Saving West Virginia's Mountains

By Marissa Nedved, ENG 336.001

FROSTBURG – Last weekend, Frostburg State University hosted the sixth annual Appalachian Festival. Friday afternoon’s activities included a symposium led by the Keeper of the Mountains Foundation. The discussion opened many eyes to the devastation that is taking place in Maryland’s neighboring state.

The meeting took place on the Upper Quad of Frostburg State’s campus. Rows of chairs stood underneath a flimsy white tent. As audience members took their seats, a cool breeze twisted through the makeshift shelter and far away guitar strumming could just barely be heard. Paula Swearengin of the Keeper of the Mountains Foundation took the microphone first. She stood purposely, a certain determination obvious in her eyes. She introduced herself as West Virginian coal miner’s daughter. Speaking in front of crowds is not something she would normally do, but she was there for her children’s sake. “I’m here to fight for my children, for their water, for their air,” she said, a small tremble in her voice.

Swearengin is fighting against the coal companies that are performing mountaintop removal right on the outskirts of her community. Such businesses use dynamite on mountains in order to secure coal. As a result of these actions, Swearengin’s hometown suffers many consequences, including dirty water in homes and health problems such as asthma. All of Swearengin’s children are asthmatic.

The Keeper of the Mountains Foundation was established to help spread the word on the environmental tragedy. Furthermore, the organization hopes to educate the public on sustainability and living without coal.

The road has not been easy for the foundation. Marilyn Mullens, the second speaker in the presentation, spoke of the resistance the organization faces from many West Virginia residents. She compares the opposition to victims of Stockholm syndrome. “The coal companies have held us hostage all these years. Now people accept it and a lot even stand up and fight for these coal companies that are doing nothing but destroying us. They’re going to take everything we have, including our lives and our children’s lives. They’re going to leave with all the money and we are going to be left with a mess and a lot of sick people,” Mullens said.

Those opposed to eliminating coal mining from the area feel the foundation is fighting most of the citizens' only livelihood. “West Virginia is the poorest state. Yes, we need jobs, but we don’t need to kill ourselves for our jobs,” Swearengin said.

Mullens added, “Doing [mountain top removal] requires only five people. That isn’t creating any jobs for the area.”

Mullens also advocates alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar. She reveals that she herself has just installed a solar power source in her home. “I’ll probably never break even on it. It’s not about the money for me,” she said.

As her speech neared its close, Paula Swearengin looked out into the crowd, her eyes wide and brimmed with tears. She appealed to the audience, insisting the coal companies cannot be allowed to continue in this way. The money brought in from the coal mining industry is too high of a price to pay for the area’s children’s health. With a note of finality, she asserted, “Nobody’s child should have a price tag on their head.”

For more information, visit the Keeper of the Mountains Foundation’s website at mountainkeeper.org or visit them on Facebook.