Coal Country

We usually don't think of the Shenandoah Valley as being part of coal county. But, there is some coal in our mountains and "Nationwide Permit 21," which governs mountaintop removal coal mining, extends into areas generally seen as part of the Valley - all the way to Rockbridge and Bath counties. With that in mind and with the knowledge that mountaintop removal coal mining and the effects of pollution from burning coal impacts us all, the Shenandoah Chapter of the Virginia Sierra Club is hosting a screening of Coal Country followed by a discussion.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 7:00 PM

Clementine Cafe, 153 S. Main St., Harrisonburg

Coal Country takes a dramatic look at modern coal mining. We get to know working miners along with activists who are battling coal companies in Appalachia. We hear from miners and coal company officials, who are concerned about jobs and the economy and believe they are acting responsibly in bringing power to the American people. Both sides in this conflict claim that history is on their side. Families have lived in the region for generations, and most have ancestors who worked in the mines. Everyone shares a deep love for the land, but MTR (Mountain Top Removal mining which has leveled over 500 Appalachian mountains) is tearing them apart. We need to understand the promises of “cheap energy” and “clean coal.” Are they achievable? At what cost? Are there alternatives to our energy future?

Sneak peek at Coal Country (2:26):