Charlotte banner tells Bank of America: stop funding coal!
At six am this morning (EDT) four intrepid RAN-ites scaled a crane outside Bank of America’s headquarters in Charlotte North Carolina and dropped a banner announcing: “Bank of America: Funding Coal, Killing Communities”.
In full view of all their employees, the banner sent a powerful message to America’s largest bank that being one of the top financiers of coal and climate change is unacceptable business. Charlotte hasn’t seen civil disobedience since the Vietnam war, so the event shut down the city center for a while - but the disruption was nothing compared to what residents of the coalfields are experiencing every day. This action happened on the same day as a public hearing for Duke Energy in Raleigh is expected to draw serious opposition to a planned coal-fired power plant and just days before hearings for the Stream Buffer Zone rule in Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee. Big Coal is having a rough week, and it’s our job to make sure that the money behind them feels the pressure too. We think we succeeded. More info here.
UPDATE: check out the video after the break.
77 Responses to “Charlotte banner tells Bank of America: stop funding coal!”
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October 23rd, 2007 at 2:55 pm
You people are a bunch of nutjobs. I hope your group and these “activists” are sued for the loss of business in disrupting Charlotte.
October 23rd, 2007 at 3:27 pm
You guys are really smart! Keep traffic tied up for 2 hours - hmmmmm, now that doesn’t cause pollution, does it? Keep it up, morons! Pretty soon NO ONE will give a damn about the cause!
October 23rd, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Since you deleted my last post, I’ll add another. Long and short of it, I live in Charlotte and am a former 3rd generation coal miner. Your arguements carry no merit. Coming from some one who knows the business of coal mining and reclaimation laws, you are just making people angry. Laura and Didier are both right. I am directly effected by the jobsite you trespassed on. Because a bunch of hippies think coal mining is bad doesn’t mean you have to interrupt an entire city. Some people have too much to say. If you think you will recieve a positive response from this, you are all crazy.
October 23rd, 2007 at 3:59 pm
Way to go RAN. Didier, Laura, and Jeremy - sorry you were inconvenienced but the fact of the matter is that business can no longer go on as usual - particularly when it comes to coal. The fact is that Al Gore and James Hansen have been calling for civil disobedience on this issue for a while - and its great to see RAN stepping up. What about the “inconvenience” caused by Katrina, the Southern California drought and wildfires, or rapidly disappearing sea ice in the Arctic?
PS - Good luck with Testaverde at QB. You guys even having fossils playing on your team!
October 23rd, 2007 at 4:37 pm
I’d just like to respond to Didier, Laura and Jeremy that as someone at the action this morning that I am really sorry your morning commute and worksite were impacted by our action, but my friends in the coalfields of Appalachia and in native communities in the southwest are directly “inconvenience” by the policies of Bank of America and the coal companies they fund. They deal with poisoned groundwater, flooding and destruction of their homes by these coal companies. Children sleep in their clothes in case their homes are flooded in the middle of the night. Activists challenging and winning struggles against big coal are threatened and terrorized by big coal’s supporters. They’ve had their homes burned and the pets killed by companies supported by Bank of America (and I am sure some of them will comment soon).
It’s a shame that instead of looking at the reasons our activists put their lives on the line this morning, you instead name call and ignore why we were there.
October 23rd, 2007 at 4:58 pm
I live in the Coal River Valley, WV, directly below a mountain top removal site. My family has lived on this property since the mid 1800’s. My father was a coal miner. My grandfathers were coal miners. Most all my Uncles were coal miners and to this day I have a lot of cousins who are coal miners. Mountain top removal is not “coal mining”. In southern WV alone nearly 4 million pounds of explosives are used daily to destroy our mountains, our water, our property, and our communities. We are being terrorized. So I am sorry if anyone in Charlotte was inconvenienced today, but we, living this nightmare are inconvenienced everyday.
Everyone in the mid-atlantic and southeast should be concerned about this illegal form of mining. These are the headwater source streams that are being poisoned with heavy metals and toxins from this absurd form of coal extraction. These are the headwater source of your drinking water.
Thanks RAN, please keep it up. This injustice has gone on far too long.
Link to youtube for those that care about themselves and their families. Not for the weak of mind who have been dumbed down by greed and the Bush Administration.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mFtA9268yg
October 23rd, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Way to go guys! I live in Logan WV and have seen the destruction of mountain top removal first hand. There is nothing more tragic. It has taken away so many union jobs and it is permanently destroying the beauty, ecology, and culture of Appalachia. These greedy coal barons and their financiers must be stopped.
Thank You!!!!
October 23rd, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Dear Didier, Laura and Jeremy.
In the immortal words of Don West to Dr. Smith on Lost in Space as the Jupiter three hurtled towards the sun.
“The best thing about this Smith, will be watching you fry!”
How F-ing stupid are you going to look in three years when the effects of Coal-burnings contribution to global warming has become fully realized.
On second thought as I turn on the NIghtly news on any channel and watch california burning you’re looking pretty stupid already. And lest you argue that such flames have more to do with years of forest fire mismanagement (yes, partly) consider this article from the weekends NYTimes:
The Future is drying up!
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/21/magazine/21water-t.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
If the link doesn’t work then simply Google “Atlanta water supply”
Sleep tight ,
You morons
October 23rd, 2007 at 5:27 pm
Give me a break. I’ve been to Logan also. Most of what you see now is the corridor work coming through and I don’t hear anyone compaining about how easy it is to get to Charleston. BofA had nothing to do with Katrina or any other natural disaster. You people just need something to complain about. If it isn’t the coal mines, it’s the war or something. If you want to be productive, quit complaining and find a new means to energy. And Brad, your town was founded on coal mines. Mines have strong stipulations now on how things are run. If they aren’t followed, I agree there should be fines. It’s not up to BofA to police them. Do your homework.
As far as Vinny goes, well, he’ll do in a pinch I guess.
October 23rd, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Wow…you are really proud of yourselves. Pat yourself on the back. The Center City was shut down for a while only to get you dorks off of the crane. It was shut down because anyone cared about what you were doing. And what a powerful message…no one can tell me what the banner said without looking at your pictures. Now all of the people performing their jobs at BOA who have no decision making ability about how BOA invests money got a chance to see your monkeys swinging from the crane. You should be mighty proud. And you changed so much.
Oh - Kretzamn…have you seen Gore’s house in TN? Might want to burn some coal to keep that thing heated and cooled.
October 23rd, 2007 at 5:41 pm
I hope that these guys have to pay the City of Charlotte for the firefighters and police manhours that were totally wasted. If you care so much about the environment, figure out something better than coal. I bet each of you turned the lights on this morning, took a hot bath and probably ate a hot meal today. Without coal today that would not have happened. I am sure there are solutions for the future, however this today. So… thanks for the coal WV.
October 23rd, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Steve Kretzmann Says:
October 23rd, 2007 at 3:59 pm
“Way to go RAN. Didier, Laura, and Jeremy - sorry you were inconvenienced but the fact of the matter is that business can no longer go on as usual - particularly when it comes to coal.”
I guess it’s ok to trespass on other’s property, tie up traffic (which creates more pollution as Laura aptly states), use fire and police resources (also a source of pollution with those big firetrucks)and create a safety hazard for your “activists” and others trying to get them safe, all that just to make a point.
I had never heard of this nutcase group, but they remind me of ELF. When are you guys going to burn some Hummers?
Steve, if you don’t want business as usual then go elect some liberal politicians with some nads to change the laws. Looks like the present Democratic congress is too focused on the utterances of Rush Limbaugh and events that occurred in Turkey 95 years ago to worry about pollution from coal plants.
This silly yet dangerous stunt will do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to advance the cause of this wacko group. In fact, it will be seen with more disdain.
Good point Brian, if the law allows I hope the City of Charlotte will sue these wackos and their sponsor for the costs incurred by these idiots.
October 23rd, 2007 at 6:23 pm
Let me just add that I work for a General Contractor in Charlotte and have worked first hand on Bank of America construction projects. BofA does ALOT to conserve energy and to reuse materials. Ever heard of LEED? Why don’t you look into that and see the efforts BofA makes to preserve our environment.
This has nothing to do with a morning commute that was interrupted; I don’t commute through Uptown. This has to do with the absolute absurdity of elevating air pollution to hang a banner off a crane. Nobody says that you don’t have a point - it’s your methods that turn people off. Civil disobedience? What is civil about hanging from a banner and refusing to come down because you know you will be arrested? Civil is discussing the issue at hand. Civil is healthy debate.
I agree with Brian - you should have to contribute money or volunteer yor time to the firefighters and policemen who could have spent their time more wisely. Thanks for wasting our tax dollars RAN. You make me ashamed to say admit I was once a member.
October 23rd, 2007 at 6:30 pm
“Activists challenging and winning struggles against big coal are threatened and terrorized by big coal’s supporters. They’ve had their homes burned and the pets killed by companies supported by Bank of America (and I am sure some of them will comment soon).”
Comments are fine Scott, but I’d like to see proof. Would you or some of our buddies who will comment soon please link police reports citing terrorism, arson, and animal cruelty perpetrated by “big coal supporters”?
Finally, do you think breaking the law, obstructing commerce, and using important resources like fire and police protection is an effective means of making a statement?
October 23rd, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Ok Brian, here’s a direct response to your post. We already have something better than coal. It is in the form of solar power, wind power, and even better, eco-friendly buildings. Your comment “Without coal today that would not have happened,” is remarkably false. Who says that you need to turn the lights on in the morning, and who is to say that came from coal? Have you ever heard of solar heated water? Have you every heard of cold meals, or even meals heated with fire from wood not coal! OMG!!! Look, I just gave you some other options.
Oh and Bob, did you happen to notice all of the press on this topic? So what if people were too far away to see what the banner said, they sure did show it up close on the news!!
I hope you all realize that even though businesses were inconvineced for a while this morning, they will survive. Also, if traffic was stopped, what you do is turn off your engine, step out of the car, and enjoy the fresh(er) air. Oh and when you do that, you save money!!! OMG! IT’S AMAZING!!!
You say that workers at BofA have no say in what the company invests in, and while you may not have a direct say, you ALWAYS have a voice. We’re letting the voice be heard of those in Appalachia. The problem that those who posted negatively on this article don’t realize, is that this nation is apathetic to issues that don’t affect them directly. People are dying, people are having their lively hoods destroyed, but you don’t care because it’s not you.
OWN UP TO YOUR ACTIONS AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Peace… (Please?)
October 23rd, 2007 at 6:33 pm
hi folks… i’m the crane operator who got there at 6:20 this morning and thought somebody had hung theirself (suicide type) from my crane… thanx for the early morning rush… had you a worthy cause (say, unjust war, predatory mortgages, even irs) or something along those lines i may have even helped pull your crap up there… but if your small minds can’t come up with a better one than that, enjoy you stay in Char/Meck’s finest downtown bars (at the jail) rick
October 23rd, 2007 at 6:39 pm
To the Charlotte residents who express such disdain for the demonstrators, a history lesson: “You deplore the demonstrations taking place … But your statement, I am sorry to say, fails to express a similar concern for the conditions that brought about the demonstrations. I am sure that none of you would want to rest content with the superficial kind of social analysis that deals merely with effects and does not grapple with underlying causes. It is unfortunate that demonstrations are taking place … but it is even more unfortunate that the … power structure left the … community with no alternative.” — From Martin Luther King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail, 1963
October 23rd, 2007 at 6:41 pm
Cente - let me get this straight - you are speaking on behalf of the RAINFOREST ACTION NETWORK and suggest people use WOOD as a heat source to prepare their meals?
October 23rd, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Joe - Who from the Charlotte community was hanging from a banner? Oh, that’s right - NO ONE.
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Admittedly not from Charlotte, America’s coal belt still effects me - its nitric and sulfuric emissions bathe our forests and acid rain and bleach our lakes free off fish. Sure, coal kills communities, I have friends from the region who’ve seen it firsthand. But its also bigger than that, and we have to step outside our regional microcosm.
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Should’ve mentioned, I’m from the Northeast (Upstate NY and Rhode Island) - we receive the brunt of the rest of the country’s air pollution.
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Joe, for you to compare the civil rights struggle and quotes by MLK Jr. to the investment decisions of a bank in the production of electricity is a slap in the face to the civil rights struggle. Use a better analogy please.
Here is my question again: do you think breaking the law, obstructing commerce, and using important resources like fire and police protection is an effective means of making a statement?
Cente, I have used solar heated water in Africa. It works in the late afternoon and early evening. Do you suggest we adopt a water heating method whereby hot water is only available at this time? Don’t know about you, but I like AM showers.
I’ve eaten cold meals, but I prefer my steak cooked thank you.
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Laura — If you understood the conditions in the coal fields, you wouldn’t make a joking reference to lynching. There are great injustices going on right now. That is why protests are taking place. Cant you show some sympathy with the people who suffer, whose tapwater runs black, whose children are hit by boulders, who work in grotesque conditions risking their lives?
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Stephanie, I believe that this is an issue. My problem is the methods being used to raise public awareness. I would much rather see some type of forum held by the ‘experts’ on how the everyday average American family can make inexpensive and realistic changes that would protect the environment. Sure, solar panels on every home would be great, but how realistic is that? I know I can’t afford to do it and most likely neither can most American families. If I can - let me know how! Just keep in mind that I have a family to feed - and food on the table for my children comes before major renovations made to my home. Unfortunately, a lot of people see the protest as a ‘left-wing liberal stunt’ and it won’t cause them to delve deeper into the issue.
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:24 pm
Joe - where is the reference to lynching? Fact: people were SUSPENDED (also known as hanging) from the crane.
“It is unfortunate that demonstrations are taking place … but it is even more unfortunate that the … power structure left the … community with no alternative.”
My point was that no one in the Charlotte community felt they had no other alternative in raising awareness about this issue than to suspend themselves 70+ feet in the air. Even more to the point, MLK never would have suspended himself from anything to get his point across. He traveled and he spoke with people. He did not resort to this type of behavior and I seriously doubt he would condone it. There is nothing wrong with protesting. I encourage everyone to question authority and to speak out on their beliefs - especially when they feel an injustice is being brought upon others.
Lynching? You need to calm down a bit.
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:56 pm
Agenda- 10/23/07
1. Raise awareness of BofA’s investments. Check.
2. Raise awareness of RAN. Check.
3. Piss off crotchety Charlotteans. Check.
If these guys are so crazy, why are you on their website? Mike Hayden is probably tracking you now. Don’t let the folks at the club find out.
Favorite quote: “Charlotte hasn’t seen civil disobedience since the Vietnam war”
PS, drove down College St. at 8am, looked fine to me.
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Check that:
Favorite quote: “Even more to the point, MLK never would have suspended himself from anything to get his point across”
Ha.
October 23rd, 2007 at 8:31 pm
so honestly, i love this action i think it was brilliant. and to those other guys who think that we are just a bunch of hippies who arent in the coal feilds, im sorry but i have been there, and even for those of us who havent been there, we all drink water and breathe air, there for we are all directly effected by this. and to say that some people have too much to say, well i may be one of those people, but what about the ones who have nothing to say? what about the ones who call protesters morons for fighting for what they belive in. im sorrry that your silly little daily commute to the office, or star bucks, or to little sally’s ballet lesson was postponed, but honestly was it that important?
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Arguments like this always seem to follow actions that people don’t understand. Perhaps it is partially the activists who need to convey their message more clearly, but it also requires the folks who complain about the action to think about the true intentions rather than the negative implications. Of course every action has the potential to create negatives, but but you have to look at the bigger picture. This action was intended to stir things up at a busy time of day with a risky banner drop. RAN wanted people who can’t see that far up to talk about it all day and find out what the banner said from the media and from their friends. They wanted people to be in awe of the extent to which people will go to get the word out that there is a problem is Appalachia.
Also, it is very important to recognize that actions like this are not meant to be quick solutions. They are tactics for escalation of important issues that are being worked from other angles in the meantime. In fact, there’s a whole range of different uses for an action like this that can help pick up where other tactics let off.
Regardless of how these people spend their energy fighting king coal, the real question you have to ask yourself is: do you even care? Is there something you could do to help too? Clearly, help is needed and there’s no use in people bickering over strategy especially after the action is over.
October 24th, 2007 at 3:18 am
“Arguments like this always seem to follow actions that people don’t understand.”
Agreed, I don’t understand why these four feel justified in breaking the law, using city fire and police resources, and tying up traffic, thereby causing more pollution. Actions by groups like this normally have unintended consequences like that.
October 24th, 2007 at 4:22 am
Save Darfur, join a Facebook group.
October 24th, 2007 at 4:42 am
Kudos to those brave folks who have taken a stand for the people of Appalachia, and whether you know it or not for you too! I live in the coalfields, and I know first hand the devastation caused by Mountain Top Mining. For those of you who are too ignorant to understand the situation, that is your problem for not being informed. You complain of a little inconvenience for one day, but we live with it everyday, from behemoth coal trucks hogging the roads, to the flooding from a couple of inches of rain. Our lives have totally been disrupted everyday so you folks can have “cheap” dirty energy. You would be better off letting the banking industry know that it is more wise to invest in clean alternatives than funding this devastating form of mining. Whether you know it or not, you are suffering from burning fossil fuels too, and your children will suffer even more in the years to come. Wake up and get your head out of the sand. The climate is changing, and it is past time to start looking to cleaner more efficient forms of energy. By the way, so sorry your morning was disrupted, our lives are disrupted every single everyday.
October 24th, 2007 at 6:25 am
Ok yeah I said to burn wood. What was in my mind at the time is dead wood from trees that have shed their branches and/or died for some reason or another. There are so many different ways to heat food. Oh and I’ve never heard of steak being a breakfast food?
As for everyone who is complaining about the tie up in business and traffic, LOOK AT THE MESSAGE NOT THE ACTION! You’re complaining about the people and while it was inconvient, SO WHAT!?! People are dying, people are haveing their homes destroyed, the land is being destroyed beyond recognition, and you’re upset that four people tied up traffic, had fire fighters take them down, and got arrested. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you all just want something to complain about. If that’s the case, complain about MTR, and the injustices that are happening to the people of Appalachia.
Oh and on the comment about the price of solar, when you invest in a technology, and it becomes easier to produce, the prices usually go down ove time!
Also, didn’t MLK have people hating him for what he was doing too?
We’re not expecting this to be an immediate change, we’re trying to build a sustainable future by resolving the problems of today.
Look at the big picture and stop complaining about your “inconvience” and “loss of business.”
Peace
October 24th, 2007 at 6:29 am
Hooray,
Strong messages do inconvenience people. Otherwise who will pay attention to the destruction of our mountains and communities here in Appalachia?
If folks were not inconvenienced they would not stop to pay attention.
The destruction and rape of our mountains is more important than a days worth of business. Complaining about being incovenienced only shows a lack of awareness.
You should thank the people of Appalachia every time you turn on the light or start your car!
Why would one think folks would take such a drastic measure and risk their safey to put up a banner like this? Think about it!
October 24th, 2007 at 6:38 am
I live in a community where the coal companies are poisoning us, blasting us, trespassing on our property and destroying our property. A million thanks to RAN for standing up for us and for our children’s future. People have to sacrifice now to save our children’s lives. The people stuck in traffic should have got out of their cars and cheered and supported RAN. Charlotte is using the coal that has our blood on it, The people of Charlotte’s children is being poisoned with mercury and air pollution from coal fired power plants. Get with it people, we have to act now and stop this. If you don’t want to be held up again, then help us stop the destruction. You people have rights and freedom because people like RAN stood up for you. THE ONLY THING STANDING BETWEEN YOU AND POISON AIR AND WATER IS ORGANIZATIONS LIKE RAN.
October 24th, 2007 at 6:44 am
To Laura @ October 23rd, 2007 at 6:23 pm: It is naïve and incorrect to assume that BoA makes efficiency decisions based on altruistic motives. It quite simply comes down to return on investment. BoA’s motives are the acquisition of wealth, the protection of that wealth and leveraging that wealth to generate additional wealth – regardless of how the costs of obtaining that wealth are externalized onto the rest of us.
Spinning voracious greed to make it appear as anything else is the job of their marketing and PR departments and politicians. The job of those who have taken a step back from the minutia of daily tasks to understand the externalized costs of BoA’s profits is to expose the leaders of global financial institutions such as BoA and Citibank for what they are – mentally ill from greed, knowingly and willfully destroying communities throughout Appalachia for profit and actively pushing the climate beyond its ability to recover. If you don’t understand the severity and urgency of what we are facing globally and regionally, then you have not looked at the scientific data or heard the stories coming out of the coalfields. Before you superficially judge the actions of people who have the courage to stand up and put their life and freedom on the line for you (for us all), take the time to educate yourself on the reality beyond your morning commute.
October 24th, 2007 at 6:44 am
Laura, have you not heard of using biomass as a fuel? There are many options out there instead of using fossil fuels. Yes my dear, you can fry your eggs and bacon from energy other than from coal fired plants. Get some education and stop living in the dark ages
October 24th, 2007 at 7:22 am
Thanks guys. My heart swelled one size bigger when I saw that banner!
October 24th, 2007 at 8:57 am
For the people who feel that their lives were “disrupted” for the short time that the banner was being placed, try living here where the fuel for your blow dryers and microwaves and big flat screen televisions is being extracted. You don’t have any idea what “disruption” even means. I live in the middle of the area that makes it possible for you to have the luxuries that you so enjoy in your life and believe me it is not pleasant. The bank that was being protested is a heavy financier of this horrendous mining practice. We live with poisoned water and air. Our homes are being destroyed and our dead can’t even rest in peace, cemeteries have been bulldozed and desecrated. So spare me with your pitiful whining about the little inconvenience on your part for one day. Good on those folks who were brave enough to do this. It seems like something like what they did is the only thing that will get your nose out of your own selfish life and realize that other people exist but you. We used to travel through Charlotte from time to time, but that city will never see another red cent from my family. If everyone who cares about the environment would stop travelling through your city, maybe you would get the message.
October 24th, 2007 at 9:02 am
Laura, you complained about being held up in traffic for two hours and the fuel that was wasted. Well I want you to know something, now put this in your little book so your little mind won’t forget it, just one piece of large equipment on an MTR site uses 80 gallons of fuel and HOUR! That is 24 hours a day 7 days a week, so spare me your concern about the fuel used in a two hour traffic jam!
October 24th, 2007 at 9:33 am
I would like to address the comments made about the protesters breaking the law and how they should pay. I live in Tn. near one of the largest mountaintop removal mines in the state and have turned in citizens complaints for violations by the coal company operating on Zeb mtn. Several of the violations resulted in fines for the coal company. To this day most of the violations have been appealed and the fines not paid or the coal company refused to admit that there was a violation at all and thumbed their nose at the state regulatory agency. There are violations that are years old that have never been remediated because the coal company appears to be above the law. Try living with your well water turning black and orange, watching the school bus compete with coal trucks for room on narrow winding mountain roads and knowing your complaints and fears are falling on the deaf ears of the state and federal agencies that are supposed to protect your life and property. while the coal company is getting away with violation after violation. Thanks to RAN for drawing attention to the plight of the coalfields.
October 24th, 2007 at 9:43 am
Wow! All y’all naysayers sure do have a lot of time on your hands to spend so much of it commenting here. I wish I had more time but while taking care of four children and their grandmother I work my hind end in to the ground to ensure there will be a future in these mountains for those children, who, by the way, go to school in the shadow of a coal silo and at the base of a 385 foot earthen dam plum full with toxic coal waste that was cited multiple times by MSHA for improper construction.
I am sorry that you may have been inconvenienced and I do mean that, but please, put yourself in our shoes for just one moment and realize that no person in this nation should have to live the way we do so that others can live in relative comfort. Not when alternative technologies DO exist. I, for one and grateful that the brave folks at Rainforest Action Network would be willing to go to such great lengths to send such a strong message to Bank of America that coal does kill communities and that the time is here to invest in sustainable (and some might say sane) solutions!!!
October 24th, 2007 at 9:47 am
I forgot to mention that the mountaintop removal and coal processing site located behind the school the girls go to every day is owned and operated by Massey Energy which is heavily funded by none other than Bank of America.
October 24th, 2007 at 9:53 am
Your arguments are the same when Rosa Parks committed civil disobediance.
“Ms. Parks–sure this bus thing is bad–but you tied up police resources doing this, and some peoples trip to work was interrupted.”
These people are AMERICANS in the truest since of the word. I get the feeling some of yall would of screamed about the Boston Tea Party if you had been around.
“That was private tea! and that corporation did nothing to deserve that treatment.”
There is nothing more american that demonstrations and actions against corporations. The American revolution was a war against colonialism which was set up on a corporate basis–the first states where British corporations.
Dissent is American. Sure a sheeple or two was distraught that there are still people with backbones in the tradition of Franklin, Jefferson and the rest–but I am proud that people willing to put their lives on the line for what they believe still exist. If we had more Americans like this we wouldn’t be caught in a sucking bloodbath guerilla war in Iraq right now.
We need more Americans like this, and less sheeple who bah cause it hurts there necks to see people expressing there first amendment rights against corporate power in a way that the architects of the constitution would recognize and salute.
October 24th, 2007 at 10:27 am
My husband was born and raised in Logan and still has family that lives there. Believe me building that highway is nothing compared to the devastation of MTR. We still live in the coalfields and my husband is a disabled miner, so there is NOTHING you naysayers can say about mining that we don’t know about, and nothing you say about RAN that can sway my support for them and their cause.
I bet that Didier, Laura and Jeremy and rest of the naysayers all are people who run and hide under their beds at the very word terrist (Bush speak), and have stocked up on duct tape and plastic sheeting, but they are totally ignoring the huge horrible monster at their very door. The huge energy conglomerates and the banks that fund them with our government’s blessing. What good is duct tape and plastic going to do when all the water is gone or is so polluted that you can’t drink or bathe in it? What good is it when the air is poisoned by the good old USA corporations instead of the terrists as Bush calls them. You had better look around. Your worst enemies are the ones who you think are your friends. They are the ones putting a knife in your back, not the ones trying to save the planet.
THANK YOU RAN!!!!!!!
October 24th, 2007 at 10:37 am
Thank you RAN. Where I live in WV, the coal companies that Bank of America funds routinely violate environmental and safety regulations, sometimes get caught, and then negotiate a settlement for a fraction of the fine years later. It’s all just the cost of doing business, a cost that BofA is financing as part of their investments. In effect, BofA is making money from illegal activity. Isn’t that organized crime or racketeering? The people who should have been arrested were the ones wearing suits in comfortable offices at BofA and not the ones bringing BofA’s crimes out into the open. These are real crimes with real victims–children breathing coal dust in class at Marsh Fork Elementary School, people drowned in floods, retired folks whose homes they’ve worked for their whole lives rendered worthless by blankets of coal dust, etc. Thanks RAN for holding these criminals accountable, because our government agencies only seem interested in enabling more mountaintop removal and climate crisis.
October 24th, 2007 at 10:58 am
Thanks RAN, for taking the time to shake up Charlotte and helping the people in the coalfields. We all appreciate your efforts more than you can ever know.
October 24th, 2007 at 11:20 am
Congratulations RAN! Thank you for harmlessly disrupting the day-to-day bustle to get people to THINK about something besides where to park. This includes y’all, Didier, Laura, & friends!
Appalachia appreciates each and every one of these actions.
October 24th, 2007 at 11:26 am
I am one of the climbers from Tuesday’s action at Bank of America on Tuesday and I would like to contribute one of my personal reasons for participating in this campaign. One of my close friends is named Kerry “Chad” Albright. I had the distinct pleasure of working with Chad for a few years in New York City. Chad was born in Buffalo Creek, WV, a tiny, Appalachian mining “town” which is probably more of a network of country shacks sparsely strewn throughout what was once a pristine mountain valley. When Chad was just 9 months old a dam containing coal sludge (yes, it’s technically called “sludge”) from the nearby mines burst releasing a sludge flood through the valley. Chad’s mother was home with his older, 5 year old sister while his father was deep below the earth in a nearby coal mine. The flood was so huge and severe that Chad’s mom grabbed he and his sister before it consumed their home. She was running for higher ground up the valley with Chad in one arm and his sister by the hand when the flood reached them. His mother knew that she and his sister would not make it so as the sludge enveloped them she threw baby Chad by the leg as far as she could up the valley wall. When officials later surveyed the sludge lake that was once the valley they heard what they thought was a cat’s cry coming from what looked like the leg of a baby doll protruding from the black waste. When they hauled the leg from the muck it turned out to be baby Chad’s nearly severed leg hanging by sinew and a few ligaments. They cleared the mostly dead baby’s air passages of sludge and took him to a nearby shack farther up the valley wall to await it’s impending death.
Officials summoned Chad’s father from the mine to inform his him wife and daughter were dead and his only son would soon join them. The baby wasn’t breathing when his father stepped through the door and breathed his son’s name, “Kerry?”
At the sound of his father’s voice, Chad began to cry, the first noise he had made since the “cat’s cry”. Chad was taken to the closest hospital miles away where his leg was amazingly reattached. Chad’s survival earned him the local celebrity of the “Buffalo Creek Disaster Miracle Baby” which is still celebrated annually to this day. Chad’s father retired from the mine to raise the only surviving member of his family alone, never remarrying in the wake of his grief. It goes without saying that “Mr. Mom” is no small miracle in itself for a back country mountain coal miner from West Virginia. Chad eventually grew up to become a professional dancer follow his dream all the way to New York City where we met. He is probably dancing in a Broadway show bringing joy to untold masses even as I write this.
So you see, I have deeply personal, very real reasons for behavior which may seem to some as “extreme”. So I ask, what is more extreme: hanging a piece of cloth from a crane, or the above story and the myriad other detriments that come from coal, the techniques used to mine it, and institutions like Bank of America who continue to fund such physically and emotionally devastating ecocide?
When I was on that crane, about to go over the edge in the soft morning light, I said a prayer for safety and justice. “This is for Chad”, I prayed. “This is for Chad’s mom and big sister whom he never had the joy to know.” But most of all it truly was for every current resident of these communities and the victims who continue to suffer at the behest of greed and industry, for, sadly, stories like Chad’s are not uncommon. His is just one of millions that persist to this day. SO for anyone who still doesn’t understand why we engage these campaigns, I implore you to seek more truth and separate the facts from the fiction. Oh, and sorry about the delay on your way to work…
October 24th, 2007 at 11:36 am
Jeremy: As a 3rd generation miner you should have a better understanding that coal towns were not built by coal, or even coal companies, but by the blood and sweat of miners. The vast majority of the wealth created in the process was removed from the communities entirely to corporate financial centers and coal barons and executives wallets. Currently around 80% of land in coal producing counties in WV is owned by individuals and corporations form outside the area. There is broad consensus among academics,journalists, and laypeople that mining regulation efforts have failed to prevent widespread degradation of environmental quality and human health in Appalachia (this also includes deep miners as seen by new Black Lung stats released by the NIH). Any “fines” incurred (which are rare and more than 3/4 of fines are reduced upon appeal) are insufficient to decontaminate local water, heal the sickend, or restore the economic potential of tourism, forestry (this is Bill Maxey form head of WV forestry argument and why he resigned in protest), and wind power could produce forever on those ridges.
Dieder and Laura: If you think that civil rights, women’s suffrage, or any social progress has occurred without trespassing, breaking laws, or inconveniencing people you don’t know history. Liberal politicians have never brought change of their own initiative (Kennedy opposed the march and rally at which MLK gave his most famous speech), it has always been people the people in the streets. Marches and protests also close streets, occupy public servants, and disrupt normal business patterns. Panels of experts do not communicate to the public, and are not generally a driving force of change by themselves.
It is not the people of Charlette who are affected by policies and investments of BoA in question here but the poor communities in Appalachia, and it is they who do not have to power to plead their case. BoA’s responsible investments do not excuse their immoral ones. I do not believe RAN intended to target the workers at BoA or has any hostility toward them. It is the executives and the clients of BoA who have the decision making influence. Although BoA undoubtably faces market pressures, renewable clean energy is another investment opportunity for that money. The question we must ask ourselves is whether our desire for cheap power, conveniences, or our own needs to provide for ourselves and our families justifies practices which deny health and security to others.
The relative expense of renewable clean energy is distorted by the external nature of many of the costs of coal and the unequal distribution of who pays those external costs in life and limb. http://www.mountainjusticesummer.org provides links to reports of violence. The nature of coalfield communities does not lend itself to formal documentation of all crimes (see extensive work by sociologist John Gaventa and others. Evidence also indicates the lower priced coal produced by environmental destructive mining methods places market pressures on underground mines to cut corner on health and safety in favor of competitive production.
It is a FACT that mountaintop removal cannot take place without extensive loans and financing. Therefore those who make the loans are materially involved and bear responsibility. BoA is under no obligation to continue funding coal, Wells Fargo dropped Massey Energy and so can they.
October 24th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
nice post Ryan & nice job everyone who was part of the action! I wish I could have been there!
I know that everyone who took part did so because of their belief in justice and basic human rights. I challenge those naysayers to get over the idea that there must be a sacrifice zone (such as Appalachia, or Navajo lands) where human and environmental health and well-being are sacrificed so that others can live “better” lives. And if you can get over this I challenge you to join us in work to build a better world.
October 24th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Thank you John Watterberg. There are still hundreds of us who live in the shadows of these huge sludge dams that hold billions of gallons of waste. Bless you for caring and daring to do what you did. People who have never had to live under these conditions cannot ever know the worry, suffering and pain that comes from producing the electricity that the nation takes for granted.
My husband is a disabled underground miner, but he has always said that he would rather go back underground and risk his own life any day than work the MTR sites and risk whole neighborhoods. You see they don’t care who is in harm’s way, whether it they harm babies or the elderly… all are in harm’s way with MTR. The elementary school that sits at the foot of the sludge dam and coal silo is proof of that. It is time for people who live comfortable lives, who never think of the people who have sacrificed so much to take notice of what is happening, if that means crying about being inconvenienced by sitting for a couple of hours in traffic, well ain’t that some bull puckey!
Blessed Be John Watterberg!
October 24th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Thanks for the post, John, and for your brave work yesterday. You’re an inspiration to us all.
October 24th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Way to go!!! I spent some time in WV and saw firsthand what MTR is doing to the community. Noone in their right mind should be supporting the destruction of our beautiful mountains. To those who responded negatively…open your eyes and go visit a MTR site. I am sure you will quickly change your opinion!
October 24th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
“Dieder and Laura: If you think that civil rights, women’s suffrage, or any social progress has occurred without trespassing, breaking laws, or inconveniencing people you don’t know history.”
I have no problem with lawful protesting Ryan. I do have a problem with trespassing on private property.
Do you guys think this stunt will have a positive effect? Personally I think most will see RAN as a radical group akin to ELF and others, which will diminish it’s credibility and message. I had never heard of this group beforehand and that is the impression their actions left on me.
I can understand and respect the motive, but not the tactics in relaying the message.
One other question for all of you suffering due to the actions of the coal mines. Aren’t there lawyers chafing at the bit to file class action suits against these companies on your behalf? They’ve done the same with other class action suits, smokers, asbestos, etc.
October 24th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Hi Didier — just letting you know — yep, there sure are lawyers fighting to stop MTR. I’m a law student and about to work for an organization that helps with the legal angle to this struggle. But lawsuits are just one piece of the puzzle. Any good issue campaigner, and good plaintiff’s lawyer (despite the PR you hear about), knows, however, that legal action is both necessary, precedent-setting, and important, but that it’s also expensive, never guaranteed to work, and mind-numbingly slow — much too slow for the people in Appalachia who have to deal with this environmental and social disaster TODAY.
A campaign has many facets. On-the-ground organizing, grassroots outreach and education, media work, direct action, and legal intervention. It’s just one piece of things, and for the people in Appalachia, every piece is necessary and vital. You can’t always work effectively within this broken system.
Another thing to note: often, the people in these lawsuits don’t get a lot of money because what the communities really need is an injunction: a court order to stop the activity. That means two things: first, there are not that many lawyers who will take the case, besides a handful of wonderful non-profits (including my future bosses). It also means that this isn’t the kind of money-grubbing lawyering you seem to dislike.
Just so you know, there have been some victories in the courtrooms: in Boone County (http://www.appalachian-center.org/media/2007/10_12.html), and more. But guess what the companies, who have TONS of money, resources, and legions of lawyers, do with those court rulings, as rare as they are?
Yep, you guessed it. They fight them to the bone and get them overturned. One more victory for Big Corporate Law, one more valley whose watershed is destroyed by this practice.
Check out Earthjustice and Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, two organizations working on this issue.
I absolutely applaud the people who broke the law to uphold the law. What the coal companies are doing in Appalachia is absurd, heartless, destructive, and illegal under a slew of environmental laws.
One last question, Dieder: what tactics, exactly, do you envision being appropriate here? I hope this little post will dissuade you from thinking that legal action is the ONLY thing available for communities in distress.
October 24th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
John Watterberg, I wanted you to know something, your friend was one of the lucky ones. Where my husband’s grandparents are buried at Peck’s Mill cemetery, right across from their gravesites is a marker of the innocent children who were never claimed or identified. I cry every year on Memorial Day when we visit there. Before they built the new highway, that one of the posters on here said was as bad as MTR, all the traffic to Logan County went right in front of my house. I can remember the flat bed tractor trailers with coffins stacked and strapped down on them on their way to bury all the dead that died at Buffalo Creek. That is a sight that a person never forgets. One truck after another of coffins. I never want to see that again….EVER!! Please tell your friend that the memories are still living to this day and that we will NEVER forget!
October 24th, 2007 at 6:39 pm
To those who live in harms way everyday, be strong. I recently traveled to WVa and Wise County, Va. I will soon be joining people similar to those who took a part of the action. We will not rest until MTR is stopped, and the coal companies pay their debts.
I respect RAN more than ever because of these actions. We cannot please everyone, and that is not the goal. Abviously, our friend Didier is not happy with the way we put out our message, but seems to understand the reasons why. If everyone understands why this took place, that would be amazing!
When you talk about breaking laws, do you yourself follow every law word for word? If you think so, then you must be superhuman or something. Legal Eagle says it the best, “…people who broke the law to uphold the law.”
If you want to complain about breaking laws Didier, comlain about all of the laws the coal companies are breaking daily. It would be wonderful it you joined us in educating people on the injustices that are occuring in Appalachia. You may not agree with the methods used on Tuesday, but trust me, there are many groups out there than follow the path that you want to take. Direct Actions are not for everyone, and nor is a court battle. Find your niche and follow it to the same goal… Saving the people of Appalachia.
I will be strong for them,
Everyone.
I will be strong for them,
Not just some.
~”Strong for Them” by Soldiers Of Jah Army
October 24th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Thanks to the funding that Bank of America is handing out like candy to the coal companies, I can now watch the Strip mine workers work from my bed. I go to sleep with it each night and live with it all day long every day. Constant balsting literally tearing apart my home. The dust is so bad that the sleep in my childs eyes at times has been black from the airbourne coal dust. NO ONE should have to live like this. My water has been poisoned and our home has been destroyed by the practice of mountaintop removal coal mining. Bank of America should clean up there act and start funding the future and stop funding massive destruction that coal is wrecking on Appalachia and it’s people. THANK YOU RAN FOR KICKING A$$! APPALACHIA OWES YOU ONE
October 25th, 2007 at 7:58 am
I live in Charlotte and had no idea about BoA’s involvement in the coal industry. Duke Energy’s (their HQ is a couple blocks down from BoA) is one of the worst corporate citizens in town, so maybe next time you can fire a few shots their way too (rhetorically speaking, obviously).
It’s not much, but you do have some support here.
http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/Environmentalist-group-pr-t42722.html
October 25th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
As an African American man who continues to benefit from standing on the shoulders of those who engaged in civil disobedience decades ago, I applaud RAN for being willing to “sufffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” to make a statement based on conviction. Indeed, Dr. King was right, “Our lives begin to end the moment we become silent about things that matter.”
October 25th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
As an African American man who continues to benefit from standing on the shoulders of those who engaged in civil disobedience decades ago, I applaud RAN for being willing to “sufffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” by acting out conviction. Indeed, Dr. King was right, “Our lives begin to end the moment we become silent about things that matter.”
October 25th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Legal Eagle and Cente. First of all let me thank you both for your civil discourse. I’ve been on a lot of blogs where I posted an opposing opinion and you wouldn’t believe the name calling and personal attacks directed my way. Perhaps you would.
I’m not a legal scholar, so I will take your viewpoint at it’s value legal eagle. Thank you for the information. I’m still surprised the legal system hasn’t been able to correct some of the negative activities from coal mining, they seem pretty damn capable of doing so in other arenas whether justified or not.
I’m glad I decided to take time to comment on this blog and read your responses, particularly those who live in these areas who are affected. I understand the motive, yet I still believe in the overall scope, the RAN stunt in Charlotte will serve to alienate more people than it will attract.
I also reject the comparisons of this struggle to that of civil rights. Sorry Ahmad. Civil rights righted a wrong against an entire race of people who were denied human rights, not people who happen to live in a certain geographic area. Not to diminish those of you who are affected in this area, but some of you may have the option of leaving.
October 25th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Didier: RAN and its allies are indeed no strangers to name-calling.
Clearly, RAN has made the evaluation that stirring things up is worth the occasional negative reaction.
The only thing I’ll say with respect to the civil rights comparison is this: although communities directly suffering from extraction are being hurt the most, coal is a threat to every human being that currently lives or will live in the future. Global warming is the greatest threat we have ever faced as a species, and, failing some rather unlikely advances in space travel, we don’t have “the option of leaving.”
October 25th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
Didier, with all due respect I take objection to you saying that those of us in the affected areas have the option of leaving. Please understand this, these companies moved in on us, not us on them. Many of our families here have lived on the same land since the 1700s. Why should we be forced to leave the place of our birth and the place where our dead ancestors are laid to rest for the greed of big coal? We have lived here in peace on our land for generation after generation. The people here are not ones who move on a whim like so many people do in today’s world. Many are elderly and could never afford to move. Why should any company or corporation be allowed to make life so miserable for the people who settled this part of the country? I don’t understand your way of thinking. You think that this is only affecting us, but you are so wrong about that. As Luke said, global warming is the biggest threat to humanity today. It is not terrorists or nuclear threats. It is the environment that each and every species on earth depends. Look at the drought situation all over the south. It is only going to get worse. Deforestation and the use of fossil fuels are going to be the death knell for untold species, and if it is not halted the human species as well.
I am sure RAN did not attack you or anyone else. The law has failed us who have been fighting this fight so many times. The fines levied against these companies are always reduced to nearly nothing, so it is more profitable for them to break the law than to obey it. They come out ahead paying the paultry fines, meaning they reap huge profits by doing so. The Bush administration is only making it easier for them to do so by relaxing the laws for the mining industry.
We have been called eco-terrorists by industry officials here, but where I live we have never harmed anybody or any equipment. They are the eco-terrorists, they are the ones destroying the land and water and our homes, and the habitat of the animals, not us. I would hope that you would please do some reading on this subject and really learn about what is happening here in the Appalachians and out in the western coalfields. You will see that the comforts that we have come to depend on will someday cause our doom. Learn to conserve, have a little compassion for those who don’t live in the cities. The hoggish nature of city life itself is killing the environment. Urge your city to try to conserve energy. There are many websites out there that show how much money towns and cities can save by being eco-friendly. And please understand that the inconvenience that you folks had for that one day was to get your attention, not to destroy anything or harm anyone. It did get your attention didn’t it? Well then RAN succeeded, and I am so proud of them for doing so. Maybe this can open up a dialog that will be helpful instead of hateful. Environmentalists are not bad evil people. We care for the people of the earth, and the earth that cares for us. It is just mutual respect, that is all. I hope that you can understand that. We don’t worship rocks and trees, we understand the balance that must be kept in order for all things to live and thrive. Returning to balance is essential if we expect to turn this mess that we have all made around.
October 27th, 2007 at 9:53 am
October 27th, 2007 at 9:56 am
Good Job RAN! I am a native of Charlotte. Our NC flag is imprinted with 2 dates on it. One being statehood and the 2nd being May 20th, 1775. Mecklenburg County (Charlotte) was the 1st in our Nation to declare ourselves free and independent from British rule. Our Declaration was used as a guide/format for the United States Declaration of Independence. WE ALL NEED TO BE ECO-FRIENDLY. Charlotte/Mecklenburg needs to rekindle this proud heritage. 1. STOP PAYING FOR INSURANCE 2. STOP BUYING PHARMACEUTICALS 3. STOP BUYING OIL PRODUCTS. This is the only way to take back our Country. BOA needs to stop funding COAL and Stop Supporting a war that has killed over 700,000 civilians in Iraq. (911 WAS AN INSIDE JOB)
October 28th, 2007 at 5:22 am
This message is for Laura and everyone else! Their are folks in the Charlotte community rallying around this issue - taking the message to people by holding meaningful events like the one coming up on Nov 16. We are bringing the nation’s foremost climate expert to Charlotte - Dr. James Hansen. Go to http://www.clean-air-coalition.org to learn more and RSVP. It is a FREE event but seats are limited.
October 28th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
[…] in Global Finance on October 28th, 2007 Take a look at the video , and this comment left on the earlier post about […]
October 31st, 2007 at 5:22 pm
[…] Our goals of this action were many, and we feel very successful. The banking center of downtown Charlotte woke up to see the truths behind Bank of America’s investment polices; that they are accelerating global warming, polluting our air, and destroying lives and communities across the globe. As executives and employees started their work day at Bank of America’s headquarters -the banner sent a powerful message to America’s largest retail bank that being one of the top financiers of coal and climate change is unacceptable business, and not something they can hide from their customers. Beyond the direct statements to thousands of Charlotte residents and bank employees (who were actually a receptive crowd on the ground), we also received excellent media coverage - including the top story on most regional TV news stations. And good lord - did you see the controversy on RAN’s blog? […]
November 1st, 2007 at 9:51 am
Thanks for taking action against mountaintop removal and global warming. To the crane operator- I definitely think there’s a link between predatory mortgages and mountaintop removal– short term thinking.
November 1st, 2007 at 5:06 pm
[…] Our goals of this action were many, and we feel very successful. The banking center of downtown Charlotte woke up to see the truths behind Bank of America’s investment polices; that they are accelerating global warming, polluting our air, and destroying lives and communities across the globe. As executives and employees started their work day at Bank of America’s headquarters -the banner sent a powerful message to America’s largest retail bank that being one of the top financiers of coal and climate change is unacceptable business, and not something they can hide from their customers. Beyond the direct statements to thousands of Charlotte residents and bank employees (who were actually a receptive crowd on the ground), we also received excellent media coverage - including the top story on most regional TV news stations. And good lord - did you see the controversy earlier on the RAN blog? […]
November 7th, 2007 at 8:13 am
Now that everyone has had a little time to cool off, it’s now Nov. 7th, take a deep breath and think about this:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead
To those who don’t like that people act their beliefs, please, just go to your rooms and reflect on your sorry selves.
November 8th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
You guys suck. Get a real job instead of doing nothing with your lives.
November 9th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Great post Oso. You must have spent hours to get it just right. Apparently, most of you who live in & around Charlotte missed this piece in the Observer on Saturday, October, 27:
Demand for coal destroys mountaintops
HARVARD AYERS
This week’s protest of Charlotte-based Bank of America’s practice of financing companies who strip mine coal in West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia raised concerns that should be of interest to all North Carolinians. The Rainforest Action Network hung a huge banner off a crane in front of the Bank of America building that dominates the skyline of downtown Charlotte. The sign read, “Financing Coal, Killing Communities.”
Many of us are not aware of all the mining practices of coal giants such as Arch Coal and Massey Energy. Besides the familiar underground mining, they blow up mountains in Appalachia to get down to the coal, and push the waste and debris into surrounding valleys.
Known appropriately as mountaintop removal, this practice has leveled more than 470 Appalachian mountains and buried or polluted thousands of miles of mountain streams — streams at the headwaters of the drinking water supply of millions of Americans. Blasting and flooding from mountaintop removal are also devastating families and communities in the mountains and leaving the economy of central Appalachia in shambles.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., perhaps the most prominent environmentalist of our time, recently stated in a speech in Blowing Rock, “Mountaintop removal is the biggest environmental battle of our hemisphere. You know, you can restore the Hudson River in perhaps a hundred years. But you will never, never, get these mountains back. This is truly a crime against every human being in the world.”
Duke wants huge new plant
Another prominent corporation in Charlotte, Duke Energy, is closely connected to Kennedy’s concerns. Duke is trying to gain state approval for a huge coal-fired power plant just upwind from Charlotte. The smaller, existing plants at this Cliffside site use mostly mountaintop removal coal from West Virginia and surrounding states, and the much larger unit, if approved, is expected to burn coal from the same region. In fact, according to the Boone-based environmental organization Appalachian Voices, Duke Energy is one of our nation’s three biggest users of mountaintop removal coal.Not only would increased demand for coal from the expanded Cliffside plant lead directly to the destruction of more beautiful and irreplaceable Appalachian mountains and communities, it would add millions of tons of global warming gases and other pollutants to our atmosphere. Congressional efforts to curb global warming are very likely to succeed in what promises to be a much more environmentally concerned Congress. So the Duke Energy effort to gain approval for the Cliffside coal plant may be seen as a race against time to get what may well be one of the last of the dirty coal plants in under the wire.
When Congress does finally act to regulate global warming gases, those regulations will be costly for states like North Carolina that get most of their electricity from dirty coal plants. With an astronomical 61 percent of our electricity already generated by burning coal, North Carolinians have a lot to lose by putting even more of our energy “eggs” in the coal “basket.”
Rhetoric misleading
Another connection exists between Bank of America and Duke Energy: both claim to be responsible corporate citizens who are concerned about their environmental footprint. Bank of America claims to be investing heavily in technologies that will reduce global warming. However, in 2006 the company spent $100 on dirty energy projects for every dollar it spent on clean energy, according to a white paper by the Rainforest Action Network.
The environmental rhetoric of Duke CEO Jim Rogers is just as misleading: Rogers asserted in a recent editorial in The New York Times that the best power plant is the one you don’t have to build. But a recent study by the N.C. Utilities Commission demonstrated unequivocally that conservation, efficiency and renewables could meet North Carolina’s projected energy demand at a comparable cost to what Duke plans to spend building the Cliffside coal plant.
The motto of North Carolina is Esse Quam Videri — “To be, rather than to seem.” But what North Carolina-based companies Duke Energy and Bank of America may have most in common is how far they are from living up to this standard.
Harvard Ayers is professor emeritus of anthropology at Appalachian State University and a board member of Appalachian Voices, http://www.appvoices.org. Write him at harvard@boone.net.
November 16th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
All of those responders who think this issue will garner no attention or energy to change the way we finance coal: we’ve got enough energy simply from you repeatedly coming back here to continue the conversation. Thanks for that!
Civil disobedience has a long history my friends…including giving freedom to this country (also an act against a corporation — Boston Tea Party), the right to vote for women and civil rights…all of you complaining about “inconviences” sound just like the folks who spit on Martin Luther King, kicked the iron-jawed angels and stood silent while this country fought for independence. Take your place amongst democracy’s wallflowers and thanks for keeping the status quo as stale as ever.
November 20th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Calling all MBAs, lawyers, accountants: here’s your design problem
Let’s get the banks to divest from coal. There must be a way.
The entire scientific community (including NOAA, NASA, and the US delegate to the IPCC) agree that global warming is real, it is human caused, and something must be done in the next 10 years to avoid huge catastrophes - flooded cities, major droughts etc. This was widely known 20 years ago. We also know that the reserves of oil will run out long before we ever reach a limit with coal.
Coal is the problem. Stop coal and we have a chance. Stop the loans that fund coal-mining.
Now for something positive.
Clean energy is a design problem. So is divesting from coal.
Groups like RAN have spanked the banks. Now let’s show that there is a solution. All of you bankers, MBAs, investment whiz kids, lawyers: here is your challenge. Suppose you work for a large bank with major investments in coal mining and coal-fired plants. The bank wants to completely divest from coal, legally and with no loss in overall profit, within 6 months. There is your challenge. Go.
The word is out. Now let’s talk about the solution. Don’t tell me its impossible to divest from business commitments that quickly. When the heat was on, companies around the world found a way to divest from Apartheid South Africa, quickly, legally, profitably. We did it then, we can do it now.
All you business whiz kids out there - write a step by step process for how Bank of America and others can divest completely from coal in 6 months.
Be famous. Be the banker that stopped coal.