Louisville Loves Mountains Day 2013!</h1> <article> <h1>Louisville Loves Mountains Day 2013!</h1> <p>lauramarieread — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:31:17 +0000</p> <span class="submitted-by"></span><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd" property="content:encoded"> <p><span id="styles-0-0" class="styles file-styles original"> </span></p> <p><strong>4:10pm</strong></p> <p><strong>Everybody is setting up for the 5th Annual Louisville Loves Mountains Day!</strong></p> <p><strong></strong>That's right, it's that time again for the fine folk of Louisville to come together in celebration and protection of Kentucky's beautiful Appalachian mountains! In anticipation of rain we have moved the festival this year from Longest Ave. to the Green Building on Market Street, which means we have more space for more people to pour in! Join us in celebrating the people and places that make our state so special; we will be uniting our voices in support of ending Mountaintop Removal Mining pratices, transitioning to new, sustainable power sources, and creating a new economy in the Appalachian region.</p> <p>The scheduel for the day is as follows:</p> <p>5:00pm Troubadors of Divine Bliss</p> <p>5:30pm Potluck Ramblers</p> <p>6:05pm Hog Operation</p> <p>6:35pm River City Pipe Drummers</p> <p>7:10pm Beady</p> <p>7:50pm Slow Charleston</p> <p>8:30-10pm Dance party celebration with Hay DJ</p> <p>We have plenty of beer from NABC, BBC, and ATG, as well as food offerings from Morels and Spinelli's pizza. All vendors are donating a percentage of the proceeds to KFTC to go toward ending Mountaintop Removal practices.</p> <p>Look for continued updates, photos, and videos throughout the night!</p> <p><strong>4:45pm</strong></p> <p>Just got the first testimonial of the evening from a couple of thoughtful youngsters who triumphantly declard, "I love mountains because they grow in to flowers!" and "I love trees more than mountains!" Good thing, because we want our mountains to be as full of trees and flowers as they possibly can and are meant to be! Stop by if you're here and tell me why YOU love mountains!</p> <p></p> <p><strong>5:15pm</strong></p> <p>The walls of the Green Building's back patio are vibrating with some powerful harmonies from Troubadors of Divine Bliss. The two lovely ladies are crooning some mighty fine tunes about humanity, solidarity, and of course, life in the mountains! In fact, they just began a song called "No Mountain Tops Removed." The band just assured us all that "we will not stop the fight until there's no fight left to win."</p> <p></p> <p>"We are the ones we've been waiting for." "We can be the change we wish to see." -Troubadors of Divine Bliss</p> <p>There's a happy little crowd filtering in already, with pizza, beer, and vegan treats flowing! There's a lot of great literature, as well as bumper stickers and posters available for purchase to commemorate the day and offer some added education.</p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p>And of course, this year's AWESOME new shirt, designed by Hound Dog Press in Louisville, KY. Shirts are free when you sign up for or renew your $25 membership to KFTC!</p> <p></p> <p> <strong>5:40pm</strong></p> <p><strong><br /></strong>The Potluck Ramblers just took to the stage! They're pickin' and grinnin' and burning up the strings bringing a good healthy dose of Bluegrass to today's gathering.</p> <p></p> <p> <strong>6:15pm</strong></p> <p><strong><br /></strong>No festival would be complete without hula hoopers.. The party has officially started!</p> <p></p> <p>Representative Jim Wayne said a few words before Hog Operation took the stage, keeping today's celebration grounded ina message of citizen empowerment, "The only counterpoint to corporate greed is your voice. Otherwise, corporations control the Kentucky economy, and right now that means coal." -Rep. Jim Wayne</p> <p>His message is an important one, we all have to potential to be citizen lobbyists and activists, and our voices are stronger as we grow in number and visibility.</p> <p><strong>6:40pm</strong></p> <p>Hog Operation jsut finished up a knee slapping set with their version of My Old Kentucky Home!</p> <p></p> <p>I managed to slip away just long enough to get my photo taken with Berea's KFTC chapter leader, Beth Bissmeyer, at the Magnolia Photo Booth! Don't forget to grab a picture of yourself and your friends having a great time!</p> <p></p> <p>Carmichael's Book Store owner, Carol, just announced the winners of the youth essay contest, and one quote that resonated was from 11 year old Ivona's piece, "If a lot of people make a small change it'll turn in to a big change." Kentucky is lucky to have such young wisdom emerging in the social justice community!</p> <p>Carol followed the announcement by passing a donation basket in to the crowd, and started the rally of support for KFTC's work with a check for $1000. Thank you so much, Carmichael's, and to everyone in attendence, for making events like this a huge success! Up next, River City Pipe Drummers!</p> <p><strong>7:10pm</strong></p> <p><strong></strong>The River City Pipe Drummers are playing to a PACKED HOUSE!! People of all ages, races, and walks of life are grooving to some amazingly intricate, bellowing beats! These kids not only drum like pros, they built their own instruments! This group of youth is a true testament to the unifying potential of raw talent, raw materials, and passion. Their hard work and imagination have clearly paid off, through the crowd there are smiles as far as the eye can see!</p> <p></p> <p> <strong>7:45pm</strong></p> <p><strong><br /></strong>Louisville has shown immense support tonight not only for the mountains, but for the Jefferson County chapter of KFTC by turning out in droves, and at a change of venue at the last minute to boot!</p> <p>Beady gave us a great set, definitely a Louisville music diamond! Young people playing music like a group of old souls, staying true to their Kentucky roots!</p> <p></p> <p><strong>8:15pm</strong></p> <p>Homegrown talents Slow Charleston are finishing up their set with a Brazilian number. Why not, we're all downstream, right?!</p> <p></p> <p>Just finished up a lovely conversation with a gentleman who is new to Kentucky via the Pacific Northwest. He was struck by the turnout and comaraderie, and particularly interested in KFTC's ability to reach out and educate so many people in a way that inspires and mobilizes folk. As a theologian, he understood the bridge between a need or a curiosity to genuine action to empowerment. Conversations like this are so rewarding, and testament to what a simple fesival can achieve!</p> <p>Up next, DANCE PARTY! Let's celebrate, y'all!</p> <p><strong>8:40pm</strong></p> <p>Another wonderful comverstion with strangers: A group of women began by complimenting one another on their jewelry, which turned out to be mostly handmade by Kentucky artisans, Berea folk in particular. What started out as a superficial bond quickly developed in to a mountain love-fest. One woman remarked that she was afraid that we were running our Earth to quick ruin, to which another answered, in reference to the era of dinosaurs, "Yes, I'm afraid we're the lizards this time." But guess what folks? We're here today to ensure that those prophecies do NOT come true! We are the holders of the future and the keepers of this land. Starting conversations with strangers, building bridges and finding bonds with people completely unlike ourselves proves that we're all actually just the same, and that fact has an awful lot of power.</p> <p>On that note, Hay DJs is pulling off a full-on disco, let's dance!</p> <p><strong>9:30pm</strong></p> <p>Louisville Loves Mountains 2013 is one for the books! What an incredible turnout!</p> <p>Hay DJ's are killing it!</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><strong>9:40pm</strong></p> <p>Last post of the night, y'all!</p> <p>Caught a glimpse of this fella taking a picture of a sign at my booth... Turns out he grew up on Pine Mountain! Great to see Appalachian grown Kentuckians in attendence to support and celebrate the protection of our precious mountains!</p> <p></p> <p>Thanks to the beer vendors and food providers, as well as Carmichael's, Heine Bros, and the Green Building... What a success!</p> <p>Until next year, friends!</p> <p>Louisville Loves Mountains 2013</p> </div></div></div> </article> <article> <h1>Another legal round in the campaign for clean water</h1> <p>jhardt — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:11:00 +0000</p> <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by"></span><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd" property="content:encoded"> <p>Continuing their campaign to make sure Kentucky's water is safe for everyone, KFTC and allies have challenged plans by the Beshear administration to let Frasure Creek Mining "off the hook" for repeated violations of the Clean Water Act.</p> <p><a href="http://appvoices.org/" target="_blank">Appalachian Voices</a>, <a href="http://www.waterkeeper.org/" target="_blank">Waterkeeper Alliance</a>, Kentucky Riverkeeper, KFTC and several individuals (the petitioners) asked the Franklin Circuit Court Thursday to vacate an <a href="/sites/default/files/docs/frasure_creek_ao_1-2-13.pdf" target="_blank">Agreed Order</a> signed in April by Environment and Energy Cabinet Secretary Len Peters that claims to resolve all recent water quality violations by the company.</p> <p>They point out that the settlement "is inadequate to address Frasure Creek’s pollution problems and prevent such harms from occurring in the future." They called the administration's action "arbitrary and capricious, an abuse of discretion, contrary to law, and not supported by substantial evidence."</p> <p>“This settlement lets Frasure Creek off the hook for thousands of water quality violations,” explained Eric Chance, a water quality specialist with Appalachian Voices. “For years Frasure Creek had been submitting false monitoring reports. During that time they never reported any water quality problems. After we exposed these false reports, they began using more reputable labs and started showing hundreds of water quality violations every month.</p> <p>“Over the past few years Frasure Creek’s water discharges haven’t really improved and I don’t expect there to be any improvements in the water coming off Frasure’s mines from this settlement,” Chance added.</p> <p>"Clean water is not just a good idea. Clean water is critical to our health and well being,” said Pat Banks with Kentucky Riverkeeper. “We have learned that we cannot be complacent. The Clean Water Act enforces the notion that if companies are out of compliance and enforcement by the state fails, then citizens can and must step in to protect our waters. That's what we are doing here."</p> <p>The petitioners also point out that they were granted full party status in the administrative enforcement case but were shut out of negotiations between the Cabinet and Frasure Creek that resulted in the final Agreed Order. A copy of the petition is <a href="/sites/default/files/docs/frasure_petition_for_ao_review_may_2013.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> <div class="callout"> <p><em>"We as citizens have the right to intervene and see and participate in this process. Yet the Cabinet continues to ignore the law and shield another coal company from any meaningful enforcement. This Agreed Order was done behind closed doors shutting citizens out, even though we had full rights to be part of the process."</em></p> <p style="text-align: right;"><strong>Ted Withrow</strong><br />KFTC Litigation Team member</p> </div> <p>"The Cabinet has once again systematically excluded Kentucky citizens who are fighting to protect the water they use. After bringing Frasure Creek's false reporting and pollution to the Cabinet's attention, the Cabinet has tried, at every step, to sweep this matter under the rug and quickly settle with the company and exclude citizens from the process,” said Mary Cromer, with the <a href="http://appalachianlawcenter.org/" target="_blank">Appalachian Citizens Law Center</a> and one of the attorneys representing the petitioners. “We bring suit against the Cabinet for failing to do what's necessary to ensure that Frasure Creek's pollution is cleaned up and for excluding the citizens from their rightful roles as co-enforcers of the Clean Water Act."<br /><br /><strong>BACKGROUND</strong></p> <p>In June 2011, the petitioners filed a <a href="/sites/default/files/docs/second_nois_to_frasure_creek-final.pdf" target="_blank">60-day Notice of Intent to Sue</a>, documenting more than 2,800 violations of the Clean Water Act by Frasure Creek in the first three months of 2011. After conducting its own investigation, the Cabinet filed an internal administrative enforcement action alleging many of these same violations.</p> <p>In November 2011, the petitioners were granted full intervention status.</p> <p>However, the Cabinet conducted negotiations with Frasure Creek without notice to and participation by the intervenors, resulting in the Agreed Order signed by Peters. Kentucky law prohibits the entry of an Agreed Order without the consent of each and every full party to the Administrative Proceeding.</p> <p>The violations in this case are similar to those in a 2010 lawsuit pending in Franklin Circuit Court. In that older case, false reporting made it impossible to identify pollution problems like the ones at issue in this case. In the original lawsuit, the Cabinet filed an enforcement action against Frasure Creek in Franklin Circuit Court after the same <a href="http://www.kftc.org/blog/20000-clean-water-act-violations" target="_blank">petitioners made public thousands of Clean Water Act violations</a>. In that case, the court granted the petitioners full intervention status. So in the 2011 case, the Cabinet took a different enforcement route to avoid public intervention. However, the administrative judge also granted full intervention status.<em></em></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>"Approval of this Agreed Order would not appropriately penalize Frasure Creek or deter future violations, but instead it punishes the citizens of Kentucky. The Agreed Order sends a message to Frasure Creek and other coal companies that they can come into Kentucky, enjoy a near amnesty from state and federal environmental regulation, plunder the state’s natural resources, annihilate mountains and destroy rivers and streams, endanger the lives of the people living downstream, all before leaving without being held accountable for the destruction they have wrought. To enter the Agreed Order would be to endorse to this shameful scam."</em> – from intervenors' <a href="/sites/default/files/docs/intervenors_objections_to_frasure_ao_jan_2013.pdf" target="_blank">January 2013 letter</a> objecting to the Agree Order<br /><br /></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-issue-areas field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issue Area(s): </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/coal-and-water" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Coal and Water</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Tags: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first last"><a href="/tags/water-quality-0" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Water Quality</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-chapter field-type-entityreference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Chapter: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first"><a href="/chapters/floyd-county">Floyd County</a></span>, <span class="field-item field-item-# even last"><a href="/chapters/perry-county">Perry County</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-campaign field-type-entityreference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Campaign: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first"><a href="/campaigns/enforcement">Enforcement</a></span>, <span class="field-item field-item-# even last"><a href="/campaigns/mountaintop-removal-and-strip-mining">Mountaintop Removal and Strip Mining</a></span></div></div> </article> <article> <h1>Oregonians show support for justice in the mountains</h1> <p>jhardt — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:46:00 +0000</p> <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by"></span><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd" property="content:encoded"> <p>On April 25<sup>th</sup>, KFTC members in Portland, Oregon, held a benefit to support a new economy in Kentucky.</p> <p>Why? Oregonians have strong opinions about coal power. The only coal facility in Oregon is scheduled to be closed in 2020. And while there is no coal mining in the state, Oregon has hotly debated whether to allow trains to carry Rocky Mountain coal to the Pacific Coast for export to other countries.</p>  <p>Five members of KFTC – some native Kentuckians, some folks who have volunteered for KFTC in the past – organized an event to share what is happening in Kentucky and how KFTC is working hard to defend our mountains and create a just economy for mountain communities. They figured that Oregonians would care and open their pocketbooks.</p> <p>The event was a resounding success! The organizers were right: Oregonians were shocked to learn how people had to fight for the environmental and public interest protections that they take for granted. Over bourbon cocktails and in the fresh spring sunshine, guests responded by buying plants, bidding on silent auction items like Appalachian music and a handmade quilt, and donating directly to KFTC. Rep. Alissa Keny-Guyer, a state representative with connections to civil justice, added her thoughts on why KFTC’s work is important and how people standing together can make a difference.</p> <p>Thanks to their efforts – and donations from <a href="http://portfolio21.com/" target="_blank">Portfolio 21</a>, a sustainable investment firm; local sustainability-focused brewery <a href="http://hopworksbeer.com/" target="_blank">Hopworks</a>; and <a href="http://www.keenfootwear.com/us/en/">KEEN Footwear</a> – the event doubled its fundraising goal, raising more than $4,500.</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kftcphotos/8747341729/" title="Portland OR planning team by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, on Flickr"></a></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Tags: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first last"><a href="/tags/fundraiser" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Fundraiser</a></span></div></div> </article> <article> <h1>Ray Tucker reflects on his run for rural electric co-op board</h1> <p>amy — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:07:00 +0000</p> <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by"></span><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd" property="content:encoded"> <p dir="ltr"><em>Ray Tucker, a Pulaski County farmer, KFTC member and former statewide chairperson, recently ran for the board of his rural electric co-op, the South Kentucky REC. He has written this reflection on his campaign and the role of KFTC in building a stronger democracy.</em></p> <p>My run for the South Kentucky REC board started at a public hearing I spoke at last fall. </p> <p>The hearing was held in response to a group that was circulating a petition to dissolve our local library board. This petition, if successful, would have closed all public libraries in Pulaski County.</p> <p>At the hearing I said we needed to work together as a community. And a long dormant spark awakened in me that helped frame the question, how do we build community together?</p>  <p>I told the crowd of more than 200 that I was encouraged to see them at this meeting to save our library. I said this can’t be one and done, that we have real issues to deal with in our area and we have to be involved beyond voting. We needed to work toward a better democracy. I rededicated myself to work for accountability and democracy.</p> <p>Four members of our electric co-op board had just resigned. The spark ignited at the library meeting was fanned into full campaign flames in less than a month when the South Kentucky co-op outlined the process to fill the open board seats. By mid-January I was on the ballot, along with 15 other people, for the board seat in my district.</p> <p>I walked my neighborhood collecting signatures to qualify for the ballot, tabled at the strip mall and at a community yard sale, talked with people in my church -- did the same things that KFTC has been doing for 30-plus years to organize a campaign. </p> <p class="pull-quote-right">It was very empowering to be part of a campaign that had involvement from wonderful people in a great organization.</p> <p>I chose to highlight KFTC’s role in my path to leadership development. I’m proud of the skills I’ve learned in KFTC. Our leadership model is valid, we are building the leaders of tomorrow, and we need to embrace our work as valid leadership, just like the chamber of commerce does for their members. </p> <p>We used data to target our effort toward potential voters who were most likely to agree with my platform of openness, democracy and clean energy choices. I contacted KFTC members in the area, and KFTC members made calls on my behalf.</p> <p>It was very empowering to be part of a campaign that had involvement from wonderful people in a great organization. I learned that we can do this. Although I did not win the seat, we got our message out, and I think the message of open meetings, published minutes and clean energy options is heard in our co-op and will be demanded by the members, if not embraced by the board, in the near future.</p> <p>KFTC members took another important step at the <a href="http://www.kftc.org/abf/connect" target="_blank">Appalachia’s Bright Future</a> conference in Harlan in April, and I am convinced we have the leaders in our organization to move our communities forward. As Wendell Berry said 20 years ago, we need a new political party that represents the people and the land. KFTC is that organization.</p> <p>And this summer we have KFTC’s annual meeting. Come to General Butler State Park this August and together we’ll learn how grassroots organizing builds a stronger democracy. KFTC is the model of democracy that works!</p> </div></div></div> </article> <article> <h1>Toward a bright future in Harlan County</h1> <p>tanya — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:19:00 +0000</p> <span class="submitted-by"></span><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd" property="content:encoded"> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kftcphotos/8738953924/" title="KFTC_Conf_696 by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, on Flickr"></a>Harlan County KFTC members from Lynch to Loyall have been busy behind the scenes of <a href="http://www.kftc.org/abf/connect" target="_blank">Appalachia's Bright Future</a>, before and after the conference, building toward better days in Harlan and beyond. 2013 has already been a huge year for one of KFTC's first chapters, positioned on one of the farthest ends of Kentucky. Besides hosting a three-day conference for over 200 people near and far, the chapter has seen local projects gain momentum and the chapter grow and grow. </p>  <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kftcphotos/8434210524/" title="January 2013 meeting with Sen. Brandon Smith by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, on Flickr"></a>Back in January, after months of appealing denials and pleading to state officials, the <a href="http://www.kftc.org/blog/coxton-black-joe-communities-organizing-harlan-county" target="_blank">Phillips family of Black Joe saw a $1 million state funded project begin</a> behind their home and community to stabilize a dangerous land slide that had already significantly damaged their home and others. During the legislative session, Harlan members welcomed their State Senator and new Majority Whip,<a href="http://www.kftc.org/blog/hazard-meeting-state-senator-brandon-smith" target="_blank"> Brandon Smith, back to his district</a> to discuss our economy, opportunities, voting rights, and more. In March the Harlan Chapter hosted the <a href="http://www.kftc.org/blog/2nd-annual-potluck-pine-mountain-builds-unity" target="_blank">2nd annual Potluck on Pine Mountain </a>with the neighboring Letcher Chapter. There in Cumberland, over 30 people gathered in the rain and snow to eat BBQ, hear local fiddle tunes, visit with one another, and plan for bigger and better days to come. </p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kftcphotos/8737711597/" title="Lynch Sewer Plant EE Upgrades by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, on Flickr"></a></p> <p>Now, <a href="http://www.kftc.org/chapters/building-clean-energy-future-benham-and-lynch" target="_blank">a four-year collaboration with the City of Lynch</a> has finally gained momentum and is resulting in energy upgrades and retrofits on multiple Lynch city buildings. Bennie Massey of the Lynch city council said of the project, “We were losing money all over the place. These energy projects really work. The taxpayers were paying those big bills. All the departments are looking to save money now.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p> <p>Currently work is happening to upgrade doors, windows, and framing, as well as reroof the Lynch sewer plant. As you can see in the picture, the sewer plant is the first building as you enter the City of Lynch, positioned directly behind the city's beautiful welcome sign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kftcphotos/8737926579/" title="KFTC_Conf_2401 by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, on Flickr"></a>For Appalachia’s Bright Future Conference, Harlan members planned and <a href="http://www.kftc.org/blog/carl-shoupe-appalachias-bright-future" target="_blank">promoted</a> for months, gathered and donated silent auction items, built excitement locally and participated as emcees, panelists, workshop presenters, artists, musicians, tour guides, hosts, chefs, decorators, billboard stars, experts of their own experience, and so much more. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lauren Adams, a mom, artist, and work-study student at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College in Cumberland who presented and joined KFTC at the conference said, “I'm pretty sure it has changed the course of my life.”</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kftcphotos/8737684371/" title="Stanley & Bennie, Lynch by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, on Flickr"></a></p> <p>All this success, while still holding off destructive mining with an ongoing Lands Unsuitable for Mining petition, attending fiscal court meetings, planning a water testing training for July, launching a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harlan-County-Kentuckians-for-the-Commonwealth/457779037627861" target="_blank">chapter facebook page</a>, starting to help investigate a <a href="http://www.harlandaily.com/view/full_story/22486570/article-Dozens-of-dead-fish-found-in-Catrons-Creek">sudden fish kill in Catrons Creek</a>, and exploring more county-wide collaboration with <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">allies like the Pine Mountain Settlement School and Benham Power Board. </span>During the May chapter potluck at the Harlan Library, members shared that our biggest cha<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kftcphotos/8737666989/" title="Harlan County Chapter Potluck by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, on Flickr"></a>llenge right now may be communicating out what we are able to accomplish when we work together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clair Stines, a retired nurse of Loyall, shared that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“we just can’t get the word out like we need to that Harlan has all this potential and we can change things. We’ve got to communicate especially to all the 20-40 year olds that we can do it!"</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.kftc.org/events/harlan-county-annual-chapter-potluck" target="_blank">2013 annual Harlan Chapter meeting</a> will be held Monday, June 3rd at 6 pm in Linda's Bear Lodge at the Putney Trail Head, 8331 HWY 119 N in Putney. We'll celebrate the year behind us and plan for the year ahead. Everyone committed to a better Harlan County for all is welcome to join in the potluck, ideas, and fellowship.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-chapter field-type-entityreference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Chapter: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first last"><a href="/chapters/harlan-county">Harlan County</a></span></div></div> </article> <article> <h1>Making a difference: Anti-EPA riders stopped in U.S. Senate</h1> <p>jhardt — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:36:00 +0000</p> <span class="submitted-by"></span><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd" property="content:encoded"> <p>Thanks to everyone who took quick action in response to our <a href="http://www.kftc.org/actions/tell-senate-protect-our-water" target="_blank">action alert</a> <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_998240955"><span class="aQJ">Monday</span></span> about anti-clean water amendments in the U.S. Senate. We're happy to report that many of the worst amendments - including one by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul that would have gutted the Clean Water Act, and two by West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin that would have crippled EPA's efforts to protect the public from the worst effects of mountaintop removal - were not voted on. This went down to the final minutes as Senate leaders negotiated which amendments would receive a vote.</p> <p><strong>Our calls made a difference!</strong></p> <p>The Senate did vote on an amendment similar to the one pushed by Sen. Paul (#868 sponsored by Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming), designed to limit Clean Water Act protections to 59 percent of U.S. streams and millions of acres of wetlands. That amendment needed 60 votes to pass but got only 52, with Paul and Sen. Mitch McConnell voting in favor.</p> <p>These issues are likely to resurface in the future, as anti-EPA senators and representatives look for other bills to add on these amendments. The KFTC Executive Committee, along with a couple dozen other groups, signed onto a letter to all U.S. senators expressing strong opposition to these amendments whenever and however they are brought up again.</p> <p>Thanks again for supporting clean, safe water.</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-issue-areas field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issue Area(s): </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/coal-and-water" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Coal and Water</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Tags: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first"><a href="/tags/congress" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Congress</a></span>, <span class="field-item field-item-# even last"><a href="/tags/water-quality-0" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Water Quality</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-campaign field-type-entityreference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Campaign: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first"><a href="/campaigns/enforcement">Enforcement</a></span>, <span class="field-item field-item-# even last"><a href="/campaigns/mountaintop-removal-and-strip-mining">Mountaintop Removal and Strip Mining</a></span></div></div> </article> <article> <h1>Week in Washington report from KFTC delegation</h1> <p>jhardt — Tue, 14 May 2013 21:27:00 +0000</p> <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by"></span><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd" property="content:encoded"> <p>A group of KFTC members, along with about 35 fellow Appalachians, made their voices heard in the fight against mountaintop removal mining at the 8th annual Week in Washington. Alliance members were joined by more than 40 allies from across the country. Many of these folks return to their home states to educate others about the problems facing Appalachia and speak out against mountaintop removal throughout the year.</p> <p>There were several goals for this year’s Week in Washington: lobby for support of HR 1837, the <a href="http://www.kftc.org/clean-water-protection-act" target="_blank">Clean Water Protection Act</a> (CWPA); ask the EPA to establish a numeric conductivity standard for streams; and meet with federal agencies to talk about coal issues and economic transition in Appalachia.</p> <p>We had a great meeting with John Yarmuth (D-3rd), who continues to cosponsor the CWPA, and thanked him for all of his support. Freshman congressman Andy Barr (R-6th) talked personally with a group of his constituents. He seemed very interested in having ongoing discussions about economic transition in Appalachia, as did the staff of Thomas Massie (R-4th). KFTC members also met with staff members from the offices of Hal Rogers (R-5th), Brett Guthrie (R-2nd), Sen. Mitch McConnell and Sen. Rand Paul.</p> <p>In just two days, 45 House members from across the country signed on to be cosponsors of the CWPA!</p> <p>KFTC and other members of the Alliance held meetings with the EPA (including acting administrator Robert Perciasepe) and the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement about environmental impacts of coal mining in Appalachia. In addition, groups consulted with the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Blue-Green Alliance, the AFL-CIO, and the Department of Labor. Many of the discussions centered around developing a strong economic future for the region.</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kftcphotos/8739708742/" title="EPA sit in by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, on Flickr"></a>The week was capped with a fundraiser that included live bluegrass music and a silent auction.</p> <p>The Week in Washington is organized by the <a href="http://www.theallianceforappalachia.org" target="_blank">Alliance for Appalachia</a>, a coalition with member groups in Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. The Alliance works across the region to develop federal strategies to stop mountaintop removal. KFTC is a founding member.</p> <h3>Appalachia Rising</h3> <p><em>Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around,</em><br /><em>Turn me around, turn me around</em><br /><em>Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around</em><br /><em>I'm gonna keep on a-walkin',</em><br /><em>Keep on a-talkin'</em><br /><em>'Til mountaintop removal is banned.</em><br /><br />On May 8, residents of Appalachia, along with allies from across the nation, joined together as Appalachia Rising to demand that the U.S. EPA protect drinking water and streams in Appalachia. More than 100 people rallied in front of the EPA offices in Washington. Speakers included Teri Blanton and Nick Mullins from Kentucky; Dustin White from West Virgina; and Jane Branham from Virginia. The message that all people have the right to clean water was repeated over and over.</p> <p>Gallons and gallons of orange, grey and black water were deposited on the EPA's doorstep to illustrate the water quality crisis occurring in Appalachia. Many streams are lifeless. Some communities' well water is so toxic that it can only be used for flushing toilets. Even municipal water systems have manganese, aluminum and other contaminants. The water was collected from residents' taps, streams, and other mining-impacted sources across the region and brought to Washington.</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kftcphotos/8738590119/" title="Nancy Stoner 2 by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, on Flickr"></a>Demonstrators circled the courtyard carrying gallon jugs of contaminated water, singing, and chanting. They demanded that EPA officials come out of their offices to accept delivery of the water. With the support of the crowd, a small group risked arrest by blocking the building entrance, repeatedly calling Nancy Stoner (EPA acting administrator for water) and refusing to leave until she appeared in person.</p> <p>She Did!!!</p> <p>In front of the protesters, Nancy Stoner and other EPA officials read Appalachia Rising's petition and accepted the water delivery. Unprecedented!</p> <p>For more information, go to <a href="http://appalachiarising.org/residents-bring-dirty-water-from-mountaintop-removal-coal-mining-communities-to-washington/" target="_blank">appalachiarising.org</a>.</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-issue-areas field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issue Area(s): </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/coal-and-water" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Coal and Water</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Tags: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first"><a href="/tags/water-quality-0" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Water Quality</a></span>, <span class="field-item field-item-# even last"><a href="/tags/week-washington" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Week in Washington</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-campaign field-type-entityreference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Campaign: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first"><a href="/campaigns/enforcement">Enforcement</a></span>, <span class="field-item field-item-# even last"><a href="/campaigns/mountaintop-removal-and-strip-mining">Mountaintop Removal and Strip Mining</a></span></div></div> </article> <article> <h1>Tell the Senate to protect our water!</h1> <p>erik — Mon, 13 May 2013 22:32:00 +0000</p> <span class="submitted-by"></span><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd" property="content:encoded"> <p class="image-align-right"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/appvoices/8735164275/" title="Week in Washington AppVoices 064 by appalachian.voices, on Flickr" data-cke-saved-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/appvoices/8735164275/"></a></p> <p> <span style="line-height: 1.4;">Several members of the U.S. Senate – including Kentucky senators McConnell and Paul – are pushing amendments that would keep the Environmental Protection Agency from doing its job, while also doing serious damage to the Clean Water Act.</span></p> <p>They are pushing three amendments to the <a href="http://www.cbo.gov/publication/44095" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="http://www.cbo.gov/publication/44095">Water Resources Development Act of 2013 (S. 601)</a>, legislation directed at restoring ecosystems and reducing erosion. Those amendments are:</p>  <p><strong>Amendment #850</strong> would remove EPA’s critical yet scarcely used authority to stop Section 404 permits for harmful projects that discharge dredge and fill materials into rivers, lakes and streams such as valley fills associated with mountaintop removal mining. This amendment also removes EPA’s authority to ensure states effectively implement state water quality standards and improve standards without states agreeing to the changes. This amendment would also prevent EPA from objecting to state-approved NPDES water pollution permits that do not meet the minimum standards of the law.</p> <p><strong>Amendment #846</strong> would prohibit EPA from using its Clean Water Act authority to veto a dredge and fill permit that has a significantly adverse effect on drinking water, fisheries, wildlife or recreational areas, if EPA acts after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issues a permit, as was the case recently with the Spruce mine in West Virginia. Currently, under the Clean Water Act, the EPA has this clear authority (recently upheld by a federal court) to veto permits for dredge and fill activities such as valley fills associated with mountaintop removal mining. This amendment would be retroactive to 1972!</p> <p><strong>Amendment #846</strong>, sponsored by Sen. Rand Paul, would change the definition of waters that are under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act by eliminating protections for intermittent and ephemeral streams. Again, this is a direct attempt to stop EPA's efforts to stop (or at least limit) the dumping of toxic mining wastes into Kentucky headwater streams.</p> <p>The Water Resources Development Act of 2013 is a big bill that deals with all kinds of water projects across the U.S. This bill has so many projects that nearly every Senator wants to see addressed for their state that the bill appears to have overwhelming support. So if these bad amendments get attached it is likely the bill will still pass.</p> <h2>Take Action</h2> <p>We need to stop these amendments – either by having Senate leadership limit the number of amendments on the bill through a cloture motion, or by voting them down.</p> <p><strong>Call Senate President Harry Reid at 202-224-3542 with this message:</strong></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>Oppose all amendments to the Water Resources Development Act intended to weaken the Clean Water Act and its enforcement by the EPA, including Amendment numbers 801, 846 and 850.</em></p> <p>Please call starting as early as you can on Tuesday morning.</p> <h3>Have some extra time?</h3> <p>If you're able to make some additional calls beside one to Sen. Reid, these are the other senators who are consider swing votes. Please call the offices of as many as you can – and forward this message to anyone you know who lives in these states.<br /><br />Senator Sherrod Brown<br />Ohio: 202-224-2315<br /><br />Senator Lamar Alexander<br />Tennessee: 202-224-4944 <br /><br />Senator Bob Corker<br />Tennessee: 202-224-3344<br /><br />Senator Tim Kaine<br />Virginia: 202-224-4024 <br /><br />Senator Mark Warner<br />Virginia: 202-224-2023<br /><br />Senator Robert Casey<br />Pennsylvania: 202-224-6324<br /><br />Senator Tammy Baldwin<br />Wisconsin: 202-224-5653<br /><br />Senator Susan M. Collins<br />Maine: 202-224-2523<br /><br />Senator Kay R. Hagan<br />North Carolina: 202-224-6342<br /><br />Senator Mark Udall<br />Colorado: 202-224-5941<br /><br />Senator Max Baucus<br />Montana: 202-224-2651<br /><br />Senator Jon Tester<br />Montana: 202-224-2644</p> <p>Thanks for taking action!</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-campaign field-type-entityreference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Related Campaign: </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd">Mountaintop Removal and Strip Mining</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-issue-areas field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issue Area(s): </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/coal-and-water" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Coal and Water</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags: </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/congress" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Congress</a></div></div></div> </article> <article> <h1>Secretary of State meetings gathering input on election laws</h1> <p>dave — Thu, 09 May 2013 18:31:00 +0000</p> <span class="submitted-by"></span><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd" property="content:encoded"> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kftcphotos/4744290619/" title="35421_1360070120623_1197630007_30870127_3370161_n by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, on Flickr"></a><span id="pressReleaseMetaDataPlaceholderControl">The Kentucky Secretary of State's office is setting up a <a href="http://migration.kentucky.gov/newsroom/sos/sos050113a.htm">series of town hall meetings across the state</a> to review and recommend improvements to Kentucky’s election laws.</span></p> <p>A few have already happened, but four upcoming meetings are:</p> <p>• Wednesday, May 22 – Kenton County<br />• Wednesday, May 29 – Jefferson County<br />• Monday, June 3 – McCracken County<br />• Thursday, June 20 – Madison County</p> <p>(Exact times and locations to be announced. Check the bottom of this blog entry or our calendar later for specifics)</p> <p>This could be an excellent time for KFTC members and allies to make the case for changes we would like to see in our democracy - from expanding voting rights to former felons, lengthening voting hours, or limiting the power of corporations and large donors.</p> <p>As three of these 4 meetings are in KFTC chapter areas, we'd like to encourage our members to come out to them and speak their minds. </p> <p>You can say anything you want, but we created a template (adapted from the earlier blue ribbon tax commission hearings) that might help you think through wat to say:</p>  <p><strong>I. Who you are and what you want to see for Kentucky.</strong><br /><br />• I’m a [describe yourself] and I want to see _____.<br /><br />• But instead this is what I see: _____<br /><br />• “I’m a Kentuckian that wants to see an authentic participatory Democracy take root here because I can't help but think that we're going to come to better policy decisions and have better lives when we make space for all Kentucky citizens to have a say." <br /><br /><strong>II. What's in the way</strong> (Feel free to use any combination of these or create your own.)</p> <p>- Sometimes it feels like our politicians are just listening to the needs or corporations or other major contributors instead of to the people. </p> <p>- Some of us feel like we don't have stake or control over even our local governments. </p> <p>- Not all Kentucky citizens even have the right to vote (including former felons who have served their time and people serving time for even a misdemeanor).</p> <p>- Voter turnout can be pretty low at times, leading to more apathy and a greater disconnect between the voters and elected leaders.<br /><br /><strong>III. Good policy solutions</strong> (Feel free to use any combination of these or create your own.)</p> <p>- Restore voting rights to former felons once they've served their debt to society - through either a state consttutional amendment or a blanket partdon from the Governor.</p> <p>- Extending voting hours past 6pm, or allowing early voting, bringing us more in line with most other states and making more space for working Kentuckians to vote.</p> <p>- Taking steps to decrease the impact of large donors and corporations in our democracy so that the voices of everyday people can be heard more loudly. </p> <p>- other ideas.</p> <p> </p> <p>Please plan on coming out to a meeting close to where you live and speaking your mind - and be in touch with your local KFTC organizer or Dave Newton (<a href="mailto:Dave@kftc.org">Dave@kftc.org</a>) if you plan on attending.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>_________________________________________________________________</strong></p> <p><strong>5/9 update</strong> - We've since learned that the Kenton County/ NKY Meeting on Wednesday, May 22 is at 5:30pm at Dixie Heights High School. Locations and times for the other meetings have not yet been set. </p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-issue-areas field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issue Area(s): </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/voting-rights" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Voting Rights</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Tags: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first last"><a href="/tags/voter-empowerment" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Voter Empowerment</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-chapter field-type-entityreference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Chapter: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first"><a href="/chapters/jefferson-county">Jefferson County</a></span>, <span class="field-item field-item-# even"><a href="/chapters/madison-county">Madison County</a></span>, <span class="field-item field-item-# odd last"><a href="/chapters/northern-kentucky">Northern Kentucky</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-campaign field-type-entityreference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Campaign: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first last"><a href="/campaigns/voting-rights-amendment">Kentucky Voting Rights Amendment (HB 70)</a></span></div></div> </article> <article> <h1>Renew Big Sandy</h1> <p>erik — Thu, 09 May 2013 18:03:00 +0000</p> <span class="submitted-by"></span><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd" property="content:encoded"> <p><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;">Are you a customer of Kentucky Power / American Electric Power? </span></p> <h2 class="p1">Your voice is needed to speak up for a bright future for Eastern Kentucky. </h2> <p class="p1"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;">You can advocate for a plan that will create a just transition to build strong and healthy communities and create good jobs as American Electric Power (AEP) plans to shut down the Big Sandy coal-burning power plant near Louisa which supplies electricity to Kentucky Power customers.</span></p> <h2 class="p1"><a href="http://www.kftc.org/resources/renew-big-sandy-talking-points">Click here for tips and talking points.</a></h2> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">In order to comply with new clean air standards by 2015, American Electric Power has put forth a request to the Kentucky Public Service Commission to shut down their coal-burning Big Sandy power plant. Originally, AEP had requested to retrofit the Big Sandy plant with pollution controls at the cost of nearly $1 billion to ratepayers in order to keep producing coal power at that location. They withdrew that request in May. Now, the proposal on which the Public Service Commission is taking comments consists of shutting down the Big Sandy plant and spending $536 million to buy a 50% share in a coal-burning power plant in West Virginia. This is estimated to raise utility bills by 8%.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">These are not the only choices that should be put before Kentucky Power customers and eastern Kentuckians. There is a better way. </span></p> <h4 class="p1"><span class="s1">Eastern Kentuckians deserve a plan that will build a bright future and provide a just transition.</span></h4> <p class="p3">It is important that AEP reduce pollution from the Big Sandy plant, but they have a moral obligation to the region to invest in good jobs that will increase public health and make our communities stronger. AEP can meet their energy needs through local and regional energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, and land remediation in the eastern Kentucky region. They should provide job training and transition for laid-off plant employees, and develop a community fund that will be used to create new jobs.</p> <p class="p1">KFTC members and friends are encouraged to attend the public meetings and encourage the PSC to demand a proposal from AEP that will economically benefit the region with good local jobs while transitioning to a clean and healthy energy future. See location and time information about the meetings in the right column.</p> <p class="p3"><span class="s1">If you cannot attend the meetings, you can submit written comments until May 29. </span>Written comments will also be accepted at the meetings, by email from the Public Service Commission website, <a href="http://PSC.ky.gov">PSC.ky.gov</a> or mailed to P.O. Box 615, Frankfort, Ky. 40602.</p> <p class="p3"><a href="http://psc.ky.gov/agencies/psc/press/042013/0424_r01.PDF">Here is the press release</a> from the Public Service Commission on the public hearings, and <a href="http://psc.ky.gov/Home/Library?type=cases&folder=2012%20cases/2012-00578">here is the full list</a> of documents in the PSC case.</p> <h4 class="p3"><a href="http://www.kftc.org/resources/renew-big-sandy-talking-points">Click here to download complete suggested tips and talking points for speaking at one of the public meetings on the Big Sandy power plant.</a></h4> <p class="p3"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></span></p> <hr /><h2 class="p3">Talking Points</h2> <p class="p3">If you attend the meetings, here are some key points to make. (<a href="http://www.kftc.org/resources/renew-big-sandy-talking-points">Full tips and talking points here</a>):<span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;"> </span></p> <h5 class="p1"><span class="s1"><br />We are in an important moment but are being presented with a false choice</span></h5> <p class="p3"><span class="s1">The new clean air standards are coming and AEP must do something to meet them. This is an important moment of choice for the power company; the choice they make, and that the Public Service Commission allows them to make, will have deep and long-lasting effects on our region.</span></p> <p class="p3"><span class="s1">However, what has been presented to us is a false choice. We do not need to choose between shutting down the plant while spending more than half a billion dollars to ship the jobs to another state or paying almost double that, while significantly raising our rates, to keep the jobs burning coal at the Big Sandy plant. </span></p> <p class="p3"><span class="s1">There is a better way. <br /> </span></p> <h5 class="p1"><span class="s1">Eastern Kentuckians deserve a bright future and a just transition</span></h5> <p class="p2"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;">For decades American Electric Power has made enormous profit from the hard work, the people, the infrastructure, and the public health of our communities and region. As AEP is looking to transition to producing electricity in less harmful ways, the corporation has a moral obligation to the region to invest in good jobs that will increase public health and make our communities stronger. <br /></span></p> <p class="p2"><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;">AEP can:</span><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4;"> </span></p> <ul><li class="li4"> <h5><span class="s1">create </span><span class="s2">good, local jobs</span><span class="s1"> as well as meet their energy demands and our energy needs through local and regional </span><span class="s2">energy efficiency</span><span class="s1"> and </span><span class="s2">renewable energy</span><span class="s1"> projects</span></h5> </li> </ul><p class="p7" style="padding-left: 30px;"><span class="s1">Investment in energy efficiency programs for ratepayers would be the lowest cost option for communities. A study in 2009 in Kentucky stated that a program of energy efficiency and local renewable energy generation could create thousands more jobs than building and running a new coal-burning power plant, and at a lower cost. If AEP were serious about working to save their customers energy and save money on their bills, and getting a much larger percentage of their power from clean sources, they could put thousands of people to work throughout their service area at jobs that can’t be outsourced.</span></p> <p class="p7" style="padding-left: 30px;"><span class="s1"><em>Download the study from 2009 <a href="http://www.ochscenter.org/documents/EKPC_report.pdf">here</a>.</em><br /> </span></p> <ul><li class="li4"> <h5><span class="s1">develop </span><span class="s2">land remediation</span><span class="s1"> programs and jobs in the eastern Kentucky region<strong> </strong></span></h5> </li> </ul><p class="p7" style="padding-left: 30px;"><span class="s1">AEP can hire local workers to clean up the site at the Big Sandy plant once it is decommissioned. AEP can also train and hire workers to improve abandoned mine lands in the area where the coal was mined that supplied the plant for decades.</span></p> <p class="p7" style="padding-left: 30px;"><span class="s1"><em>You can learn more about one example of a community based land remediation project <a href="http://www.streamrestorationinc.org/">here</a>.</em><br /> </span></p> <ul><li class="li4"> <h5><span class="s2">provide job training</span><span class="s1"> and transition for laid-off plant employees</span></h5> </li> </ul><p class="p7" style="padding-left: 30px;"><span class="s1">AEP owes it to the workers at the plant and the community to provide good benefits and job training for the workers at the plant.<br /> </span></p> <ul><li class="li4"> <h5><span class="s1">develop a </span><span class="s2">community fund</span><span class="s1"> or foundation that will pay to create jobs right here in our region </span></h5> </li> </ul><p class="p7" style="padding-left: 30px;"><span class="s1">The Public Service Commission needs to look into requiring that AEP use the sulfur dioxide pollution credits they will be saving with the closure of the power plant to invest in the community, rather than to line the pockets of the share holders. AEP can create a fund with these credits that they sell on the market which in turn can be used to create the new jobs listed above and other local economic opportunities. The PSC and AEP should research the model of the Mohave coal-burning power plant on the Navajo reservation in New Mexico. The Public Service Commission was a key decision maker in that deal, and the local communities are now looking forward to a just transition with the shut down of the local power plant and coal mine.</span></p> <p class="p7" style="padding-left: 30px;"><em><span class="s1">Check out these articles <a href="http://www.grandcanyontrust.org/news/2013/02/just-transition-coalition-applauds-cpuc-decision-to-create-renewable-energy-fund-from-shut-down-coal-plant-revenues/">here</a> and <a href="http://ggucuel.org/california-public-utilities-commission-applies-utility%E2%80%99s-acid-rain-program-credit-sale-proceeds-to-renewable-energy-projects-on-native-american-lands">here</a> to learn more about the Navajo Just Transition efforts that are being funding by pollution credits from a utility that shut down a local power plant.</span></em></p> <p> </p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-campaign field-type-entityreference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Related Campaign: </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd">Appalachian Transition</div><div class="field-item even">Renew East Kentucky</div><div class="field-item odd">Sustainable Energy</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-issue-areas field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issue Area(s): </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/new-energy-and-transition" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">New Energy and Transition</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags: </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/air-quality" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Air Quality</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/power-plants" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Power Plants</a></div></div></div> </article> <article> <h1>Voting Rights featured on Constitution USA on PBS - May 21st</h1> <p>dave — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:46:00 +0000</p> <span class="submitted-by"></span><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd" property="content:encoded"> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kftcphotos/8119794088/" title="gDSC_0448 by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, on Flickr"></a>PBS is running a dynamic, interesting, and accessible series about the US Constitution entitled <a href="http://www.pbs.org/tpt/constitution-usa-peter-sagal/home/">Constitution USA</a>. with new episodes in the series every Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m. central). Locally, the program is on KET.</p> <p>Coming up on May 21st, their episode will include a focus on voting rights for former felons and will include footage from one our last year's Singing For Democracy Gospel Festivals and interviews with KFTC leader Tayna Fogle and others. </p> <p>We're excited to see this story reaching a national audience. </p> <p>We've not yet gotten to see any footage of the episode, but we encourage you all to tune in on May 21st!</p>  </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-issue-areas field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issue Area(s): </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/voting-rights" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Voting Rights</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Tags: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first last"><a href="/tags/voter-empowerment" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Voter Empowerment</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-campaign field-type-entityreference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Campaign: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first last"><a href="/campaigns/voting-rights-amendment">Kentucky Voting Rights Amendment (HB 70)</a></span></div></div> </article> <article> <h1>56th District Special Election coming up June 25th</h1> <p>dave — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:22:00 +0000</p> <span class="submitted-by"></span><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd" property="content:encoded"> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kftcphotos/2512320664/" title="IMG_0574 by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, on Flickr"></a>Representative Carl Rollins (D) stepped down from his legislative seat a few weeks ago, which covers Woodford County, parts of Franklin County, and a small piece of western Fayette County. There will be a special election to fill the vacancy. </p> <p>The <strong>election is set for Tuesday, June 25th</strong> and polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The deadline to register to vote for this election for people who live in the district but are not yet registered is May 28th. </p> <p>On the ballot are:</p>  <p>Lyen Crews (R)<br />James Kay II (D) <br />John-Mark Hack (I)</p> <p>There are 192 KFTC members in the district plus an additional 180 contacts who have signed petitions or otherwise have been connected to our work - which is really a lot given that voter turnout in the special election is likely to be low, there's reason to imagine that the votes might be close, and our members tend to be very reliable voters.</p> <p>KFTC members are considering how we might be engaged in the race including sending surveys to candidates, publishing a non-partisan voter guide, briefing candidates on KFTC's campaigns, mobilizing voters, registering voters, and more. </p> <p>But at the least, we want to encourage our members to learn about the candidates and vote!</p> <p>With no regular elections scheduled in Kentucky in 2013 this will be one of our few opportunities to get involved in electoral work this year.</p> <p>If you're from the district or nearby and want to get involved, please contact Beth Howard at <a href="mailto:Beth@kftc.org">Beth@kftc.org</a> or Dave Newton at <a href="mailto:Dave@kftc.org">Dave@kftc.org</a></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Tags: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first last"><a href="/tags/voter-empowerment" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Voter Empowerment</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-chapter field-type-entityreference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Chapter: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first last"><a href="/chapters/central-kentucky">Central Kentucky</a></span></div></div> </article> <article> <h1>Great resources and videos from Appalachia's Bright Future conference now online</h1> <p>erik — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:35:00 +0000</p> <span class="submitted-by"></span><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd" property="content:encoded"> <p>The Appalachia’s Bright Future conference, held in Harlan, KY April 19-22, brought together more than 200 people for conversations about shaping a just transition in eastern Kentucky and Central Appalachia.</p> <p class="image-align-right"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kftcphotos/8682650093/" title="Appalachia's Bright Future by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, on Flickr" data-cke-saved-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kftcphotos/8682650093/"></a></p> <p>KFTC is pleased to now make available a large number of videos, presentations, notes, media coverage about the event, suggested next steps, and other documents that were shared or created during the weekend.</p> <p><a href="http://www.kftc.org/abf/connect"><strong>The collected information can be found here.</strong></a></p> <p>We appreciate all of the speakers, workshop presenters, artists and conference participants who shared stories and provided important information and perspectives. Even a brief review of the conference web pages makes it clear that this was a pretty extraordinary gathering and conversation.</p> <p>As KFTC chairperson Sue Tallichet said during her opening remarks, “…it is difficult to envision more than a coal-based economy in our region. But I believe we have the opportunity, today, to build a diverse and healthy economy here in the mountains. Eastern Kentucky has many assets. We have a rich culture, an abundance of natural resources, and innovative, serious-minded, hard working people. Those things give us a foundation on which we can build.”</p> <p>Justin Maxson, president of the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development, underscored the point. “…if you take anything away from what I say here today, I hope it is this: We know a lot more than we think we know. We have many more assets to build from than we often believe. And despite our many challenges, including rapid changes to our local and regional economy, there are innovative people providing hopeful examples all around us. What we need now is to knit these pieces together with a vision for Appalachian renewal and help grow them to scale.”</p> <p>KFTC members and many of our allies in the region are spending time this month reflecting on the conference and developing key next steps. We encourage all KFTC members to bring your ideas and questions to the <a href="http://www.kftc.org/calendar" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="http://www.kftc.org/calendar">next chapter meeting</a> in your area. You may also leave comments and questions on <a href="http://www.kftc.org/abf" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="http://www.kftc.org/abf">the conference web pages</a>. And conference participants are invited to join a phone call on May 30th to discuss ways forward.</p> <p>Together we can build Appalachia’s Bright Future.</p>  <h3>Media coverage about the event can be found here:</h3> <ul><li><a href="http://colabradio.mit.edu/imagining-a-post-coal-appalachia/" data-cke-saved-href="http://colabradio.mit.edu/imagining-a-post-coal-appalachia/">"Imagining a Post-Coal Appalachia"</a> by Alexa Mills on Co-Lab Radio</li> <li><a href="http://www.harlandaily.com/view/full_story/22326296/article-Appalachia%E2%80%99s-Bright-Future-conference-held-at-Harlan-Center?instance=popular" data-cke-saved-href="http://www.harlandaily.com/view/full_story/22326296/article-Appalachia%E2%80%99s-Bright-Future-conference-held-at-Harlan-Center?instance=popular">"Appalachia's Bright Future Conference Held at Harlan Center"</a> by Joe P. Asher of the Harlan Daily</li> <li><a href="http://www.hazard-herald.com/view/full_story/22333818/article-KFTC-hosts-Appalachia%E2%80%99s-Bright-Future-conference-in-Harlan" data-cke-saved-href="http://www.hazard-herald.com/view/full_story/22333818/article-KFTC-hosts-Appalachia%E2%80%99s-Bright-Future-conference-in-Harlan">"KFTC hosts Appalachia's Bright Future Conference in Harlan"</a> by Shane Pippen of The Hazard Herald</li> <li><a href="http://www.kftc.org/blog/reflection-appalachias-bright-future-conference" data-cke-saved-href="http://www.kftc.org/blog/reflection-appalachias-bright-future-conference">"Reflection on Appalachia's Bright Future Conference"</a> by Meta Mendel-Reyes on KFTC's blog</li> <li><a href="http://blogs.courier-journal.com/betterlife/pdelahanty/2013/04/29/appalachias-bright-future-longtime-coming/" data-cke-saved-href="http://blogs.courier-journal.com/betterlife/pdelahanty/2013/04/29/appalachias-bright-future-longtime-coming/">"Appalachia's Bright Future Longtime Coming,"</a> a blog by Fr. Patrick Delahanty at the Louisville Courier-Journal</li> <li><a href="http://www.kentucky.com/2013/04/28/2618193/al-smith-building-a-path-to-a.html" data-cke-saved-href="http://www.kentucky.com/2013/04/28/2618193/al-smith-building-a-path-to-a.html">Op-ed, "Building a Path to a Just Transition away from Coal"</a> by Al Smith in the Lexington Herald-Leader</li> <li><a href="http://www.wvpubcast.org/insideapp.aspx?id=29729" data-cke-saved-href="http://www.wvpubcast.org/insideapp.aspx?id=29729">"Kentucky Future,"</a> a 10-minute radio piece by Sylvia Ryerson of WMMT, broadcast on "Inside Appalachia" on WV Public Radio</li> <li><a href="http://www.dailyyonder.com/region-worth-more-its-mountaintops/2013/04/30/5876" data-cke-saved-href="http://www.dailyyonder.com/region-worth-more-its-mountaintops/2013/04/30/5876">"A Region with More Than Mountaintops"</a> by Willie Davis on The Daily Yonder</li> </ul></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-issue-areas field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issue Area(s): </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/new-energy-and-transition" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">New Energy and Transition</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-chapter field-type-entityreference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Chapter: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first"><a href="/chapters/floyd-county">Floyd County</a></span>, <span class="field-item field-item-# even"><a href="/chapters/harlan-county">Harlan County</a></span>, <span class="field-item field-item-# odd"><a href="/chapters/letcher-county">Letcher County</a></span>, <span class="field-item field-item-# even"><a href="/chapters/perry-county">Perry County</a></span>, <span class="field-item field-item-# odd last"><a href="/chapters/rowan-county">Rowan County</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-campaign field-type-entityreference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Campaign: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first last"><a href="/campaigns/appalachian-transition">Appalachian Transition</a></span></div></div> </article> <article> <h1>Rally at EPA focuses on the value of clean water</h1> <p>jhardt — Wed, 08 May 2013 20:27:00 +0000</p> <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by"></span><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd" property="content:encoded"> <p>KFTC members were among the crowd that rallied Wednesday in front of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency headquarters in Washington, DC, calling for an end to mountaintop removal and protection of the region’s water.</p> <p>Residents of Central Appalachian states brought with them more than 100 gallons of brown, black and red water that have been collected from water sources in Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky.</p> <p>“Sometimes the water runs orange, and you wouldn't want to touch it, much less drink it. But what’s more dangerous is when toxic water from your tap looks and smells totally fine. People sometimes drink it for years without knowing that they’re drinking toxic water and that’s what’s making them sick,” said Josh May of Magoffin County, a member of STAY (<a href="http://www.thestayproject.org/" target="_blank">Stay Together Appalachian Youth</a>) and KFTC. “We are bringing this water to the EPA as a way of holding them accountable. We’re having them sign for it so that they can formally acknowledge the problems that we’re living with everyday in the mountains."</p>  <p>Mountaintop removal coal mining has destroyed more than 300 mountains and buried or poisoned more than 2,000 miles of streams in eastern Kentucky. Nearly two dozen studies have documented higher levels of a cancer, heart and respiratory disease, and a variety of other illnesses associated with living near a mountaintop removal operation.</p> <p>“There is no longer the luxury of time – we need the EPA to act now because people are sick and dying now,” said Dustin White, a community organizer with <a href="http://www.ohvec.org/" target="_blank">Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition</a> in West Virginia.</p> <p>The KFTC members and others have been in Washington all week as part of the annual Week in Washington coordinated by the <a href="http://www.theallianceforappalachia.org/" target="_blank">Alliance for Appalachia</a>. In addition to today’s rally, they have been meeting with agency officials and members of Congress around water, energy and economic development issues. A number of the meetings have focused on federal participation and support for efforts in the region to help the economy move beyond dependency on coal.</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/app_rising/8715603606/" title="DSC_0486 by App_Rising, on Flickr"></a>Meetings with members of Congress focused on support for the <a href="http://ilovemountains.org/clean-water-protection-act" target="_blank">Clean Water Protection Act</a>, a bill which would enact some basic protections for Appalachian streams.</p> <p>On Monday, the groups <a href="http://www.kftc.org/blog/week-washington-starts-demand-conductivity-rule" target="_blank">delivered a petition</a> to the EPA, asking officials to begin a formal rule-making process to implement a conductivity standard for streams. A federal court ruled last year that the EPA needed to go through such a process before it could enforce that standard.</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-issue-areas field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issue Area(s): </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/coal-and-water" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Coal and Water</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Tags: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first"><a href="/tags/water-quality-0" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Water Quality</a></span>, <span class="field-item field-item-# even last"><a href="/tags/week-washington" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Week in Washington</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-campaign field-type-entityreference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Campaign: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first last"><a href="/campaigns/mountaintop-removal-and-strip-mining">Mountaintop Removal and Strip Mining</a></span></div></div> </article> <article> <h1>Week in Washington starts with demand for conductivity rule</h1> <p>jhardt — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:11:00 +0000</p> <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by"></span><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd" property="content:encoded"> <p>KFTC members were part of a multi-state delegation that formally petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to begin a rule-making process to limit conductivity in the nation’s streams.</p> <p>The petition was delivered to EPA officials in Washington, DC on Monday. The delegation was in the nation’s capital city as part of the annual Week in Washington, coordinated by the Alliance for Appalachia.</p> <p>A formal petition was used because the EPA is required to respond. Central Appalachia residents have been asking EPA to begin the rule-making process since a federal court ruled last year that the agency’s conductivity “guidance” was not enforceable.</p>  <div class="callout">KFTC members and others from Central Appalachian states arrived in Washington over the weekend for a series of meetings this week with federal officials and members of Congress. The meetings will focus on protecting the region’s water supplies, efforts for economic restoration and transition, and ending destructive mining practices. The Week In Washington includes more than 100 residents from Central Appalachian states and allies.</div> <p>KFTC member Rick Handshoe said the EPA has good science to back a reasonable conductivity limit.</p> <p>“This conductivity guidance – based on scientific evidence – gives us the first sign that something may be wrong with our water. It is a great tool for people in Appalachia,” Handshoe said. “It may not tell you what exactly is wrong but it does tell you something is wrong and further testing is needed.</p> <p>“It’s been a great tool for me. I’ve tested a creek where the water was crystal clear but the conductivity meter ran over 4000 microsiemens (µS). That told me something was wrong, and after further testing was done we saw how bad it was – some of the pollutant levels were 100 times the water standard.”</p> <p>Research shows that the health of aquatic life in Central Appalachian streams begins to be affected when conductivity levels reach 300 µS, and begins to die at 500 µS. In April 2008, EPA issued “guidance” for in-stream limits at the 500 µS level.</p> <p>Even though the standard was issued as guidance and not a formal rule, EPA began to enforce that limit in permits. That prompted a lawsuit by the National Mining Association, joined by the Beshear administration and others. Last year, a federal court ruled in favor of the NMA, stating that the EPA overstepped its authority by not issuing a formal rule.</p> <div class="callout"> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Day of Action</h3> <p>A <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/278772118925621" target="_blank">Day of Action</a> on Wednesday will cap this year’s Week in Washington activities. Residents of Appalachian states will rally in front of the headquarters of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (9 a.m. at 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW), demanding the agency do more to stop the dumping of toxic mining waste into the region’s waterways.</p> <p>“The EPA needs to do what state governments are failing to do, protect Appalachian communities and restore clean water protections. EPA holds the keys to unlock a brighter, healthier, and more prosperous future for Appalachia,” says the message from Appalachia Rising.</p> </div> <p>Importantly, the court did not dispute the destruction caused by mountaintop removal and valleys fills or the science behind limiting the water pollution that results. That leaves the EPA with a solid basis to issue a formal rule.</p> <p>A reason the coal industry and the Beshear administration fought so strongly against conductivity limits was because it was an “in-stream” standard. So rather than only limit individual pollution discharges, as state officials prefer to do, the EPA guidance considered the cumulative impact of all discharges as measured by the conductivity level in the stream.</p> <p>Many, many streams in areas where coal is mined already exceed the 500 µS threshold.</p> <p>Handshoe has tested streams that flow through his Floyd County property for several years. Conductivity levels regularly exceed 1400 µS, with levels of 1900 µS and above more common, with occasional spikes to 4000 µS.</p> <p>“Everything in the stream is dead because Kentucky officials are not doing their jobs,” Handshoe pointed out. “We need federal action if we are to have any hope that our streams will one day recover.”</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-issue-areas field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issue Area(s): </div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/coal-and-water" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Coal and Water</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Tags: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first last"><a href="/tags/water-quality-0" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Water Quality</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-campaign field-type-entityreference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Campaign: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first"><a href="/campaigns/communities-taking-action">Communities Taking Action</a></span>, <span class="field-item field-item-# even last"><a href="/campaigns/mountaintop-removal-and-strip-mining">Mountaintop Removal and Strip Mining</a></span></div></div> </article> <article> <h1>Prisons won't unlock prosperity in E. Ky.</h1> <p>tanya — Mon, 06 May 2013 13:18:00 +0000</p> <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by"></span><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd" property="content:encoded"> <p>U.S. Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers recently announced major progress for efforts to bring a new maximum-security federal prison to Letcher County, one of the many Eastern Kentucky counties hard hit by the declining coal industry.</p> <p>The Federal Bureau of Prisons awarded a contract to conduct an environmental impact study on two selected sites. But even as that process moves forward, no funding has yet been allocated for construction of the proposed $250 million to $350 million project.</p> <p>If built, this will be the fourth new federal prison to come to Eastern Kentucky, and the sixth federal prison built in Central Appalachia, since 1992 — in addition to new state and private prisons. Indeed, in the last quarter-century of skyrocketing incarceration, Central Appalachia has become one of the most concentrated areas of prison growth in the country.</p> <p>Each prison came with the promise of hundreds of jobs and broad-scale economic growth. So as Letcher County waits, we should ask, what happened in these other prison-host communities. Did the promises come true?</p> <p>McCreary County, where a federal prison opened in 2004, provides one example.</p>  <p>In 1990, McCreary County had the lowest per capita income in the state, and a staggering 45 percent of the population was living below the poverty line. So when rumors began to circulate that a new prison might be coming to town, it was welcome news. "At that particular time it was the biggest thing, it was like Santa Claus has come," said Jimmie Greene, who was then McCreary County judge-executive. "He's given us a gift that we didn't expect, didn't know anything about. And I was just overjoyed."</p> <p>Officials were told the prison would have an operating annual budget of $25 million, with 80 percent of the money spent locally, and that it would bring hundreds of jobs. So the county rolled out the red carpet to ensure the prison's arrival — running new sewer lines, paving roads, building a whole new water treatment plant.</p> <p>But it wasn't until 2001 — a year into the prison's construction — that the qualifications needed for getting a prison job became apparent. All applicants would be drug-tested and background checked, need a clean credit history and no prior criminal record, have to pass a rigorous physical exam and be younger than 38. County residents would be given no preference in the hiring process, and a four-year college degree and previous institutional experience were "highly recommended."</p> <p>As Blaine Phillips, who succeeded Greene as McCreary judge-executive, recounted in 2009, "Of the 300 and something employees that work at the prison, I don't think we have over 25 or 30 local people that are working there," he said. "It was not what they were telling us at first."</p> <p>Transferring employees filled the vast majority of positions and most chose to live in nearby cities outside the county. They did not buy local real estate, shop at local businesses or put their children in county schools. The prison purchases supplies from national wholesalers, not local businesses. And the county's property tax base was permanently reduced when the prison land transferred from private ownership to the federal government.</p> <p>It's been almost a decade since the prison opened in McCreary County, and it remains one of the poorest counties in one of our nation's poorest congressional districts. The situation is so dire the school board is facing a $1 million shortfall in the upcoming year, and one proposal is to cut kindergarten to a half-day.</p> <p>Clay and Martin counties, where federal prisons opened in 1992 and 2003, also rank among the 10 poorest counties in the state.</p> <p>Kentucky's experience is not unique. One 2010 study analyzed data on every rural county in the country from 1969 to 2004 and found no evidence that prison construction leads to economic growth, and furthermore that the poorest counties are the most likely to have a net loss from prison construction.</p> <p>Prisons do not bring prosperity to the communities that host them. And in addition to failing the struggling regions where they are built, we must also ask, why prisons are being offered as a tool for rural economic development in the first place. Why should the federal government spend $300 million to build another one?</p> <p>Eastern Kentucky needs real investment, in its schools, its small businesses, its people. It doesn't need another prison.</p> <p> </p> <p>Originally published in the Herald-Leader, <span class="grd">April 28, 2013</span></p> <p>Sylvia Ryerson of Letcher County is a journalist for WMMT 88.7 Mountain Community Radio, a project of Appalshop.</p> <div style="width: 1px; height: 1px; color: #000000; font: 10pt sans-serif; text-align: left; text-transform: none; overflow: hidden;"><br />Read more here: <a href="http://www.kentucky.com/2013/04/28/2618196/ky-voices-prisons-wont-unlock.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy">http://www.kentucky.com/2013/04/28/2618196/ky-voices-prisons-wont-unlock...</a></div> <div style="width: 1px; height: 1px; color: #000000; font: 10pt sans-serif; text-align: left; text-transform: none; overflow: hidden;"><br />Read more here: <a href="http://www.kentucky.com/2013/04/28/2618196/ky-voices-prisons-wont-unlock.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy">http://www.kentucky.com/2013/04/28/2618196/ky-voices-prisons-wont-unlock...</a></div> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-chapter field-type-entityreference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Chapter: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first last"><a href="/chapters/letcher-county">Letcher County</a></span></div></div> </article> <article> <h1>Northern Kentucky members pull double duty</h1> <p>joe — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 21:14:00 +0000</p> <div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by"></span><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd" property="content:encoded"> <p>On April 27<sup>,</sup> members of the Northern Kentucky KFTC Chapter split time at two separate tables to help raise awareness about our work across the state. Half of the group attended The Great American Cleanup, while the other half participated in a community yard sale for Relay For Life.</p> <p>The Great American Cleanup group was comprised of members from Northern Kentucky University’s Environmentally Concerned Organization of Students (ECOS) and a couple of other members. They set up at Goebel Park in Covington, talked to people about KFTC’s work to fight mountaintop removal mining, promote jobs and green energy through our Renew East Kentucky work, and the potential impact the Clean Energy Opportunity Act could have regionally. Several members also joined in to help remove invasive species from the park.</p> <p>The rest of the crew were set up in Florence at Ockerman Middle School selling KFTC merchandise and items that they donated to help raise funds. Often times people asked what KFTC stood for, and people learned more about the great work we are doing locally and statewide. This was the third time the chapter has taken part in this event over the last four years, and has been a great way to help reach potential members in Boone County.</p> <p>Between the two events the chapter raised nearly $100 in grassroots fundraising, recruited 5 new members, and helped increase the community’s awareness of the work our organization is doing.</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Tags: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first last"><a href="/tags/fundraiser" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Fundraiser</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-chapter field-type-entityreference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Chapter: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first last"><a href="/chapters/northern-kentucky">Northern Kentucky</a></span></div></div> </article> <article> <h1>Homer White's speech at today's Georgetown Non-Discrimination Rally</h1> <p>dave — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 02:04:00 +0000</p> <span class="submitted-by"></span><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd" property="content:encoded"> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kftcphotos/8683822871/" title="100_1303 by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, on Flickr"></a>Georgetown College has changed for the better in a lot of ways, in the last few years.<br />- We have a thriving diversity initiative.<br />- For the past five years we have had written policies in place that prevent discrimination against gay students, and anti-harassment policies that protect people of all sorts.<br />- Recently we hired our first openly gay faculty members.<br /><br />So we honestly believed it was a matter of mere housekeeping to extend the College’s nondiscrimination policies for faculty and staff to include such things as sexual orientation. In April 2012 the faculty approved such a policy for faculty. This proposal passed with 90% of the vote and a big round of applause.</p> <p>But last year the Board of Trustees voted down the new policy. We are here today to ask, in public, that the Board reconsider its decision, and to make the case for our proposal.</p> <p>Certainly it’s the right thing to do for many practical reasons:<br />- Most other Colleges that we admire have such a policy. Colleges know that students these days just aren’t afraid of being around gay folks.<br />- Every Fortune 500 company in Kentucky has such a policy: they say that a diverse work force is a creative and committed workforce.</p> <p>But for us the heart of the matter is that it’s simply the right thing to do, morally and spiritually. Still, we do encounter some objections, so I’d like to consider them briefly</p> <p>Some on campus do have moral and theological objections to gay relationships. They are objections of principle.</p> <p>To them we say: You can and should, in conscience, oppose us! In fact, we want you to oppose us, because you would then be acting on your conscience, and we consider people who act on their conscience to be our friends. But we invite you to become our allies.</p> <p>So oppose us by engaging us in a conversation, where the aim is to find out the truth. We really do want to speak with you in this way. In fact we look forward to that conversation so very much that we would like to suggest a couple of things for you to think about in advance.</p> <p>Think about the meaning and value you attach to the committed love of two human beings. Most of what comes to mind has nothing to do with their ability to have children. By their love for one another, a couple support and uphold each other, whether or not they have children. And whether or not they have children, their love also reaches outward in a lifetime of service to the community, precisely because their love is:<br />- planted in the community,<br />- affirmed by the community,<br />- celebrated by the community,<br />- nurtured by the community<br />- and protected by the community.<br /><br />The same exalted possibilities exist for gay couples, who, just like any infertile straight couple, cannot have children. A gay couple can support and uphold one another through a lifetime, and can serve the community for a lifetime, provided that their love is:<br />- planted in the community<br />- affirmed by the community,<br />- celebrated by the community,<br />- nurtured by the community<br />- and protected legally by the community<br /><br />Think about Scripture. We know you like to! No doubt you’ll draw our attention to passages in the Hebrew Scriptures and in the New Testament that appear to condemn homosexuality, and you’ll point out that Jesus has not a word to say in defense of it. But at the same time, the Hebrew Scriptures condone and regulate slavery, St. Paul enjoins slaves to obey their masters, and Jesus has nary a word to say against it. Do you therefore think it’s OK to buy and sell human beings? Of course not! Instead you realize that in order to draw out and abide by the deep meaning of Scriptural teachings on justice and the dignity of the human person, you have to set aside the passages that support slavery. Re-examine Scriptural teachings on human love in a similar way: look for their deepest meaning. You may conclude that in order to draw out their deepest meaning and to really uphold the exalted possibilities of a human marriage, you will have to set aside the ancient injunctions against gay love. When you set aside these injunctions, you are not being led astray by the Devil, but responding instead to the Holy Spirit who guides you to all Truth. When your heart changes on a matter so profound and so intimate you will not experience this change as retreat from your faith, but rather as a liberation—and a joy.</p> <p>We turn now to the Board of Trustees, who so far have not shown a great deal of interest in a conversation. But thanks to the persistence of some very brave students we have been able to learn a few of their objections to our proposal, and I regret to report that they are not objections of principle.</p> <p>Some on the Board say there is no need for a nondiscrimination policy. “Show us the discrimination on campus!” they have demanded.</p> <p>To this we say: you need look no further than your own history! In the one recorded instance where the College came under external pressure to fire an employee who had come out as gay, the College caved in to that pressure and compelled that person to resign. This happened in the year 2000. We know the name of this person, and believe me the people in this building know his name, too!</p> <p>A written policy that protects both faculty and staff will empower College officials to resist external pressure in the future.</p> <p>Some on the Board have said that a nondiscrimination policy increases the College’s legal liability.</p> <p>To them we say:<br />- football increases our legal liability,<br />- baseball increases our legal liability,<br />- basketball increases our legal liability,<br />- any number of worthy collegiate activities increase our legal liability.<br />- If we are glad to sponsor these activities because their worth outweighs their risks, should we not accept, with even greater joy, the obligations that attend upon justice?<br /><br />Some on the Board have said: “the College will change its policy someday. But we want to wait until Baptist culture changes in Kentucky.”</p> <p>To them we say:<br />- The culture changes when people stop being satisfied with the status quo<br />- The culture changes when people decide they will not wait for it to change<br />- The culture changes when people stop pretending to be what they are not<br />- So stop pretending, stop waiting! Join us now in creating a new culture—a new Baptist culture, if you like--right here on this campus: a culture of inclusion and respect for the dignity of every human person.</p> <p>And bear in mind, too, that by adopting this policy you will not only be helping Georgetown College. You may wind up doing a world of good for other folks, too. Maybe right now there is some other small Christian college in Kentucky:<br />- Where students sit alone in their dorm rooms and wonder: “How much longer do I have to pretend to be straight?”<br />- Where faculty and staff sit alone in their offices and wonder: “How much longer do we have to pretend that gay students choose not to come to this college?”<br />- Where members of the Board of Trustees sit alone and at home and wonder: “How much longer do we have to pretend that we don’t have gay professors on our campus?”</p> <p>Maybe folks at that other College will hear about what Georgetown has done, and they’ll start talking with other and realize that they too are not satisfied with the status quo, that they too will not wait for the culture to change. And most importantly, they too will realize that they are not alone.</p> <p>Some years ago the Board gave this motto to Georgetown College: “Live, Learn, Believe.” We own that motto and we add to it:</p> <p>Live, Learn, Believe and Lead!</p> <p>Live, Learn, Believe and Lead!</p> <p>Live, Learn, Believe and Lead! …</p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Tags: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first last"><a href="/tags/lgbtq-equality" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">LGBTQ equality</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-chapter field-type-entityreference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Chapter: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first last"><a href="/chapters/scott-county">Scott County</a></span></div></div> </article> <article> <h1>Powerful LGBT rights organizing in Georgetown</h1> <p>dave — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 01:44:00 +0000</p> <span class="submitted-by"></span><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd" property="content:encoded"> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kftcphotos/8683778321/" title="100_1354 by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, on Flickr"></a>This afternoon, over 100 Georgetown College students, faculty, staff, alumni, and allies came out to a powerful rally in support of a non-discrimination policy protecting members of their community who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or trans-gender.</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kftcphotos/8683821585/" title="100_1305 by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, on Flickr"></a>At a college of just 1,200 students on a Friday just before finals, that's a pretty big deal. </p> <p>Throughout the semester, there has been a growing campaign to put pressure on the Georgetown College Board of Trustees since they declined to vote on the policy after the faculty overwhelmingly passed it last year. </p> <p>The work has been spearheaded by the Non-Discrimination Work Group on campus, but is supported by many organizations including Kentuckians For the Commonwealth members in Scott County. </p> <p>A number of media outlets came today generating stories <a href="http://www.kentucky.com/2013/04/26/2616775/rally-at-georgetown-college-asks.html">like this piece from the Herald-Leader.</a> </p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kftcphotos/sets/72157633360288646/with/8683779723/">You can also find a gallery of other pictures of the rally online here. </a></p> <p>And although the semester is almost over, there's more work to do to pressure the Georgetown College Board of Trustees, including prior to their meeting tomorrow morning. </p> <p><strong>Please join us at 8am at East Campus (at the edge of Georgetown College farthest away from downtown or main street - near the Georgetown College football field. ) to hold some signs at Board of Trustees members arrive for their monthly meeting.</strong></p> <p>Some students are camping out in tents and sleeping bags there over night, but other supporters are invited to join them in the morning. Can you make it out in solidarity with them?</p> <p>Also, over 300 people have signed the petition in support of a non-discrimination policy. <a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/gc-non-discrimination">If you haven't already, please take two minutes to do it! </a></p> <p><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/gc-non-discrimination"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kftcphotos/8684877204/" title="Georgetown College Rally 19 by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, on Flickr"></a></p>  </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Tags: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first last"><a href="/tags/lgbtq-equality" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">LGBTQ equality</a></span></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-chapter field-type-entityreference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Chapter: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first last"><a href="/chapters/scott-county">Scott County</a></span></div></div> </article> <article> <h1>Central Kentucky chapter remembers Danny Cotton and envisions what Kentucky deserves at chapter meeting</h1> <p>bethhoward — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:43:00 +0000</p> <span class="submitted-by"></span><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd" property="content:encoded"> <p class="image-align-left"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kftcphotos/8684378012/" title="DSCN0018 by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, on Flickr"></a></p> <p>The chapter held its monthly chapter meeting on Thursday, April 18<sup>th</sup> at 7 p.m. at The Episcopal Mission House. Chapter members used this space to remember fellow KFTC member Danny Cotton and reflect on the spirit and energy that he brought to the chapter and everyone around him. “The Commonwealth did not have enough time with Danny. He had a deeply rooted sense of place here and he devoted the time he had to fighting for and loving this place,” KFTC member Greg Capillo said.</p> <p>In honor of Danny, KFTC chapter members thought of what they each believed Kentucky deserves and wrote Tumbler messages expressing their vision for Kentucky and their disappointment about how the sequester that Mitch McConnell demanded might adversely affect that vision.</p>  <p class="image-align-right"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kftcphotos/8683273681/" title="DSCN0040 by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, on Flickr"></a></p> <p>KFTC CKY Chapter Member Sarah Martin wrote: “I’m a Kentuckian! I’m a woman, an aunt, a best friend, a lesbian, a unionized worker, an awesome hugger, and a social justice advocate. I want our children, our state’s future, to be given the best shot to succeed. That’s why I want Head Start and Early Head Start to not lose any support and funding, but because of the sequester that McConnell demanded, approximately 1,100 Kentucky kids will lose access. Kentucky Deserves Better!”</p> <p>KFTC CKY Chapter Member Jarred Brewster wrote: “I am a Kentuckian. I am a restaurant worker. I want to see more students emerge from college with smaller debt burdens so that they can contribute to their communities in the ways they find most fulfilling. I want to see federal funding for low-income students upheld but because of the sequester that McConnell demanded 1,710 fewer low income students will receive federal aid and 470 fewer students will have access to work studies. Kentucky Deserves Better!”</p> <p>Members have also been working on researching community problems that the chapter can address on a local level. Chapter members heard a research report from members of the local work committee and participated in a training about selecting good local issues. Members studied the elements that make up an effective local campaign and what to keep in mind going forward.</p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.4;">Join us for our next chapter meeting on Thursday, May 16</span><sup>th</sup><span style="line-height: 1.4;"> at 7 p.m. at the Episcopal Mission House on the corner of MLK and 4</span><sup>th</sup><span style="line-height: 1.4;"> Street. The chapter meeting will focus on using media as a way to make social change.</span></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-related-chapter field-type-entityreference field-label-inline clearfix"><span class="field-label">Chapter: </span><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item field-item-# odd first last"><a href="/chapters/central-kentucky">Central Kentucky</a></span></div></div> </article> </main></body></html>