I wish to thank Kentucky's coal miners for bringing to my attention that one of Tennessee's US Senators, a Republican, wants to ban mountaintop removal!
http://www.kentucky.com/...
Key quote:
Republican U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander is sponsoring legislation that would bar coal companies from the controversial mining practice that involves blasting away mountaintops to unearth coal and dumping dirt, rock and trees into the valleys beneath. Such a ban would effectively halt the destructive form of mining.
So, how did our Kentucky coal miners react to this news??
This way:
Angry Appalachian coal miners are refusing to vacation in Tennessee because they say one of that state's political leaders wants to eliminate needed jobs by banning mountaintop removal
Amazingly, I think Alexander actually 'gets it':
But Alexander said Appalachia's mountaintops should be preserved, not destroyed.
"I understand their feelings," Alexander told The Associated Press on Friday. "But I have feelings, too. And my feelings are that millions of people come to Tennessee to see the beauty of the mountaintops and not to see mountains whose tops have been blown off with the waste dumped in our streams - which is all I am trying to stop."
Now is the time to SUPPORT someone who believes in preserving this country's mountains. I am pleased especially that a Republican Senator understands this. Could this be the beginning of a Republican trend towards environmentalis? Well, probably not, but wouldn't it be nice to make sure that at least he doesn't regret his decision?
Why not visit this site:
Tennessee Vacation
and let them know that you might visit Tennessee because of the Senator's stand on mountaintop removal! It is all too rare to see such a brave stand as this.