The Appalachian Coalfields Delegation created an historic moment with its powerful stories and diverse outreach during a 2-year project at the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Alliances were forged and the civil society discourse on energy, particularly what is sustainable energy and who gets to define it, has been challenged. Their answer---"it comes from the people!"
Original announcement below...
A group of 15 coalfield community activists will depart on May 2nd for New York to participate in the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development devoted to energy. Their message will be a simple 2-part policy statement...no such thing as clean coal and that renewable energy along with conservation are their prefered energy policy visions.
The delegation is being coordinated by the Appalachian Coalition through our national/international link, the Citizens Network for Sustainable Development (CitNet). Tricia Feeney, based in Whitesburg, KY, is coordinating the delegation which is scheduled to depart from Charleston, WV. A tremendous amount of support and involvement is coming from Coal River Mountain Watch, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition (OVEC), Appalachian Voices, and Kentuckians For The Commonwealth (KFTC), and other groups.
As most government officials continue to ignore the atrocities of mountain top removal, coal sludge impoundments, and underground injections of sludge, it is up to the people of the Appalachian coal fields to let the world know the harsh realities of an economy built on seemingly cheap electricity.
What the coalfield delegation will do
First, we'll participate in many caucus meetings on energy, sustainble production and consumption, sustainable communities, and others focused on energy and sustainability. We'll be present at each morning's daily NGO strategy meetings, and we'll monitor the US Government delegations briefings. We have a central role on a formal UN Panel discussion entitled "The Sustainable Production and Consumption of Energy: Views from Civil Society." On this panel as well as throughout the conference, we will be networking with other grassroots activists from impacted communities from around the world. Don Brown, author of The Ethics of Global Warming will also be joining us on this panel, bringing his focus on state and local actions and alternatives within our uncooperative federal government.
Add your voice to the "no such thing as clean coal" campaign
Coal River Mountain Watch asks you to please sign on to its declaration "There's no such thing as clean coal."
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