Comments on: Intergenerational Blockade at Massey Office in Boone Co, WV http://understory.ran.org/2009/09/09/intergenerational-blockade-at-massey-office-in-boone-co-wv/ The Understory is the official blog of Rainforest Action Network. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:08:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Youth Present Citations to EPA, Demands an End to Blasting on Coal River Mountain « Philadelphia Coalition Against Coal http://understory.ran.org/2009/09/09/intergenerational-blockade-at-massey-office-in-boone-co-wv/comment-page-1/#comment-385870 Youth Present Citations to EPA, Demands an End to Blasting on Coal River Mountain « Philadelphia Coalition Against Coal Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:04:40 +0000 http://understory.ran.org/?p=3777#comment-385870 [...] The youth were also demanding answers to the EPA’s silence around the blasting on Coal River Mountain in WV. Coal River Mountain was the last intact mountain in the Coal River Valley mountain range and it has been the target of a national campaign to transition from coal to wind energy.  An economic feasibility study of the Coal River Valley found that this same mountain range could host a 328 MW commercial-scale wind farm. Instead, the EPA has allowed Massey Energy, one of the largest coal producers in the country, to begin blasting at Coal River Mountain as part of mountaintop removal mining excavation. Massey was granted these permits despite having a record 4,500 violations of the Clean Water Act in 2008. [...] [...] The youth were also demanding answers to the EPA’s silence around the blasting on Coal River Mountain in WV. Coal River Mountain was the last intact mountain in the Coal River Valley mountain range and it has been the target of a national campaign to transition from coal to wind energy.  An economic feasibility study of the Coal River Valley found that this same mountain range could host a 328 MW commercial-scale wind farm. Instead, the EPA has allowed Massey Energy, one of the largest coal producers in the country, to begin blasting at Coal River Mountain as part of mountaintop removal mining excavation. Massey was granted these permits despite having a record 4,500 violations of the Clean Water Act in 2008. [...]

]]> By: Scott http://understory.ran.org/2009/09/09/intergenerational-blockade-at-massey-office-in-boone-co-wv/comment-page-1/#comment-373196 Scott Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:20:25 +0000 http://understory.ran.org/?p=3777#comment-373196 Four Protesters, ages 22 to 81, and Journalist Arrested at Blockade of Massey Energy Regional Headquarters Contact – Andrew Munn 304-513-4710 Note – Go to www.climategroundzero.org for pictures, audio, video and updates JULIAN, W.Va.—Four protesters blocking the road to Massey Energy's Regional Headquarters in Boone County and a journalist covering the event were arrested this morning. The protesters are charged with trespass, conspiracy, destruction of property, disobeying a lawful order and resisting arrest. Roland Micklem, 81, James McGuinness, 53, Joseph Hamsher, 22, and Fred Williamson, 75, comprised the human roadblock. The journalist, Gianni Lapis, is charged with trespass, failure to obey a lawful command, and conspiracy. “All four have pledged to not participate in property destruction—these are likely just trumped up charges,” Charles Suggs of Climate Ground Zero said. The four men used plastic pipes and chain to lock themselves together and to a guardrail and light post, shutting down the road to the headquarters for early morning traffic. State troopers and Boone County Sheriffs were on the scene soon after the lockdown and bolt cutters arrived shortly thereafter. Police cut the chains binding the men to the guardrail and light post and dragged them to the side of the road by the pipes that still locked their arms together. Eyewitness Ivan Stiefel also reported that two of the three drivers-by who stopped to ask questions were supportive of the protesters. “One fellow was a deep miner passing through on his way to Charleston and broke down on the road,” Stiefel said. “He went to the cops to ask to use their phone to call a cab and was told to leave or he’d be arrested for trespassing. So he walked over to us and asked if it was a strike. “I said it was a protest against Massey and mountaintop removal. He said he was a deep miner and hoped we didn’t hold that against him, but he didn’t like mountaintop removal. We said it was mountaintop removal and Massey’s horrible business practices we were protesting. Then we talked a while and called him a cab.” Stiefel and other bystanders were asked to leave before the team was taken from the scene. “I am exercising a spiritual obligation as a steward of Creation. It was not God's intent that these mountains be destroyed to enhance the wealth of a few individuals,” said Micklem. “This should not be solely a young person's campaign. Now that they have provided the example and inspiration, we seniors need to make a statement with our own actions and share the risks that are part of this ongoing effort to stop the obliteration of West Virginia's mountains.” Micklem is organizing a 25-mile senior citizen's march set to begin in Charleston on Oct. 5. All four protesters are being held on $5,000 bail each, while the journalist is held on $3,000. Four Protesters, ages 22 to 81, and Journalist Arrested at Blockade of Massey Energy Regional Headquarters

Contact – Andrew Munn 304-513-4710
Note – Go to http://www.climategroundzero.org for pictures, audio, video and updates

JULIAN, W.Va.—Four protesters blocking the road to Massey Energy’s Regional Headquarters in Boone County and a journalist covering the event were arrested this morning. The protesters are charged with trespass, conspiracy, destruction of property, disobeying a lawful order and resisting arrest. Roland Micklem, 81, James McGuinness, 53, Joseph Hamsher, 22, and Fred Williamson, 75, comprised the human roadblock. The journalist, Gianni Lapis, is charged with trespass, failure to obey a lawful command, and conspiracy.

“All four have pledged to not participate in property destruction—these are likely just trumped up charges,” Charles Suggs of Climate Ground Zero said.

The four men used plastic pipes and chain to lock themselves together and to a guardrail and light post, shutting down the road to the headquarters for early morning traffic. State troopers and Boone County Sheriffs were on the scene soon after the lockdown and bolt cutters arrived shortly thereafter. Police cut the chains binding the men to the guardrail and light post and dragged them to the side of the road by the pipes that still locked their arms together.

Eyewitness Ivan Stiefel also reported that two of the three drivers-by who stopped to ask questions were supportive of the protesters. “One fellow was a deep miner passing through on his way to Charleston and broke down on the road,” Stiefel said. “He went to the cops to ask to use their phone to call a cab and was told to leave or he’d be arrested for trespassing. So he walked over to us and asked if it was a strike.

“I said it was a protest against Massey and mountaintop removal. He said he was a deep miner and hoped we didn’t hold that against him, but he didn’t like mountaintop removal. We said it was mountaintop removal and Massey’s horrible business practices we were protesting. Then we talked a while and called him a cab.”

Stiefel and other bystanders were asked to leave before the team was taken from the scene.

“I am exercising a spiritual obligation as a steward of Creation. It was not God’s intent that these mountains be destroyed to enhance the wealth of a few individuals,” said Micklem. “This should not be solely a young person’s campaign. Now that they have provided the example and inspiration, we seniors need to make a statement with our own actions and share the risks that are part of this ongoing effort to stop the obliteration of West Virginia’s mountains.”

Micklem is organizing a 25-mile senior citizen’s march set to begin in Charleston on Oct. 5. All four protesters are being held on $5,000 bail each, while the journalist is held on $3,000.

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