Have you seen Gaia? 
Her face currently graces two billboards that meet drivers as they enter Frankfort with the message "Stop Mountaintop Removal".  She's pleading with you to not look away from her suffering.  Maybe you've seen her and are wondering what Mountaintop Removal is or maybe you're already aware, but haven't yet taken steps to become involved with the issue.  On the following pages you will find information about the major injustice of our time threatening the environment and culture of Eastern Kentucky and find out about how to take action.
Please join us and the thousands of others who are fighting to end the destruction of our Appalachian Mountains.

The Agony of Gaia, 2004
Jeff Chapman-Crane
Photographed by James Archambeault

The billboards you've seen in Frankfort are a part of the ongoing work to raise awareness and bring about an end to mountaintop removal mining by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth (KFTC).

The image is a close-up of a sculpture created by KFTC member and artist Jeff Chapman-Crane entitled, The Agony of Gaia.  The sculpture was photographed by fellow Kentucky artist James Archambeault.  In Greek mythology, Gaia was the personification of Mother Earth.  In response to the devastation brought forth by the irresponsible mining practice of mountaintop removal and valley fills, Chapman-Crane created this life-sized figurative sculpture depicting Mother Earth suffering from the abuses of strip mining. 
Learn more about Gaia.

What is Mountaintop Removal?

Mountaintop removal (MTR) coal mining is an extreme form of surface mining that is causing large scale destruction of the Central Appalachian mountains.  It is devestating to the environment and to the people who must endure its effects. The process of mountaintop removal is what its name implies.  Coal companies use explosives to blow off the tops of mountains, exposing the low-sulfur coal beneath.                             

Heavy machinery is used to remove the coal, while the "overburden," the rock, dirt and trees that once comprised the mountaintop, is dumped over the sides into adjacent valleys.  This dumping creates "valley fills" that are responsible for burying and contaminating important headwater streams that supply clean water to other parts of the state.  Mountaintop removal destroys diverse forests and habitats, cripples local economies, buries headwater streams,  endangers the health of  communities and  is demolishing one of the most ancient mountain ranges in the world.  We are all being affected.  We all live downstream. 

Learn more about MTR and KFTC's Canary Project.

The Stream Saver Bill

 Currently, KFTC and hundreds of citizen lobbyists are supporting the Stream Saver Bill.  To date, over 1,200 miles of streams have been buried or contaminated due to valley fills.  If passed, this bill would make the dumping of the mountaintops into the adjoining valleys illegal.   With this new legislation, our Kentucky waterways would be protected from future destruction and the practice of mountaintop removal would be made more difficult. 

Learn more about the Stream Saver Bill.

Take Action

Now that you know what's happening, it's hard to cover your eyes to the injustices and destruction.  Below are a few things you can do to join with the thousands of other who are taking direct actions for a better future for Kentucky's mountains and beyond.

Join KFTC or make a donation.
A donation of any size helps KFTC members lobby in Frankfort, gain access to valuable research and materials, take part in workshops and make their voices heard. By supporting KFTC you are standing shoulder to shoulder with others as we work for an end to MTR.

Come Lobby With Us!  On February 14th, KFTC will host its 2nd Annual "I Love Mountains Day", giving you a chance to speak directly with your representative about the Stream Saver Bill.  Please join us!  Click here to read about last year's I Love Mountains Day in Frankfort. You can sign-up by calling our main office at 606-878-2161.

Write a letter to the editor.  Writing a letter is one of the best ways of raising media and public attention about this issue.  The best letters to the editor are brief and make just one or two points. A set of tips for writing good letters to the editor can be found here.

Have You Seen Gaia? 

If so, tell us about it!  We want to hear about the difference seeing Gaia made to you and are collecting the stories of people who have been affected by Gaia and refuse to turn their heads to the destruction happening in Eastern Kentucky. Email lora@kftc.org and share YOUR story today!