for the power companies that burn it, but so are clothes and toys made in china. everything has its price, even if its not represented in a dollar amount.

larry gibson

i got a few responses today. all very friendly, and fairly informative, but the best one of all...

"Hi Jes my name is Larry Gibson I live on Kayford Mountain. My property is surrounded by mountaintop removal. You can actually see them blowing up the mountains from my property. If you would be interested in coming to West Virginia I would spend time with you and show you all around my mountain. thanks Larry Gibson Keeper of the mountains"

so im really excited about this. west virginia is a bit of a trek, but i have no doubt that it will be worth it, ten fold or better.
now i just have to figure out when would be the best time to go. im terribly impatient, but we cant afford (and i dont want to) to make this just a day trip.

southwings

there is an organization that someone from KFTC told me about, southwings . they have pilots that volunteer time and resources to fly groups and individuals over areas of... concern?
one of them being mountain top removal.
this is great, since coal companies can be very hostile about "their" land. and how else could i capture something of such magnitude on film, but from the air?
so i emailed them last week and anxiously awaited the operations assistants return from vacation/response. heres what i got...

"Thanks for your inquiry. SouthWings is a nonprofit organization supporting conservation efforts across the Southeast through providing access to the aerial perspective for educational purposes. Typically, flight requests must originate with a nonprofit organization. Our pilots are volunteers, and as such we have limited resources available. All requests we receive are reviewed by our flight review committee in order to determine which requests we are able to meet given available volunteer pilot resources. Expected outcome from the flight is the committee’s criteria. Given that our resources are limited, we are not often able to provide flights for documentaries.

Many regional airports have small planes for hire, so this may be an option to consider. Albatross Air out of Beckley, WV can provide you with a plane and pilot for about $130/hour. If you call around to regional airports near the sites you want to visit, there are often similar services available. We have coordinates on file for mine sites near Hazard, KY; Charleston, WV; and a few other areas in Appalachia. While it is unlikely that we could provide you with a flight, we would be happy to share coordinates of mine sites with you. KFTC may be able to help in that regard as well."

so. a little discouraging. so im going to mail the previously mentioned email out to a few groups, hope for some encouragement, and rack my brain for a proposal for southwings, that they cant refuse.

a letter

here i will attempt to write something profound. ok. maybe not. but this is what i will soon forward to every person and organization that i think may be able to assist me, in some way shape or form.

is it too wordy? if anyone would like to edit or critique it before i start to send it out. feel free.

"to whom it may concern,

my name is jessica deis, i am a 27 year old mother of two. i homeschool my oldest, who is almost 8, and in doing so, this has forced me to open my eyes and mind in a new way.
more important that all of that (for this letter anyway) is that i am a professional photographer. i do mostly freelance portrait work, but ive long had an affinity for documentary photography, i guess its just that nothings pulled at me hard enough to motivate me to dedicate the time, money, effort, skills, etc. neccessary... until now.

in august of 2008 me and my family relocated to louisville, ky, and my eyes were opened to the reality that is mountain top removal. i now spend much of my time thinking about and researching this subject, and it tears at me. so ive decided to do a photo documentary on coal. from its source, the mountains, to its destination, the power plants, and everything in between.

i hope to work with residents in appalachia who have experienced the devistation first hand, right on to those affected by power company "ash spills".

not being able to devote every hour to this will no doubt make it a bit more challenging, but im ready to accept that challenge. if you have any sources, information, advice, etc. to offer me, i would be greatly appreciative, and would gladly give credit anywhere i share my work.

thank you for your time,
-jessica"

i love mountains

it was less than a year ago, i had never heard the term "mountain top removal". i barely understood the purpose and dangers surrounding (deep) coal mining.

i was almost ignorant enough to think my electricity came from the energy fairy.

then in august, my little family relocated to louisville, ky. it was here that i recognized my first power plant. scoffing at the giant smoke stacks and nasty smoke billowing out from its tower.

by december, we decided to visit a church. since we dont exactly identify with christianity, we choose a unitarian universalist congregation, first unitarian. and we havnt looked back.

so, from here ill lead you into something ive posted at various other places i "reside" on this mass web of inters.

"i picked up "lost mountain" ... http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Mountain-Erik-Reece/dp/1594489084 at the "louisville loves mountains" ... festival? theres nothing celebratory about it though.

i cant even begin to summarize what all is going on. with the mountains, the coal, the people. not only in this book, everywhere.
heres a photo story of a lady in tenneessee... http://www.alexblackwelder.com/stories.html
she also keeps a livejournal (the lady, not the photographer, though they may as well.)

i wish i had a mountain, i wish below it there were billions of americans, that didnt witness what goes on in them every day. so i could somehow shout down to them what was happening in our nation.

there are zillions of issues. all with valid reasons for concerns. but right now. somehow, this one peaks for me.
no longer do i think much on the nations eating habits. our endless war on "terror", stupid "bailouts". i dont worry much about religious insanity, or prejudice. i can hardly think really. its plaguing my mind. coal. coal is all i think about.

ill thank my "faith", or lack thereof. the "church" we attend, which of course is only valuable because of those in attendance with us. i think one can learn a lot from UUs, including myself. we saw bumper stickers reading things like "topless mountains are obscene", with no clue what they were referencing. at some point we saw a flyer somewhere, touching on mountaintop removal, or "strip mining". and i began to piece it together. began being the operative word.

when my church announced a group going to a "rally" in frankfort (the capital) to encourage legislation forcing coal companies to be slightly more responsible, we joyously went. we walked a mile to the capital steps in an attempt to represent all the miles of streams destroyed (if only 1400 people were in attendance.)

during this rally, listening to people speak, from ashley judd to a young lady that recently moved from an affected area, i learned much more, and came home to continue.

for the first time in my life (that im aware of) i can view the power plant. not only that, but i can see it from the highway, its thick cloud of smoke. i like to think im pretty smart. and i feel confident this stuff cant be good.

i continue to read stories. on the net, in books, from people (those of course involve listening, not reading) and each one tears at my heart.

i am no better than anyone, and anyone no better than me. this earth belongs to each one of us, and beyond. it belongs to the deer, and the snakes, the lady bugs, and the humming birds. even the trees, and carrots, have every right to be here. and sure, its all for the taking, but only take what you can give back. there is no way to give back an entire mountain, no matter how much "energy" provided.
there is no way to give back lives taken by a sludge pond breakage. and id be willing to live in the dark if i thought itd end there.

im small, and im meager. my confidence sits fairly low most days. but im moved. i am brainstorming on how to compile the resources to do a photo documentary on coal. from start (mountains) to finish (power plant) and anyone involved/affected in between.
i long to be as unbiased as i possibly can, while remaining completely raw. draw your own conclusions. just know that knowledge is power.

if you wish to provide ANY form of support in my journey (from spiritual cheerleaders, to linking me someone with a first hand encounter, to helping me apply for grants) i would be forever grateful.

although, my only goal with this is to open eyes and minds. i am in no way searching for financial gain."