Most important we have to continue to be part of the political system. Both Republican and Democratic parties are not going to do the morally right thing and stand up to the coal companies. They have corrupted both parties. I believe we must be willing to join a third party and to find candidates who believe as we do and won’t cave in. I wish there were more men and women like Bernie Sanders(I) from VT. If we could elect Green party members and more Independents who will not cave in, but will fight to end this practice, than I believe we can really change things.
Look at the people in Iran who are willing to stand up to their government because they want their voice heard. Our voice is being denied in America. How many of us are willing to stand up and make our voice heard? I wish these brave men and women who are protesting against this evil practice of mountaintop removal mining the best and I may not be there with them in person because I am in AZ, but I am with them in my heart.
Daring Dragline Protest Launches 7 Days That Will Shake Mountaintop Removal Operations
by Jeff Biggers
Four daring protestors accomplished something today that no high ranking member in the Obama administration involved in the recent mountaintop removal mining policy decisions has ever bothered to do: These four American patriots made an actual visit to a mountaintop removal site.
They also went beyond the call of duty.
Scaling a towering 20-story dragline (those behemoth stripmining machines that could rip up a Manhattan block in a New York minute) and then unfolding a 15 x 150 foot banner at the Twilight mountaintop removal strip mine in Boone County, West Virginia, they also unveiled a simple message on how the EPA, the Department of Interior and the Council on Environmental Quality can best enforce the Clean Water Act and other environmental laws:
JUST STOP MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL.
The action launches a dramatic weeklong series of protests at mountaintop removal sites in the West Virginia coalfields that will culminate on June 23rd with a special action in the Coal River Valley area with local coalfield residents, NASA climate scientist James Hansen, actress Daryl Hannah, and 94-year-old former US Representative Ken Hechler, and Rainforest Action Action executive director Michael Brune, among many others.
“It’s way past time for civil disobedience to stop mountaintop removal and move quickly toward clean, renewable energy sources,” said Judy Bonds, Goldman Environmental Prize winner and co-director of Coal River Mountain Watch of West Virginia. “For over a century, Appalachian communities have been crushed, flooded, and poisoned as a result of the country’s dangerous and outdated reliance on coal. How could the country care so little about our American mountains, our culture and our lives?”
Aerial photos of the Massey Energy-owned Twilight mountaintop removal mine can be seen here: http://www.ohvec.org/galleries/mountaintop_removal/018/
During the day, updates and photos on today’s action will be posted at:
http://mountainaction.org/wordpress/
Equipped with satellite phones and web cameras, the protestors plan to stay on the enormous dragline until they are arrested. Another group of protestors on the ground have already been reached by the police.
“I’ve written letters, attended hearings and called my congressman, so far they have done nothing to stop the disastrous and unnecessary practice of mountaintop removal,” said Charles Suggs, a 25-year old of Rock Creek, WV, one of today’s participants. “It has come to the point when we must take direct action to abolish this practice that is immorally robbing Appalachian communities of their culture, their health and their future.”
Despite last week’s best-laid-plans by the Obama administration to provide stronger reviews of mountaintop removal permits under current laws–notwithstanding the 42 out of the 48 mining permits cleared by the EPA last month–the protest today draws attention to the reality that over 3.5 million pounds of ammonium nitrate/fuel oil explosives are being detonated DAILY in mountaintop removal operations across the West Virginia mountains alone, while hundreds of mountaintop removal permits now stand ready to be reviewed and cleared.
In last week’s announcement, CEQ chief Nancy Sutley declared that the Obama administration would do “all it can under existing laws and regulations to curb the most environmentally destructive impacts of mountaintop coal mining.”
Read that line again: “Curb the most environmentally destructive impacts of mountaintop coal mining.”
If Sutley joined the protestors at the Twilight site or any mountaintop removal operation, she would witness firsthand, as well, that even the LEAST “environmentally destructive impacts of mountaintop removal” REQUIRE massive clear cutting of our nation’s most diverse and oldest deciduous forests on the continent, setting ANFO explosives and blasting the mountains to bits, showering the neighboring communities with silica dust and dangerous fly rock, and then dumping the mine waste and heavy metals into the valleys and streams and watersheds.
Video updates of today’s action will also be posted here:
http://mountainaction.org/wordpress/
One of the lines spoken in this clip that touched my heart is where the man said one of the first lines of the Constitution is we the people and not we the corporations.
Yet, America today is we the corporations and we the people is denied our voice and will. President Obama doesn’t want to do the right thing and turned out to be just another slick politican who lied to get elected. When a man goes back on his word he can’t be trusted from that day forward. When I hear President Obama speak, I now wonder like I did under President Bush is he telling the truth or is it just another lie. Once a President breaks the trust of the people he has lost. Oh, he is still President, but he has lost the trust and respect of the people because we know that he is not a man of honor who keeps his word.
Gee, am I being to hard on President Obama? I don’t think so. He has broken his word on many issues and his not being able to keep his promises is one reason why he was not able to prove to me that he was worthy of my vote. I did have an open mind and tried to give him a chance, but frankly, he has proven that he is just another slick politican who can’t be trusted to tell the truth.
People are not going to stop speaking out on this issue. We must continue to fight to end Mountaintop Removal Mining and save the Mountains.
I read on CommonDreams that 14 Activists were arrested protesting at a Massey Coal site. I found this little post on a forum I post at, and I am posting it here because activists need to remember this good information.
Just remember the magic words I have nothing to say and I want a lawyer. I wish these brave activists the best. I wish I was there in person to protest but I am with you in my heart.
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Dealing with Police
In General
When dealing with the police, keep your hands in view and don’t make sudden movements. Avoid passing behind them. Nervous cops are dangerous cops. Also, never touch the police or their equipment (vehicles, flashlights, animals, etc.) – you can get beat up and charged with assault.
The police do not decide your charges; they can only make recommendations. The prosecutor is the only person who can actually charge you. Remember this the next time the cops start rattling off all the charges they’re supposedly “going to give you.”
Questioning
Interrogation isn’t always bright lights and rubber hoses – usually it’s just a conversation. Whenever the cops ask you anything besides your name and address, it’s legally safest to say these Magic Words:
“I am going to remain silent. I want to see a lawyer.”
This invokes the rights which protect you from interrogation. When you say this, the cops (and all other law enforcement officials) are legally required to stop asking you questions. They probably won’t stop, so just repeat the Magic Words or remain silent until they catch on.
Remember, anything you say to the authorities can and will be used against you and your friends in court. There’s no way to predict what information the police might try to use or how they’d use it. Plus, the police often misquote or lie altogether about what was said. So say only the Magic Words and let all the cops and witnesses know that this is your policy. Make sure that when you’re arrested with other people, the rest of the group knows the Magic Words and promises to use them.
One of the jobs of cops is to get information out of people, and they usually don’t have any scruples about how they do it. Cops are legally allowed to lie when they’re investigating, and they are trained to be manipulative. The only thing you should say to cops, other than identifying yourself, is the Magic Words: “I am going to remain silent. I want to see a lawyer.”
Here are some lies they will tell you:
* “You’re not a suspect – just help us understand what happened here and then you can go.”
* “If you don’t answer my questions, I’ll have no choice but to arrest you. Do you want to go to jail?”
* “If you don’t answer my questions, I’m going to charge you with resisting arrest.”
* “All of your friends have cooperated and we let them go home. You’re the only one left.”
Cops are sneaky buggers and there are lots of ways they can trick you into talking. Here are some scams they’ll pull:
* Good Cop/ Bad Cop: Bad cop is aggressive and menacing, while good cop is nice, friendly, and familiar (usually good cop is the same race and gender as you). The idea is bad cop scares you so bad you are desperately looking for a friend. Good cop is that friend.
* The cops will tell you that your friends ratted on you so that you will snitch on them. Meanwhile, they tell your friends the same thing. If anyone breaks and talks, you all go down.
* The cops will tell you that they have all the evidence they need to convict you and that if you “take responsibility” and confess the judge will be impressed by your honesty and go easy on you. What they really mean is: “we don’t have enough evidence yet, please confess.”
Jail is a very isolating and intimidating place. It is really easy to believe what the cops tell you. Insist upon speaking with a lawyer before you answer any questions or sign anything.
The Golden Rule: Never trust a cop.
The Miranda Warnings
The police do not have to read you your rights (also known as the Miranda warnings). Miranda applies when there is (a) an interrogation (b) by a police officer of other agent of law enforcement (c) while the suspect is in police custody (you do not have to be formally arrested to be “in custody”). Even when all these conditions are met, the police intentionally violate Miranda. And though your rights have been violated, what you say can be used against you. For this reason, it is better not to wait for the cops – you know what your rights are, so you can invoke them by saying the Magic Words, “I am going to remain silent. I want to see a lawyer.”
If you’ve been arrested and realize that you have started answering questions, don’t panic. Just re-invoke your rights by saying the Magic Words again. Don’t let them trick you into thinking that because you answered some of their questions, you have to answer all of them.
Police Encounters
There are three basic types of encounters with the police: Conversation, Detention, and Arrest.
Conversation:
When the cops are trying to get information, but don’t have enough evidence to detain or arrest you, they’ll try to weasel some information out of you. They may call this a “casual encounter” or a “friendly conversation”. If you talk to them, you may give them the information they need to arrest you or your friends. In most situations, it’s better and safer not to talk to cops.
Detention:
Police can detain you only if they have reasonable suspicion (see below) that you are involved in a crime. Detention means that, though you aren’t arrested, you can’t leave. Detention is supposed to last a short time and they aren’t supposed to move you. During detention, the police can pat you down and go into your bag to make sure you don’t have any weapons. They aren’t supposed to go into your pockets unless they feel a weapon.
If the police are asking questions, ask if you are being detained. If not, leave and say nothing else to them. If you are being detained, you may want to ask why. Then you should say the Magic Words: “I am going to remain silent. I want a lawyer” and nothing else.
A detention can easily turn into arrest. If the police are detaining you and they get information that you are involved in a crime, they will arrest you, even if it has nothing to do with your detention. For example, if someone gets pulled over for speeding (detained) and the cop sees drugs in the car, the cops will arrest her for possession of the drugs even though it has nothing to do with her getting pulled over. Cops have two reasons to detain you: 1) they are writing you a citation (a traffic ticket, for example), or 2) they want to arrest you but they don’t have enough information yet to do so.
Arrest:
Police can arrest you only if they have probable cause (see below) that you are involved in a crime. When you are arrested, the cops can search you to the skin and go through you car and any belongings. By law, an officer strip searching you must be the same gender as you.
If the police come to your door with an arrest warrant, go outside and lock the door behind you. Cops are allowed to search any room you go into, so don’t go back into the house for any reason. If they have an arrest warrant, hiding won’t help because they are allowed to force their way in if they know you are there. It’s usually better to just go with them without giving them an opportunity to search.
Reasonable Suspicion vs. Probable Cause
Reasonable suspicion must be based on more than a hunch – cops must be able to put their suspicion into words. For example, cops can’t just stop someone and say, “She looked like she was up to something.” They need to be more specific, like, “She was standing under the overpass staring up at some graffiti that hadn’t been there 2 hours ago. She had the same graffiti pattern written on her backpack. I suspected that she had put up the graffiti.”
Cops need more proof to say they have a probable cause than to say they have a reasonable suspicion. For example, “A store owner called to report someone matching her description tagging a wall across the street. As I drove up to the store, I saw her running away spattered with paint and carrying a spray can in her hand.”
Searches
Never consent to a search! If the police try to search your house, car, backpack, pockets, etc. say the Magic Words 2: “I do not consent to this search.” This may not stop them from forcing their way in and searching anyway, but if they search you illegally, they probably won’t be able to use the evidence against you in court. You have nothing to lose from refusing to consent to a search and lots to gain. Do not physically resist cops when they are trying to search because you could get hurt and charged with resisting arrest or assault. Just keep repeating the Magic Words 2 so that the cops and all witnesses know that this is your policy.
Be careful about casual consent. That is, if you are stopped by the cops and you get out of the car but don’t close the door, they can search the car and claim that they though you were indicating consent by leaving the door ajar. Also, if you say, “I’d rather you didn’t search,” they can claim that you were reluctantly giving them permission to search. Always just say the Magic Words 2: “I do not consent to this search.”
If the cops have a search warrant, nothing changes – it’s legally safest to just say the Magic Words 2. Again, you have nothing to lose from refusing to consent to a search, and lots to gain if the search warrant is incorrect or invalid in some way. If they do have a search warrant, ask to read it. A valid warrant must have a recent date (usually not more than a couple of weeks), the correct address, and a judge’s or magistrate’s signature; some warrants indicate the time of day the cops can search. You should say the Magic Words 2 whether or not the search warrant appears correct. The same goes for any government official who tries to search you, your belongings, or your house.
Infiltrators and Informants
Undercover cops sometimes infiltrate political organizations. They can lie about being cops even if asked directly. Undercover cops can even break the law (narcs get hazard pay for doing drugs as part of their cover) and encourage others to do so as well. This is not legally entrapment.
FBI and other government agents
The essence of the Magic Words “I’m keeping my mouth shut until I talk to a lawyer” not only applies to police but also to the FBI, INS, CIA, even IRS. If you want to be nice and polite, tell them that you don’t wish to speak with them until you’ve spoken with your lawyer, or that you won’t answer questions without a lawyer present. If you are being investigated as a result of your political activity, you can call the National Lawyers Guild at (415) 582-1055; they will help you find a lawyer you can talk to.
Taking Notes
Whenever you interact with or observe the police, always write down what is said and who said it. Write down the cops’ names and badge numbers and the names and contact information of any witnesses. Record everything that happens. If you are expecting a lot of police contact, get in the habit of carrying a small tape recorder and a camera with you. Be careful – cops don’t like people taking notes, especially if the cops are planning on doing something illegal. Observing them and documenting their actions may have very different results; for example, it may cause them to respond aggressively, or it may prevent them from abusing you or your friends.
Conclusion
People deal with police in all kinds of circumstances. You must make an individual decision about how you will interact with law enforcement. It is important to know your legal rights, but it is also important for you to decide when and how to use them in order to best protect yourself.
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This is a good clip. The book sounds really good.
I wish I could be there in person on the 23rd in Coal River. I really hate the fact that I don’t have the funds to go in person. Yet, I hope by keeping this issue alive on my blog that I am in some small way bringing the truth to the American people of what is happening with Mountaintop Removal Mining.
I also think of what has been going on in Iran the past week with the brave people taking to the streets to protest. Inspite of the risks to themselves and loved ones they are speaking out. They are determined to make their voice heard. As their government is trying to shut down the journalists from covering this story the people are finding ways to get the story out. Not one word in our corporate media or very little is reported about what is happening in Coal River with the destruction of Mountaintop Removal Mining and how brave Americans are protesting this evil and are willing to be arrested to make their voices heard. Why is our media silent?
I know there are websites, progressive news sites like Common Dreams and blogs that are trying to get the truth to the American people so that they too will join with the people in WV to fight this evil.
I won’t be able to make this one, but I will be there in my heart and God willing I will be able to make the next one to get arrested. I don’t want to get arrested, but if that is what it takes to stop Mountaintop Removal Mining to make the point that Americans in this country have the courage to do what they feel is morally right than yes, I will get arrested and remember the magic words of I have nothing to say and I want a lawyer.
I would encourage people who live in TN, VA, KY, WV and anywhere within driving distance to go and be part of the events planed on the 23rd of June.
Good luck and my thoughts and prayers are with all those who are going to be part of this.
Chrisy
Here is a clip about the grade school that I and many others are worry about.
Another Clip
These activists should be tarred and feathered!!
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My Comment:
I deleted your other comments. This one I decided to put through.
No matter how hard you White Nationalist try and pretend that you love and fight to protect the environment, the truth always comes out.
These brave activists that you White Nationalists want to tar and feather have more moral courage and strength than you White Nationalists. These activists have real courage to actually do something, while you White Nationalists only pretend you have moral courage. They act, while you White Nationalists only talk.
Have a nice day Mr. White Nationalist man.