Hi, Rick Yes, this same thing is being done in the surrounding states but not to the extent that it is in Wv. The laws are a little better in Ky (not much but a little better inforced). The regulations are on the books to stop a lot of the deaths but the companies get away with ignoring them for some reason. Especially in Wv. My Okla redneck attitude says, "get out there and kick some coal company axxxs" but the West Virginian's have already done that and too many died trying. And things don't seem to have changed. At least the little horses are not being used down in the mines. They have gotten better treatment than the miners. This is such a shameful situation. I have sent this through before but think it bears repeating. http://www.grist.org/advice/books/2006/02/16/moore/ Be sure to click on the "related stories" in the little blue box The best (safest) way to fight nowadays is in the voting booth. Ok, took a little walk so that my post won't look like a cross word puzzle without the O's. As I understand it, the machines (that scoop up all the mess that is left after blasting away the tops of the mountains) is now in Australia doing the same thing there. Gracie PS, the moderator of a genie chat room that I go to, well, her mother died recently of BL and she now lives in Okla. The way I understand it, her mother got it because her husband worked in a coal mine. All these laws and regulations for cigaretts but do not a XXXX thing to the coal companies. Off for another walk. Will type at ya'll later on. ----- Original Message ----- From: <rcs5@bellsouth.net> To: <WVLOGAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 1:06 PM Subject: [WVLOGAN] Mining > I sure do agree with what you all have said about mining and Logan Co. I know that the MTR "mining" is in Logan, Boone, Kanawha, and Mercer Cos. Where else are they doing it? Is it being done in the northern WVa coal counties like Marion, Monongalia, Upshur, and others? What about Kentucky? > > Did you all read about the mining in Canada - safe rooms, etc. And what about the oxygen supply? Has the legislature done anything to require miners to be equipped with more oxygen? > > I saw my first black lung sickness and death as a young child. My uncle Dorsey Sutphin of Pond Fork suffered horribly. Mom was helping aunt Vida nurse him. I was sent back to Blair before he died. I still remember his labored breathing and aunt Vida's heartache. > > Yes, West Virginians need to stand up to the coal companies and the state legislature they own. > > Rick Stewart > > > ============================== > Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the > areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. > Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx >

Mention drilling in Alaska and the environmentalist hit the pavement hard. They don't want "the pristine" wilderness destroyed. Lop off a mountain top in WV and where are they? Alaska isn't anymore beautiful or pristine than WV. - Peggy