By the Kentucky Sierra Club
Coal River Mountain Watch (CRMW), based in the heart of the West Virginia coalfields – Whitesville, West Virginia in Boone County – is a very lean, boot-strap organization that has been fighting for a clean, just energy future for America for many many years. This is a true grassroots organization, their hearts are in the mountains, and the mountain above their little town is being blown apart for coal. CRMW’s Judy Bonds won a Goldman Prize for her work fighting mountaintop removal.
Coal River Mountain Watch has been documenting the destruction of their mountains with an innovative drone video program, operated for years by CRMW’s amazing Junior Walk, author of the new book “Walk, On the Mountain – Not a Manifesto.”
You can see Junior’s videos here: https://www.youtube.com/@StopMTR/videos
Right now, Coal River Mountain Watch is asking the public – anyone who cares about the mountains – for a little help. They need a “good running, rugged, reliable” vehicle to travel the West Virginia mountains – some rough and gravel roads – safely. 4WD would be ideal.
Junior Walk writes: “For over a quarter century, we at Coal River Mountain Watch have done everything within our power to stop coal companies from pillaging our region with their surface mining practices…we have been able to cost Lexington Coal Company, who operates the Twilight surface mine complex in Boone and Raleigh Counties (West Virginia) over three million dollars in fines…
“Our mountain monitoring vehicle, a 2000 Ford Ranger with a whole lot of miles on it, decided to give up the ghost right before Christmas. This has put our important work on hold until we can figure out a new transportation solution.”
The vehicle will be used to transport staff to meetings and conferences and to drive up twisting mountain roads to document mountaintop removal.
So they either need a vehicle donated or about $20,000 to buy a used 4WD or truck.
How You Can Help:
- If you have such a vehicle you would be willing to donate, you can contact Coal River Mountain Watch on their website http://www.crmw.net
- Or you can donate towards the purchase of a vehicle at https://secure.givelively.org/ donate/coal-river-mountain-watch.
- To donate by check: CRMW, P.O. Box 303, Naoma, WV 25140. Donations to CRMW are tax-deductible.
“A good, rugged, running vehicle would be very helpful right now.”