Jim Hansen, (of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies) says we have ten years for CO2 emissions to peak and decline before complete climate destabilization. This urgency poses an exciting opportunity to solve a global emergency. It is so important right now to fight for what we believe in. We can reconnect to the people and land that we belong to by uniting ourselves to create a just and sustainable future.

It is empowering to stand up to officials and show them that coal is not an option if we want to solve the climate crisis. More empowering is to stand up to officials and show them that there are renewable alternatives to the coal empire. Alternatives such as energy efficiency that, as Jim Hansen recently stated, will off-set the need to expand unit 6 of the Cliffside facility.

Thank you Jim Rogers for acknowledging our platform, however, please put yourself in the shoes of the younger generations who will have to deal with the devastation of climate change. Coal might seem like the cheapest option but if one looks deeper, the coal industry is costing Southern Appalachians their health and wellbeing, the integrity of the mountains, water and air quality and a sustainable economy. I can think about what it might be like run a large powerful company such as Duke Energy. But how could I make a decision between profits and green jobs. A clean energy economy will not only restore balance to the ecosystem, but will also provide pathways out of poverty.

Community-based food, energy, decision-making systems are part of a healthy, life-promoting way of being. Lets live that, lets think logically and act with our hearts. It’s a growing revolution that vital to human survival on this planet.

Nina Otter

Swanannoa, NC, November 18th 2007

. Another major producer of mercury emissions is chlorine plants. Chlorine plants have been using mercury in their production for well over 100 years in the United States. Much of this mercury escapes through “fugitive emissions” – and then on top of that, many chlorine plants have unaccounted for mercury losses that make their way into the environment.
However, there is a solution. Newer membrane cell technology eliminates the need for mercury use in chlorine plants. Already 90% of the industry uses this technology, and there are ongoing campaigns to make chlorine production completely mercury-free. To learn more about this campaign check out the
Oceana website.

Is DAQ willing to take the plunge and actually look at CO2 as a pollutant – as they did in Kansas?

The tides are turning in our fight against new coal plants, and what once seemed (not too long ago really) like an unstoppable wave of 150+ new coal plants is beginning to be fought back, and the plans for new carbon, mercury and smog-belching, mountain-top eating coal plants are dropping like flies these days!

But the fight’s certainly not yet over. Keep at it friends. In solidarity,

-Jesse

Hats off to Warren-Wilson folks for putting your bodies on the line!

-Matt