Members Speak to U.N.
International energy forum hears
about the true costs of coal from KFTC members
Amid all the meetings, high-level networking and technical jargon that fueled this year's annual gathering of the United Nation's Commission on Sustainable Development, KFTC member Rully Urias held onto a very clear idea of what priorities should be considered when crafting the future of world energy policy.
Producing a picture of his three-year-old daughter, Makayla, Urias explained to each person, "The number one reason I do this is for this little girl."
Urias and fellow KFTC members Pam Maggard and Randy Wilson were part of an official delegation representing Appalachian Coalfield Communities at the international gathering. They were there to carry a clear message to national and world policy-makers: there is no such thing as cheap or clean coal.
As the world searches for more and new sources of energy, the delegation of nine members from three Appalachian states stressed that coal specifically and fossil fuels generally are not part of a sustainable future.
"Everyone is touting that coal is cheap energy," explained Maggard. "We want people around the world to know it's not and to look for other resources. Coal isn't clean or cheap energy. The people of the mountains are paying the price with [the loss of] our health, our homes, our property and our heritage."
This year's conference theme was "Energy for Sustainable Development," and the delegates voiced their opinions that renewable energy along with conservation should be the preferred vision for present and future energy policy, not dependence on fossil fuels.
The Appalachian delegation met with representatives of the U.S. State Department's Special Delegation to the CSD to give firsthand testimony of the impacts of mountaintop removal mining, valley fills, and coal sludge impoundments. The group also addressed Civil Society Major Groups of the UN at various caucus meetings, including the Women's Caucus, Energy Caucus, Youth Caucus, Indigenous Peoples' Caucus and others.
While the Coalfield delegates successfully raised awareness among international representatives and alerted other delegations of the sacrifices people are making in the coalfields, they were not without obstacles. One of those challenges came at the very first plenary session where a representative of the Pfizer pharmaceutical corporation stood to speak for the United States government.
Randy Wilson of Clay County was troubled by this representation.
"That was so ridiculous. After the other countries submitted these papers about needing to move toward more diverse forms of energy, they just put him up there to say nothing. What was he doing up there representing us in comparison to these other countries who had something to say to us?"
Similarly, a meeting with Jonathan Margolis, a U.S. Special Representative for Sustainable Development and director of the Office of Policy Coordination and Initiatives (PCI), left Pam Maggard disappointed and angry.
Margolis informed the room that the U.S. was leading the way for developing countries.
"I was upset to hear the U.S. government claim to be 'setting examples for quality of life in developing countries,'" said Maggard of Knott County. Margolis also told the group that sometimes the long-term has to be sacrificed for immediate needs and then dismissed the delegation's mission entirely by stating that mountaintop removal is, "Really a domestic issue and we're here for international reasons."
But members found more support from the international community than they did from their own government. After listening to Margolis' comments, Maggard remarked to trip organizer Patricia Feeney that, "They need to check out the quality of life for the people in the coalfields who have no access to clean water!"
A young woman from India sitting nearby passed Maggard a note that read, "Make him set a date and time to come." This type of international solidarity helped strengthen the resolve of coalfield delegates to represent the voice of the people.
"Usually grassroots groups don't make it [to the meeting]. We put a human face to all the technical jargon," Urias explained.
Besides connecting human faces to the consequences of international energy policy, the delegates also connected with individuals from around the world through sharing personal stories and experience.
Wilson recalled meeting a young man from a community in Ghana with the richest gold reserves in the world, but one of the worst standards of living for local residents, "I asked him, 'You're sitting on a gold mine and can't get good drinking water?' He said that was exactly right," Wilson recalled. "That was our story all over again."
Urias had a similar experience when talking with a man from a community in South Africa where 8,000 people had been relocated due to the building of a hydroelectric dam. "They've lost their homes and heritage too," said Urias, "You hear all these stories and you realize the commonality."
Maggard agreed, "We're all in it together. It doesn't matter if it's coal, hydro or thermal, it's effecting too many people."
Besides learning about the lives of other people directly impacted by energy issues, the delegates were inspired by the energy generated by members of the Youth Caucus.
"They had ideas to move us in a different direction, and they were already implementing them," said Wilson.
These emerging leaders gave Maggard hope. "If we can just hang onto the resources we have I¹m confident that they are going to change the future."
After three days, it was time to return home, but not without a plea from the delegates to keep the people of Appalachia's voices and concerns echoing through the halls of the U.N.
"We told everyone, 'When we leave, don't forget about us. Spread the word,'" reported Urias.
It is unlikely that they will forget. "I think we made a big impact. Everybody kept saying, 'You have to come back next year!'" Maggard said.
Urias already has plans to return, "I can't wait until next year! This was just a review year. Next year they make the decisions, make policy. I'm going to help raise money so we can go."