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But I don't even know what mountaintop removal mining is, you might say. Well, ignorance is not bliss here—mountaintop removal mining is a very real, very destructive practice. It involves exactly what you'd think it does—it's the act of literally blowing the top off a mountain in order to mine for coal. Until recently, it was banned in many states. And even though the majority of Americans are against mountaintop removal mining, (even Ashley Judd hates it) it seems to keep finding ways to creep up again.
The practice has some extremely negative side effects on the environment—besides, you know, removing the tops of mountains. Nearby bodies of water get flooded with waste rock and soot, which can ruin water supplies for both ecosystems and human communities. Many once vital habitats have been rendered barren wastelands as a result of the practice.
So what can you do? For starters, checking out the I Love Mountains organization online will get you acquainted with how mountaintop removal mining affects you directly—for instance, you're probably unaware, as I was, that the power plant that generates electricity may very well burn coal harvested from destroyed mountains. The site will then help you take action, if you're so inclined, by aiding you in sending awareness emails (it takes about a second to do this, and can really help).
Mountaintop removal mining, which takes place most commonly in the coal rich Appalachian mountains, is truly one of the most outright egregious acts being perpetrated by American industry. It really needs to be stopped—which is why it's good news that 5 new states have proposed legislation to halt the practice.
So please, do what you can. Let's keep the tops of mountains where they belong.
More on Mountaintop Removal Mining:
An Alternative to Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining in West Virginia
Bush Admin Expands Mountaintop Coal Mining
Green Gorilla Cartoon Tells Kids About Mountain Top Removal Mining
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