Monday evening, Union College had their third overall KFTC meeting/ event, but their first one of the new semester.  First, KFTC members at Union tabled near the dining hall entrance at dinner time and invited passersby to make a paper pinwheel to be entered into a free raffle for the Beehive Collective's True Cost of Coal Poster, while learning all about I Love Mountains Day 2012!  

Close to 25 pinwheels where made and more than a dozen people entered the raffle. The poster was raffled off at the advertised campus "KFTC meeting" later that evening and given to senior Cortni Thrasher of Somerset. Cortni (pictured in center below) said she is "really excited for the rally!" after learning more about the poster, the Stream Saver Bill, and I Love Mountains Day! 

At that meeting, 5 people confirmed their plans to meet up with the EKY bus to Frankfort on Feb. 14th, and several more are still trying to determine if they can go.  

Late last year/ semester, members at Union College organized 2 monthly KFTC gatherings, the second being a very well attended film screening of I Was There.  It was at that meeting they decided to first focus their energy this semester on I Love Mountains Day turnout.  

At both the film screening and yesterday's event, a local reporter with The Advocate attended to cover the local growing momentum around KFTC!  Members at Union have filed to become an associate student organization called Kentuckians For The Commonwealth and hope to build enough support to eventually petition to be recognized as a KFTC chapter!  They've planned their next meeting for Monday, March 5 at 8:30 p.m.  

One of the driving forces of this new energy is Susan Deaton of Corbin, a professor at Union. She attended a Mountain Witness Tour a few years ago and has been increasingly active with KFTC since. She attended the last KFTC annual meeting and plans to attend I Love Mountains Day.  She is pictured here with her artwork, inspired by that Mountain Witness Tour, currently displayed in the Sharp Academic Center at Union College. Susan is an amazing artist and certainly one of the extraordinary people who make Kentucky a better home for everyone! 

For I Love Mountains Day 2012, we will be delivering pinwheels to Governor Beshear and our legislators. We hope to have 1,200 pinwheels at the march – with each pinwheel representing 50 people living with cancer caused by strip mining in their community (Source: Journal of Community Health, July 2011). Each pinwheel will also represent the hope that wind turbines and other clean energy solutions mean for our future.

If you are unable to join us for the rally this year you can still contribute to this action by commissioning the creation of pinwheels. At $5 a piece KFTC members from around the state will create pinwheels for you and bring them to plant on Governor Beshear's doorstep. Click here to order!

Pinwheel coffee mugs

Celebrate I Love Mountains Day every day with our newly available pinwheel-themed coffee mugs. These stainless steel mugs are insulated to keep your coffee warm and come with a lid to minimize spillage. For a $20 donation (plus $3 s/h), we will renew your membership and send you a mug as a thank you gift. These mugs will also be available for sale at I Love Mountains Day. Supplies are limited. Mugs will be shipped on Feb 16th. Click here to make your donation!

This week, Letcher County member, Carrie Wells, helped to build our I Love Mountains Day pinwheel collection with her art classes in Knott County.  Students from 1st grade to 12th grade made pinwheels throughout the day, ending with a total of over 200 pinwheels! 

During the day of pinwheel making, a dozen Cordia high school students signed up to travel with "Ms. Wells" and other east Kentucky KFTC members to I Love Mountains Day in Frankfort on February 14th!  The theme of this year's rally is the community health impacts of living near mountaintop removal in Central Appalachia, which has been highlighted dozens of times in the past 2 years in regional, peer-reviewed studies.   Everyone is being asked to bring one pinwheel to the rally to represent 50 people living with cancer that has been linked to the pollution from mountaintop removal mining. A study that came out in July that found that 60,000 people living in Central Appalachia have cancer because of mountaintop removal.  So, 1,200 people expected to attend with pinwheels x 50 = 60,000. You can learn more about this data on our 'Health Impacts Fact Sheet' or by registering for our upcoming Webinar on the health impacts of MTR in preparation for I Love Mountains Day! 

Making pinwheels has proven to be a blast for all ages, so get started on your own!  As the pictures below illustrate (and more on our flickr), your pinwheel can be as unique as you!  One six year-old, Cash, said he made his pinwheel "yellow and blue for the sun and the sky".... 

This year at I Love Mountains day we are using homemade pinwheels to share our message of calling for an end to mountaintop removal and transitioning to a clean energy economy.  We are asking everyone coming to I Love Mountains day to bring one pinwheel. 

Then we will deliver each of our pinwheels to Governor Beshear at I Love Mountains.  With 1,2000 of us estimated to attend, each pinwheel will represent 50 people living with cancer that has been linked to the pollution from mountaintop removal mining.   Click here to learn about the study that came out in July that found that 60,000 people living in Central Appalachia have cancer because of mountaintop removal.  So, 1,200 pinwheels x 50 = 60,000. 

But the pinwheels are also a beautiful way to visually demonstrate the hope that we all have for transitioning to a new, clean energy economy that can bring good jobs and cleaner air and water to our state!  What better way to share our message and help the Governor understand what is at stake! 

Will you join us by making and bringing a homemade pinwheel with you at I Love Mountains day?  We hope you will!  Here is a link to some super simple instructions!  And if you do, leave us a comment here to let us know how it goes!  But also don't worry if you can't make a pinwheel, we will have a few extras to share that day!

 KFTC’s annual “I Love Mountains” day at the state capitol is just around the corner.  This big event, which attracts more than 1,000 Kentuckians each year, calls attention to the scale of destruction created by mountain-top removal coal mining in Kentucky and the need for a clean water and energy future.

 The day includes a special emphasis and participation from young Kentuckians – with a special youth-led lobby team!

KFTC youth are going to spend the morning of I Love Mountains day try to have lobby meetings with top state lawmakers.  Would you like to be part of this youth-led lobby team or do you know a young person within the ages of 5 and 25 who would be? 

What it involves:  Each youth would be responsible for attending a planning meeting over the phone (conference call) with other KFTC youth leaders and then meeting in the Capitol the morning of I Love Mountains day at 9:30 a.m. to begin our round of lobbying meetings.

How to get involved:  If this sounds like you, please call or email KFTC staffperson Carissa Lenfert at 859-893-1147 or carissa@kftc.org to sign-up.  Youth interested must sign-up by January 31^st. 

Spread the word:  Also, please pass this announcement along to anyone you may know who would be a great addition to the youth team!

Help make history and protect our land, water, and people!

Also – don’t forget to register for “I Love Mountains” day!

Melina Laboucan-Massimo stands in solidarity with our mountain communities. Melina’s indigenous Lubicon Cree community has been devastated by tar sands extraction. In both Canada and the United States, she has been a key leader in the fight against the notorious Keystone XL pipeline. Melina will join us at I Love Mountains Day in Frankfort, where she will speak about the impact of fossil fuels on her community and the need to build a new, clean energy economy.

Melina says, “We have seen the destruction of our lands happen right before our eyes. Our water is being contaminated and we are seeing droughts throughout the region. My family used to be able to drink from our watershed, and now within my lifetime we can no longer do so.”

Get a sneak peek at Melina’s story and her inspiring work by reading this interview. You can also hear her powerful voice against damaging fossil fuel extraction, and learn about her vision for a clean energy economy, in this video clip.  And then join KFTC and Melina on Tuesday, February 14th at 12 p.m on the front steps of the Capitol in Frankfort for I Love Mountains Day! Register here.

During the same exciting period as Lexington Loves Mountains, Kentucky Rising’s weekend visit with the Governor, and an unbelievable I Love Mountains Day, were a couple of exciting events in the Northern Kentucky area aimed at helping end the destructive practice of mountaintop removal. The Friday before I Love Mountains Day, the Northern Kentucky Chapter joined with Ohio Citizen Action, Intercommunity Justice and Peace Committee, NKU ECOS, and Sierra Club members from northern Kentucky to Miami, OH to bring Mari-Lynn Evans to the University of Cincinnati’s MainStreet Cinema to present her documentaries Low Coal and Coal Country.   

The very next night, thanks to the hard work of a variety of area musicians, most notably those of Magnolia Mountain, there was a concert at the Southgate House in Newport, Kentucky. The concert split proceeds between KFTC and Ohio Citizens Action, featured a new CD to benefit both organizations, and limited prints from artist Keith Neltner!

Melissa English, of Ohio Citizens Action and Magnolia Mountain, was amazed at the success of the event, which she attributed to the success of advertising the event by the bands, the organizations, and local sponsors like Goodsleeve, WNKU, and Shake It Records. More amazing was the fact that the concert sold out less than two hours after the doors opened!

Asa Roberts, a new member who heard about the event from City Beat (a free local alternative paper in the Cincinnati area), described the event as a ‘godsend’ for giving him the opportunity to plug into the fight to stop mountaintop removal. Though already familiar with the issue, he described Jeff Biggers of the Huffington Post’s speech about the issue absolutely inspiring, telling other members he wished he could have had the event on DVD to watch it over again.

Jeff Biggers was not the only person to speak at the event. Melissa English spoke on behalf of Ohio Citizen Action, and KFTC member Ben Baker told his story of how he came to learn about the destruction in Appalachia. Each shared their experiences, but Ben’s unique story of discovering mountaintop removal while learning to fly was heartfelt, and many of the people in attendance heeded his call to join us at I Love Mountains Day.

Jeff Hampton, who spent most of his night helping with the merchandise table in the Parlor, said that for many of the people who spent their time outside of the Ballroom, “it was hard to actually ‘see’ any of the bands, but they all sounded incredible.”

While everyone enjoyed the music, there was no clear crowd favorite. Rick Traud picked Jake Speed and the Freddies, Asa Roberts picked The Tillers and Magnolia Mountain, but Melissa English picked Bob Dionisi and Mike Oberst for their live performance of Coal Creek March.

Everyone was surprised by the huge success, as no one expected the show to sell out before 10 o’clock. Some members heard the people at the door had to turn away over 100 people, and many attendees were keen on the idea of coming back to a similar concert.

While this may or may not happen, Jeff Hampton reflected that it was such a shame to turn away so many people who were willing to learn more about the issue of mountaintop removal, and that there is a clear desire in the community to learn how to stop this practice.

Each year before I love mountains Day, Lexington holds an old time music showcase at Al's bar to promote the rally and to celebrate all of our work towards ending mountain top removal mining. Each year this event is a huge success raising over $1000 for KFTC, growing our membership and giving people an opportunity to be involved in our work.

This year KFTC leaders in Lexington decided to capitalize on that energy and create an entire week of events leading up to I love mountains day. Because it was their first time planning Lexington Loves Mountains Week, chapter members weren't sure what to expect - but they knew they wanted to provide several different opportunities and ways for folks to get involved.

The week evolved into the following:

Wednesday February 9th: Member Greg Capillo talks about moving towards a clean energy future in Kentucky on the "New Power Hour" on 88.1 WRFL FM

UK Students make Valentines day cards for Governor Steve Beshear

Friday February 11th: 3rd annual old time music showcase at Al's Bar

Saturday February 12th: Legislative letter writing party featuring several Kentucky authors at the Morris Book Shop

Sunday February 13th: Poster making party at 3rd Street Stuff coffee shop for I Love Mountains Day

Monday, February 14th: I Love Mountains Day rally in Frankfort

I Love Mountains after party featuring the Reel World String Band at Al's Bar

As you can see the whole week was a blast. To see more photos from the week go here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kftcphotos/sets/72157626019686480/

Tons of people came out and the energy was amazing. Members had the opportunity to come together and discuss our work and our strategy for ending MTR and for bringing green jobs to Kentucky. The central Kentucky chapter also raised over $2000 from the week's events and gained over 50 new members to KFTC!!

You can rest assured that the CKY chapter will be doing this again next year. If you'd like to be a part of planning Lexington Loves Mountains Week then contact the local organizer at ondine@kftc.org.

We'd also like to thank all of the musicians, artists, writers, venues and members who made this week possible: Cricket Press, WRFL 88.1 FM, Al's Bar, The Morris Book Shop, 3rd St. Stuff Coffee Shop, Julie and Adrien Shepherd Powell, The Rich and the Po' Folks, Clack Mountain String Band, the Reel World String Band, Silas House, Maurice Manning, Eric Sutherland, Whitney Baker, the Lafayette High School Young Democrats and all of KFTC's amazing amazing amazing volunteers and members!

CKY members Phillip and Laura just learned about the negative impacts of mountain top removal mining on our communities and land. Excited to show their support to everyone working to create a clean energy future for Kentucky they made posters in preparation for I love mountains day. Phillip wrote a statement about why he was coming to the rally:

"I missed a pajama party, movie, and passing out Valentine's Day cards all to go to the I Love Mountains Day rally.  I did this to show my love to the U.S.A.'s oldest mountains.  People die!  Animals die!  People die from breathing in coal dust and getting cancer from drinking toxic water.  Imagine, cutting off mountain tops for coal is like cutting our heads off for blood.  If mountains did what we did to them we wouldn't like it!"

Laura wrote a haiku to express what's happening in Appalachia:

Mountains are sacred

Their home is our Kentucky

Sadly they're dying

It's been really exciting to see young people learn about this issue and get excited to make change. Keep up the good work guys!

Our big I Love Mountains Day activities have concluded for the day and here is the next installment of pictures.  You can also visit our Flickr page to see more (many, many more) photos of the day.

Many thanks to so many of you who came out or otherwise participated to make this day a resounding success.

Statement delivered by Wendell Berry on behalf of those who occupied the capitol this weekend.

 

 

Some media coverage:

• A Powerful Protest (The Courier-Journal editorial)
  
• Fight for a World Without Coal (Chris Hedges in truthdig)
• Kentucky Rising (WMMT-FM Appalshop)
  
• Standing Up to King Coal (Lexington Herald-Leader editorial)
• Kentuckians march for mountains (WAVE TV)
  
• Sit-in at Kentucky governor's office ends with 'I Love Mountains' rally (Lexington Herald-Leader)
  
• Hundreds join in support of protesters and also Protesters leave happy, get point across (The Daily Independent)
  
• Kentucky protesters rally against mountaintop removal mining (The Courier-Journal)
• Mass environmental rally at Capitol wraps up four-day sit-in of Ky. governor's office (Associated Press)
• March against mountaintop removal (Fox 41, Louisville)
  
• Group protests mountain-top mining (Winchester Sun)
• Rally at the Capital (Murray State News)
  
• Sitting in with Wendell Berry (Yes! magazine)