One argument used by the pro-MTR coal side concerns how those arguing against MTR are often simultaneously utilizing coal in the process of our protest. This computer I’m using tonight, for example, is using electricity no doubt generated by valley fill harvested coal, trucked to a 
coal-fired plant, and wired to my house in some magical way that keeps my lights on, my fridge running, the washing machine spinning, and this computer computing. We acknowledge this parasitical relationship begrudgingly, resenting our seeming need for at least some electricity and big coal’s need for customers with no other choice. We fire back by demanding state legislators swear off MTR coal (as some are doing), for research and the implementation of renewable forms, and swear we’ll decrease our personal energy consumption until this happens. Trying to find a tangible way to make a direct impact on this macro-scaled relationship can leave us feeling a bit helpless. We need something real to do in order to feel more in control of our lives and our choices. Something that combined with others brings the monster down.
We depend on those smarter than ourselves to come up with figures that inform us that around 50% of the nation’s energy is generated from coal. That’s all forms of coal mining. While many protesting coal-related issues have opinions ranging from the total elimination of coal usage to
the targeting of differing forms of destructive surface mining, many of us are concentrating the majority of our outrage against the MTR method and big coal’s direct and indirect oppression of mountain communities and culture. Figures also tell us that somewhere between six and seven percent of the nation’s coal energy originates from MTR. This is what I want to talk about here.
If, in fact, I am a part of the problem by having that connection to MTR coal, I must do something about it that eliminates my link. A constant effort at looking more deeply into the products I buy and use gets me straight to the heart of the relationship. Not doing this puts money in the opposition’s pocket, funds their lobbyists and attorneys, encourages them to keeping smiling behind my back, even if I’m at a protest screaming how much I can’t stand them.
This is what I say to them in hopes of helping wipe that smile of their face:
Dear Big Coal,
I’m a Kentuckian living in the middle of coal country, but I condemn your destructive, short-sighted practice of valley fill mining. You know this. You see our various forms of protest against it weekly in the news and try turning a blind eye to what you know will ultimately force you to halt this practice. Ironically, I’m also personally dependent on a certain amount of this coal to live in today’s world for I haven’t the means now to self-provide my power. This angers me since it puts you at a perceived advantage. As a Kentuckian, as a citizen of the United States, somewhere between six and seven percent of the coal energy I consume is from mountaintop removal coal. It’s probably much more than that.
So until you are forced at the state and federal level to do what you know you must, I must make changes to counteract your monetary and political advantage. I am further reducing my consumption of electricity by 10%, the thing you fear most. This will lessen my addiction to the supply flow you control. This will be a difficult undertaking, requiring the sacrifice of additional comforts. I will better understand products and services and companies that also use your coal and decrease my need upon them as well.
Though I am only one person, the two others I convince to do the same strengthen that effect. The others they influence, and so on, increase that rippling sentiment, and when it reaches you it
will indeed effect your situation. Imagine a complete 10% or more decrease in our need of your product. Everyone in your supply line will feel it. They will be discomforted. Expect their increasing pressure on you, added to increased state and federal scrutiny that will regulate you out of business. It will not be a comfortable position to find yourself. And no increased production will outrun that inevitability.
You will say that with less consumption there is the risk of price inflation. Perhaps that’s true. It might trickle around like that but I’m pretty sure you do what you want. Most of us are not economists. We’re enlightened consumers in a world quickly destroying itself who realize that personal sacrifice must be made to counter-balance your stranglehold on commonsense.
You know all the efforts I can make that decrease my consumption already, don’t you? I’ll add this decrease to what I’m already conserving. And when I get accustomed to that I’ll decrease further, rendering you and your system as helpless as I used to feel.
coal-fired plant, and wired to my house in some magical way that keeps my lights on, my fridge running, the washing machine spinning, and this computer computing. We acknowledge this parasitical relationship begrudgingly, resenting our seeming need for at least some electricity and big coal’s need for customers with no other choice. We fire back by demanding state legislators swear off MTR coal (as some are doing), for research and the implementation of renewable forms, and swear we’ll decrease our personal energy consumption until this happens. Trying to find a tangible way to make a direct impact on this macro-scaled relationship can leave us feeling a bit helpless. We need something real to do in order to feel more in control of our lives and our choices. Something that combined with others brings the monster down.We depend on those smarter than ourselves to come up with figures that inform us that around 50% of the nation’s energy is generated from coal. That’s all forms of coal mining. While many protesting coal-related issues have opinions ranging from the total elimination of coal usage to
the targeting of differing forms of destructive surface mining, many of us are concentrating the majority of our outrage against the MTR method and big coal’s direct and indirect oppression of mountain communities and culture. Figures also tell us that somewhere between six and seven percent of the nation’s coal energy originates from MTR. This is what I want to talk about here.If, in fact, I am a part of the problem by having that connection to MTR coal, I must do something about it that eliminates my link. A constant effort at looking more deeply into the products I buy and use gets me straight to the heart of the relationship. Not doing this puts money in the opposition’s pocket, funds their lobbyists and attorneys, encourages them to keeping smiling behind my back, even if I’m at a protest screaming how much I can’t stand them.
This is what I say to them in hopes of helping wipe that smile of their face:
Dear Big Coal,
I’m a Kentuckian living in the middle of coal country, but I condemn your destructive, short-sighted practice of valley fill mining. You know this. You see our various forms of protest against it weekly in the news and try turning a blind eye to what you know will ultimately force you to halt this practice. Ironically, I’m also personally dependent on a certain amount of this coal to live in today’s world for I haven’t the means now to self-provide my power. This angers me since it puts you at a perceived advantage. As a Kentuckian, as a citizen of the United States, somewhere between six and seven percent of the coal energy I consume is from mountaintop removal coal. It’s probably much more than that.
So until you are forced at the state and federal level to do what you know you must, I must make changes to counteract your monetary and political advantage. I am further reducing my consumption of electricity by 10%, the thing you fear most. This will lessen my addiction to the supply flow you control. This will be a difficult undertaking, requiring the sacrifice of additional comforts. I will better understand products and services and companies that also use your coal and decrease my need upon them as well.
Though I am only one person, the two others I convince to do the same strengthen that effect. The others they influence, and so on, increase that rippling sentiment, and when it reaches you it
will indeed effect your situation. Imagine a complete 10% or more decrease in our need of your product. Everyone in your supply line will feel it. They will be discomforted. Expect their increasing pressure on you, added to increased state and federal scrutiny that will regulate you out of business. It will not be a comfortable position to find yourself. And no increased production will outrun that inevitability.You will say that with less consumption there is the risk of price inflation. Perhaps that’s true. It might trickle around like that but I’m pretty sure you do what you want. Most of us are not economists. We’re enlightened consumers in a world quickly destroying itself who realize that personal sacrifice must be made to counter-balance your stranglehold on commonsense.
You know all the efforts I can make that decrease my consumption already, don’t you? I’ll add this decrease to what I’m already conserving. And when I get accustomed to that I’ll decrease further, rendering you and your system as helpless as I used to feel.
1 comment:
This is a really great idea. During the rolling blackouts in California, I turned a $30.00 electric bill into a $14.00 bill. They didn't make any money off me. With a little thought, it can be done.
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