RPCV Mike Tidwell of Chesapeake Climate Action Network to discuss the lethal impacts of coal from inner-city D.C. to rural W.Va
Paying the Price for Coal: West Virginia and D.C. Victims of Coal Power Join for Dramatic, Unprecedented Appeal
10/12/2004 1:22:00 PM
To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor
Contact: Mike Tidwell of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, 240-460-5838, Gary Skulnik of the Clean Energy Partnership, 301-754-0430
News Advisory:
WHAT: A press conference with visuals
WHO: Dr. Cindy Parker of Johns Hopkins University, Maria Gunnoe of Coal River Mountain Watch in West Virginia, Eric Schaeffer, Director of the Environmental Integrity Project, Gary Skulnik of the Clean Energy Partnership, Mike Tidwell of Chesapeake Climate Action Network
WHEN: Wednesday, October 13, 2004 at 1 p.m.
WHERE: Howard University Hospital Emergency Room entrance (front sidewalk), 2041 Georgia Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20060
WHY: To discuss the lethal impacts of coal from inner-city D.C. to rural W.Va.
In a dramatic and unprecedented public appeal, West Virginia victims of coal mining methods will stand side by side with advocates of D.C. children who suffer from coal-induced air pollution, both sides carrying the same message: Coal kills people and ecosystems all across our region. The first-of-its- kind event outside the Howard University Emergency Room Oct. 13 marks the launch of a regional campaign to highlight the staggering and multi-faceted impacts of coal on our lives.
Mountaintop removal is quickly becoming the top choice for mining coal. It is a particularly harmful form of coal mining that destroys ecosystems, fouls local communities, and costs jobs. Subsequent burning of that coal for electricity produces four major pollutants - mercury, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide. These pollutants, plus fine particulate matter, are causing major health problems, poisoning our Bay and contributing to global warming.
Health, faith, environmental and community activists are coming together with elected leaders to demand an end to mountaintop removal mining and to initiate a clean-up of our local power plants. The focus is on the Mirant corporation and its four coal-fired power plants surrounding DC -- in Alexandria, VA, Charles County, MD, Montgomery County, MD and Prince George's County, MD. These plants play a major role in our air pollution problems and our area's demand for coal that's spurring mountaintop removal in Appalachia.
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