Coal is the enemy of West Virginia

[ensho]

http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-22-coal-enemy-of-west-virginia


-snip-

Enter empirical data. Ken Ward Jr. reports:

Coal mining costs Appalachians five times more in early deaths as the industry provides to the region in jobs, taxes and other economic benefits, according to a groundbreaking new study co-authored by a West Virginia University researcher.

-snip-

On Hendryx’s past work:

Previous papers, also published in peer-reviewed journals, found that residents of coal-producing counties are more likely to suffer from chronic heart, lung and kidney diseases and more likely to be hospitalized for certain health problems that are connected to coal pollution. Hendryx has also reported that coal county residents are more likely to contract lung cancer and generally suffer from excess numbers of premature deaths. In each of his studies, Hendryx has tried to weed out other possible factors—such as smoking and diet—to pinpoint coal’s possible role in these public health problems.

-snip-

Economies tied exclusively to single natural resources tend not to fare well. Wiser West Virginia leaders would long ago have recognized the need to economically diversify. But they didn’t. Will Manchin? He argues persuasively that he’s taking some steps in that direction, but in practice he continues to make it his top priority to defend the coal industry from any disturbance. West Virginians deserve better—they deserve choices.
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coal is dirty - in more ways then one

[vadawg]

1. problem is what choices are there, would blue state america be happy to see lots of funds

pour into appalachia and surrounds, going from what i see online i doubt it.