Knowledge can be challenging. Striving toward change—even more so.
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As Coal Production Ramps Up, Companies Should Pay Their Debts to Mining Communities
According to reports from the Energy Information Administration, coal production will be on the rise due to increases in electrical generation from coal fired power plants and…
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The Ongoing Fight Against Media’s Misrepresentation of Appalachia
A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Daniel Flatley from Bloomberg News. He was working on a story aimed at understanding why coal miners were not retraining…
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The Real Presidential “Delegation”
We all know the stereotype, the clueless boss who has no idea how to do a damn thing. You go to them with a problem and they instantly…
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Maintenance, safety, and the drive for production
I just read an article about Daniel L. Couch Jr., a mine maintenance chief who pleaded guilty to falsifying safety documents. Before people go throwing him under the…
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Against Our Own Best Interest: Why Working People Shouldn’t Elect Businessmen Into Office
I’ve run across many people who believe business executives are a good choice for lawmakers. Many of these same people also complain about the poor treatment of…
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Searching for Justice in Appalachia: Part II
In my original post, I skirted along the edges of some personal beliefs that I often spare my readership, beliefs that I must admit, cause me to doubt…
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The Love of a Coal Mining Father
Like many fathers living in central Appalachia, my dad didn’t have a lot of choices after he graduated high school. He couldn’t bare the thought of leaving his…
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Will supporting carbon capture help coal mining communities?
I just read an article stating the National Resource Defense Council and the Clean Air Task Force, two well known, well funded environmental organizations, are now showing support…
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Coal Miners Deserve Better
In 1989, Pittston Coal (present day Alpha Natural Resources), eliminated the healthcare benefits of all it’s pensioners. This included retirees, disabled miners, and widows. It led to the…
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Trump Isn’t Creating Coal Jobs, He’s Helping the Industry Make More Money
Before coal miners rejoice the end of “Obama’s War on Coal,” they should realize the war on their jobs isn’t over—that war began well before Barack Obama took…