In advance of an upcoming vote in the House Energy and Commerce Committee this week, the nonpartisan think tank, Congressional Research Service (CRS),...
Reps. David McKinley (R-WV) and John Shimkus (R-IL) are on a mission to ram through an anti-public health, anti-public safety and anti-environmental c...
Seeking protection from unsafe dumping practices, more than 300 public interest groups from 43 states, representing millions across the nation, sent a...
Documentary: An Ill Wind
The Moapa River Indian Reservation, tribal home of a band of Paiute Indians, sits about 30 miles north of Las Vegas—and about 300 yards from the coal ash landfills of the Reid Gardner Power Station. If the conditions are just wrong, coal ash picks up from Reid Gardner and moves across the desert like a sandstorm. The film An Ill Wind tells the Paiute Indians' story. Explore interactive video feature.
Coal ash is the hazardous waste that remains after coal is burned. Dumped into unlined ponds or mines, the toxins readily leach into drinking water supplies.
Paiutes point the way to a better future, beyond toxic coal ash
It starts with a warning. Then it's just a matter of which way the wind blows.
In the evening, someone will go from house to house and tell the neighborhood that tomorrow will be a windy day and perhaps, a bad air day. The next afternoon—if the conditions are just wrong—a toxic dust called coal ash picks up from the landfills and slag ponds of the coal-fired Reid Gardner Power Station and heads towards the reservation like a sandstorm.
"But this is a sandstorm that burns your skin, buries in your lungs and kills your neighbors," says Calvin Meyers, a tribal elder who lives on the reservation, the tribal home of a band of Paiute Indians that sits about 30 miles north of Las Vegas and about 300 yards from Reid Gardner.
Meyers and the remaining 310 members of his tribe are locked in a David-and-Goliath struggle against one power plant's desire to expand and an industry's desire to keep a dirty secret.
It’s no secret that coal is our dirtiest energy source. It’s laced with mercury, arsenic, lead and other toxics and as it’s burned it creates huge problems for our health. All across America, these contaminants billow out of smokestacks and spill out of wastewater pipes right into our lungs and drinking water.
Let’s call this the front door. Now, if this is what big coal is taking out the front door, the next logical question is what are they taking out the back?
The answer: coal ash.
Coal ash is the waste leftover at the end of the coal burning cycle. It’s laced with the same arsenic, mercury, lead and other toxics. It’s the second largest waste stream in America—15 billion tons of toxic sludge per year. And here’s the dirty little secret: it’s subject to less regulation than the garbage you take to the curb every week.
It sits in unlined pits in Moapa and unlined landfills in Alabama. It's put behind old leaky dams in Pennsylvania. It basically goes wherever big coal says it will. And where it goes, people get sick.
“I can taste the salts of it coming into my mouth and sometimes when I sweat my skin burns,” said Meyers, who I met on my first day in Moapa. He introduced me to people who told similar stories of health problems. (Photo of Calvin by Chris Jordan/Earthjustice)
“I’ve had a sore throat for six months,” said Eunice Ohte, a tribal elder who is one of several women on the reservation with hyperthyroidism. (Photo of Eunice by Chris Jordan/Earthjustice)
"I never had asthma until I moved here and now I have to use an inhaler,” said Deanna Domingo who moved onto the reservation a few years ago. (Photo of Deanna by Chris Jordan/Earthjustice)
“I used to have an incredible memory and now I’m having trouble remembering simple things,” said former Tribal Chairman Vernon Lee. (Photo of Vernon by Chris Jordan/Earthjustice)
"I’ve always been healthy, and now my heart has been constantly racing for several months,” said Vickie Simmons. “For years I didn't even know what it was that was blowing from the plant onto the reservation," she added. "Once we learned what coal ash was and what's in it, well that's when we stood up and said 'No.'" (Photo of Vickie by Chris Jordan/Earthjustice)
Simmons and I went on a hike to a mesa that overlooks the plant and some of the homes on the reservation. While we were standing there, a cloud of coal ash picked up from one of the dry slag ponds. It billowed out to about the size of a large house and then it traveled a few hundred yards before settling back down.
“Oh my God,” I said.
“That’s nothing,” Vickie told me. “That sort of stuff is pretty much constant. On the bad days, you have to run for your house because it takes over the whole place.”
Reid Gardner has announced that it wants to expand the coal ash landfill and waste ponds for the plant, and the people of the Moapa River Reservation have voiced their disapproval of the idea.
But actions often speak louder than words.
The next day I went with Simmons to her new job. Twice a week she heads into the desert about 5 miles from her house and checks a meter that measures the sun’s intensity.
Vickie Simmons works at the test station where the new Moapa Paiute solar plant will be. "I'm the first green energy worker here and so I'm really proud," she said. Photo: Chris Jordan/Earthjustice
The tribe is about to become the first in America to install a large-scale solar plant and Simmons is the first worker in their new “Green Energy” program.
The deep, dark irony of the Paiutes' situation is that none of their power comes from the Reid Gardner coal plant. So they get all of the problems and none of the benefits. Rather than dwell on this sad fact, the tribe is seeking a new way forward, one that moves past dirty coal.
“What we’ve got is land and sun, and we are tired just sitting here and taking pollution from this plant,” said William Anderson, tribal chairman of the Moapa Band of Paiutes. “So we’re gonna go ahead and do something about it. To go ahead and have a solar project is to say, ‘Hey, there are alternative ways.’”
William Anderson: "To go ahead and have a solar project is to say 'hey, there are alternative ways.'" Photo: Chris Jordan/Earthjustice
As the sun set at the future solar plant, Simmons climbed a ladder and took her readings. The shadows from the desert plants grew long and for the first time since I’d been on the reservation I couldn’t see or hear the Reid Gardner plant. Simmons climbed down from the ladder and a few minutes later we saw a hawk fly overhead. I couldn’t help but think what a brighter alternative this was.
“I just feel like the Indian people are here for a reason,” Simmons later said to me. “Maybe it’s to try to help do what we can to preserve the environment.”
We can hope.
The sun sets on the Reid Gardner coal plant. The Moapa Paiutes hope that dawn will bring something new. Photo: Chris Jordan/Earthjustice
A note of appreciation: Many thanks to the Moapa Band of Paiutes for allowing us to tell this story and to Vinny Spotleson of the Sierra Club and Dan Galpern of the Western Environmental Law Center for helping with the project.
Submitted by Steve Kelso (not verified) on August 16, 2011.
Following CNN's documentary on The Battle for Blair Mountain, this is very timely. The effect of coal, whether mined underground or mountaintop creates so many more issues than the jobs of the miners. While the mining families of Blair Mountain discussed the effects on their community, it is blind and selfish to ignore the effects on health. With so many clean options, coal must be stopped.
Submitted by Theresa Anderson (not verified) on August 15, 2011.
It is a terrible shame that the powers that be have allowed this polution to go on for so long. Fortunately, we as a society are finally waking up to the contamination caused from this and other fuel consumption. We, the society, have the ability as well as the power to demand better from our fellow man. Turning a blind eye to this is no longer an option and it is beyond time to stand up and demand that cleaner fuels be used. The day it becomes too late is the day we are dead. We have the power to clean our mess up and it is high time that we act and not allow any further contamination to be generated.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 14, 2011.
08/14/2011 I am sorry to hear of the environmental health problems caused by the electrical generation plant in your area. If your area has good wind, I suggest you investigate installing wind turbines (wind mill electric generation) it is free energy, and much less polluting.
Submitted by Carole F. Mehl (not verified) on August 14, 2011.
We would all by NIMBYS (not in my back yard) We need green energy. None of us need coal and we really do have coal filth in our back yards too. The all pervasive filth of coal can be eliminated.
Submitted by gloriana casey (not verified) on August 14, 2011.
"Andrew Jackson's Back!" from gloriana casey 8/14/2011- a poem for the Moapa People and Earth. "As long as grass grows and waters run..." YES! Andrew Jackson lied! A land grabber and killer too. And Indians? Oh---they died! He's back! He's back! That Andrew's back, yet different in new shape. Reid Gardner-of the Coal- his name. he stalks, and life he'll take. The New Horsemen, Apocalypse, in corporate colors bleak. The white, the red, the black, the pale, will steal life at its peak! From Las Vegas---just 30 miles, this corporate pestilence. They gamble with Moapa lives; these lives valued in cents. These four Horsemen of Toxic Ash: arsenic---it poisons slow. Plus lead and mercury make three. Moapa breathes this foe. The Fourth Horseman--a corporate one, they coat the air with death. As winds blow cross this toxic sludge, No Indian health is left! Three hundred yards away, their homes. Reid Gardener wants to grow. "Expand, expand, eat up the land!" A corporate killing show. Our history of corporate greed with land grabs far and wide. But land is not enough for them, they seek the air inside! For all of us on planet Earth live not by bread alone. Clean air is real---our staff of LIFE, it feeds life --to the bone! America, America, don't take our breath away. For poison here flows round the Earth and ends our Earthly stay. The sun gives life to all below, it shares with Earth life true. A power ALL on Earth can share in health and sky of blue. No Indian I, but Earthling too their fate is linked to all. Save Moapa, and save yourself. ONE FUTURE---rise or fall.***
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 14, 2011.
it is good to see the human race realize there are better ways although newer of providing a living for ourselves. When we look at the reality of our lives, we have to admit that we are all on the same "lifeboat". The planet is round and although we may think we can "safely" pollute away from ourselves, ultimately, it will come back around on us.....
Submitted by Dr. Mariano A. Parks (not verified) on August 14, 2011.
Here is an instance in which the environment and the indigenous people are being so horrifically violated that the only condition that equals this abomination is the apathy many of our citizens have toward confronting these corporate monsters, and demanding from their government a Manhattan scale project to produce safe, renewable energy and technology to replace the national grid based on fossil fuels. But all is not hopeless we can use energy far more frugally than we are doing, support the indigenous people and others whose lives are being threatened, and pressure the government and corporate leaders constantly to move in a constructive direction. Thank God for EarthJustice and other groups of conscience for all their work; they are great vehicles for expressing our concerns and for defending the environment.
Submitted by Carol (not verified) on August 14, 2011.
This is beyond sad the indians have died for so many years for nothing and now they are dying again because of White Man needs and all they do is wait to die and that is just not fair not fair at all.
How can we continue doing this to these innocent men women and their children and their innocent pets this can't continue it just can't so all the weathy people have to step up to the plate and help and that is a fact.
Submitted by Jane Herschlag (not verified) on August 14, 2011.
I am deeply saddened by this story and many others. We no longer have a Democracy.
Corporations and the ultra-wealthy dictate much of our laws, our media, our politics. But we can band together for good causes and try to regain our Democracy. You can go to Care2,
they seek people who want to create new petitions for social change. Get the word out about Coal's Dirty Secret. And if you want to see how much I care about our land you can visit my website at photographyjane.com
Good Luck,
Jane Herschlag
Submitted by Judith Mairs (not verified) on August 14, 2011.
The disastrous effects of all of the byproducts of coal fired energy plants are appalling. There is no question that managing these effects would be expensive and green technology studies may determine that it is too expensive. In that case, the coal fired plants may have to be replaced by the utilization of green energy measures. The native village which is setting out an array of solar panels is setting an example of a non greedy, non polluting energy creation....only one of many possibilities depending on location. It is one thing to realize that many of these dirty coal fired plants may have been built before the true extent of their danger to all life within their " reach" was known. There is no ethical, moral, humane reason to continue to use coal unless the mining and firing of coal can be made safe.GREED IS NO EXCUSE! It will doubtless take legislative and legal intervention to further this cause.
Submitted by Neko Semon (not verified) on July 29, 2011.
It is really sad. We still use harmful resources for humans to use. while not only it effects us. But, the animals & plants around us. When need to stop failing our planet. Start working together in this circle of life.
Everything deserves to live a healthy happy life. If, just one person can change the world. What will happen when all of us working as one ? Earth would be a happier state. then it is today. Talk is easier said then done. Doesnt mean it cant be done ? Biggest differences started as a small idea ...
Submitted by Marilyn Cramer (not verified) on August 14, 2011.
I agree with you, Neko. We need to have respect for all living things. When society and our nation wakes up to the fact that we're poisoning our environment and ourselves, then maybe we can work together and at the same time stop the greed. As a society, we need to to come up with solutions. It's time we start thinking outside of the box and be creative. We are One with each other, wildlife, our environment and our planet.
We call Earth our home. It's time we have respect for it. A Cree proverb says, “Only when the last tree has died, the last river has been poisoned, and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.”
Submitted by Sharon Lee Davies-Tight (not verified) on July 25, 2011.
Frankly, I've never seen such well-written and well-reasoned postings anywhere on the net. The original article drew me in, because of the artistry with which it presented the facts. Bravo!
First, we need to phase out the energy sources that cause the most immediate harm to quality of life, and that appears to be coal.
Secondly, we need to implement several alternative sources; not just one will solve the massive need for electricity.
Submitted by HENRY NICOL (not verified) on July 24, 2011.
This was the original land of the American Indians who merged with newcomers to make one great land THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. And if we are patriotic and love our land then we should protect our environment. I will propose here that illegal aliens be granted a legal business status if they are able to start up a small business or arts and trade business and that at least twenty percent of their profit be used for environmental purposes. This should help all of our environmental needs and have their businesses rely on clear air. These people can be part of the American Dream and to help rescue our country from toxines. There are millions of illegals that could pay for a new business visa and have these funds go towards our environment.
Show the power companies you are in control, turn off all electrical usage in your home, If everyone turns off the lights, the power company will go out of business.
OK so you don't wnat to do that?
The power companies are in business, because YOU want electricity. What is the solution? Wind power and solar cells are not going to give us the power needs of our communites. Nuclear Power? and all of you complain that is dangerous, for todays' society needs we have been "hooked on electricity", we have trash dumps, we have sewers, we have polution, is society worth it?
We have done this to ourselves, what do we want for the future? This is an honest look at what we as humans have and are doing to our planet.
Do you want the New World Order plan of reduced population? I face real facts, WE polute, all living beings on land and in the air and in the ocean polute. This is life, I believe we are improving our control of Nuclear energy, but still accidents can happen, as did recently in Japan. This is the cost of society, nothing is safe, no guarantees for safety, so what do YOU want the government to do, for YOU? I believe we must encourage Nuclear plant construction, with better safety, or turn off the lights as you leave the planet.
Submitted by Kev_C (not verified) on August 14, 2011.
How about if the people all decided to cut back on their wasteful habits? How about we stopped using high energy devices and reduced our reliance on AC units? How about we plant more trees to help soak up the carbon and the other pollutants? How about we plant more trees to aid in cooling ourselves down and improving our health and protecting the land from erosion? How about we stop trading everything from huge centralised locations and reverted back to localised trade and production? Local markets and local customers? Think about the fuel we'd save?
Think these ideas are not worthy? Think the American Dream is all about being bigger and better and tougher and globally dominant? Wrong thoughts entirely.
Sorry but your view of Nuclear is as blinkered as the governments view is on oil exploration in the Arctic, coal plant expansions and dealing with the very real issues at the front line of society. You cannot throw more paper at the problem to make it go away. The US is dying for want of grass roots innovations and localised initiatives to generate local jobs for the local communities.
Instead the people are being suckered by fear tactics. They are being conned into believing that they will be seen as something less than human if they don't engage in the corporate deceits, into believing they need electricity with all the trimmings and all the goodies and all the new fangled consumer toys and devices.
They don't.
They are now learning painfully so that all these crap items merely make them lardy and dependent on an outmoded lifestyle that will eventually kill them early.....and kill their children even earlier.
You want to promote a future that is sustainable?
Well get this neat little bit of reality.
There is only sufficient raw nuclear material left on planet earth of the type currently used to keep the current number of nuclear power plants running for the next 35-40 years.
If the next generation of power plants currently being built and proposed to be built over the nxt 15 years are taken into account(only the ones currently known about that is) then the supply will run out within the next 20 years if not sooner and the cost of the raw fuel will continue to rise exponentially from here on.
What then?
Praying for another Malthusian let off?
Hoping for the promised Rapture?
I'd say we have only one choice. To support people like these Paiute Indians and support their endeavour to generate electricity from the sun.
Support all the local initiatives to generate electricity locally and to promote it without overzealous regulations and reams of corporate sponsored bills designed to promote their business practices over the small, localised businesses.
Support local food production and local sales of local organic food and support the farmers markets. With these the energy waste will fall and the pollution will fall and the health of the people will improve beyond expectations. You don't need more drugs just more healthy environments.
Anything else is mere corporate sponsored advertising of the 'Emperors New Clothes' alternatively known as the same stuff dressed in a different box.
Don't be suckered any longer. Its your future the Government and the corporations are gambling with.
Time to stop merely looking at the problems and start dealing with them within your own communities.
Submitted by Mark T (not verified) on August 14, 2011.
You must not be paying attention to what's going down in Fukushima or what Chernobyl is like today. Nukes are not the answer. I see all that open sunny sky and read about the wind down there in the NV desert and you say they won't provide the power we need? The answer is right in front of you and you ignore it? Passive solar home construction is a step in the right direction and we just don't hear about it any more. And conservation! - turn out the lights and leave the planet alone.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 14, 2011.
To go your way we have to do something about the fuel rods all over the country. If we do not find an answer to that issue we will be doing just what coal is doing, putting toxic wast all around.
Submitted by mangusfl (not verified) on July 24, 2011.
during late Clinton time the EPA started suing operators of coal plants with the first being Teco in Tampa which was a duel success as rater then face a million in fines the epa allowed Teco to upgrade the south Tampa plant to modern specs. which cost the over two million dollars but changed the south Hillsborough area from a wasteland of decay and poverty with gray air and dust to clean sky’s which has created a housing boom in the area however when bush took over he wrote an executive letter banning the epa from suing any other on the list of 50 which made the director quit and the current epa seem inept to try and sew the other 49 plants on this list also we should enact a law that all the ash should be recycled not just 47% of it which would make coal power a bit more expensive to run but would lower costs of bricks asphalt concrete blocks
Submitted by Sue A. Blanton, DC (not verified) on July 24, 2011.
Corporations have no right to claim all the air for themselves, leaving citizens nothing to breathe, no way to stay healthy. When government fails to curb them, we all become their victims, and we lose our country to these fascists. I would have thought Germany of the l930s/40s would have delivered this message. We must quit participating in corporate welfare and begin subsidizing whatever provides health and honors our citizen rights. To do so we must eliminate senators/representatives who can't figure out why our disease care costs so much and so many people are sick.
Submitted by valeri Hood (not verified) on July 24, 2011.
Look at the chemtrails in the sky in so many of these photos- the same thing we are dealing with here in Marin- these people are under a pollution cloud of so many things. All of this insanity needs to be stopped!
Submitted by Nicole (not verified) on July 24, 2011.
Everyone should watch the vids on YouTube and repost them on your Facebook or social gathering sites. Let's get the word out there as so many people are unaware of this stuff happening. It wasn't until I took an environmental biology class that I learned about the different issues (along with the 20 other people in my class).
Submitted by Mary Ann Martorana (not verified) on July 24, 2011.
Native American tradition shows us the way to live in harmony with nature. We must all learn these lessons if we want to survive as a species on earth.
It is an excellent idea to put up a solar plant to provide an alternative to the filthy coal. Suing the company that is polluting the land is a fine and just way to finance that effort. I will pray that you find the right lawyer and are successful.
Submitted by Carol from Vegas (not verified) on July 24, 2011.
Thanks for bringing this issue home . . . as a Las Vegas resident, I didn't even realize The Paiutes were subjected to this. And what a wonderful turn-around story which I'm going to circulate as widely as possible in Clark County since I'm stupefied by our lack of progress in solar. For the life of me I don't see why we can't formulate an affordable way to solarize "carport" parking all over the city for starters.
But back to The Paiutes -- and people wonder why those who live on "reservations" are so beleaguered? This is only one example of what (at least the Western-based) Tribes have to contend with. HOORAY for The Paiutes -- I wish them good fortune in their solar endeavor!
Submitted by Desmondiva (not verified) on July 27, 2011.
Thanks Carol! I am delighted to hear a local's thoughtful take on this. I also share your gratitude for the way The Paiutes in the region are taking the higher ground on this dreadful issue. The rest of us should do anything in our power to stop that plant from polluting on these innocent and cherished people, out of respect for our history, our land, and the health of the planet and people.
I am so proud of them for investing in solar power. They are leading by example, being the symbiotic souls they are, by taking action for the greater good and living in harmony with nature. They are showing us it can be done, even despite breathing toxic air. It gives me chills of appreciation.
Great idea with solarizing the parking lots Carol! They create micro-climates, increasing local heat. Why not offset this by benefiting from the energy it can produce? Alternative energy CAN support the community needs. The people who say only dirty and dangerous energy sources have the power to do this, are shooting our clean, sustainable and healthy future in the foot. Stay postive, and innovative. We CAN live in harmony with nature.
Excellent story and video. I send peace, light and love to the Paiutes, for healing and luck for a cleaner, healthier future.
Submitted by Janet McMahan of Ocilla, GA (not verified) on July 24, 2011.
Please check your water as well... Do not run SPIGOT water for 2 to 3 minutes, then slow to a pencil thin stream as most STATES tell you to do to collect your sample... Turn on spigot at bottom of your water heater and collect 8 ounces of water & sediment. Take to your Ext Agent and ask for them to check for ARSENIC DOWN TO ZERO. Otherwise, if you have 5 parts per billion or less, the reporter will put "Negligible" giving you a false sense of security. If you have any Arsenic in the water, that means that it is passing under you at different rates at different times... During DROUGHT the concentration will probably be higher. Also check for LEAD & MERCURY and the basic water test. We have ARSENIC III in our water, which is 500 times MORE TOXIC than pure Arsenic and it takes a special water filter to remove it, according to the State. Look up AdEdge water filter on-line. We have many CANCER CLUSTERS in our area. Our city was only checking for Arsenic once every 3 years... My son, Ben, our two Labradors & I got Cancer all around the same time during & shortly after the worst DROUGHT Georgia has seen... please look at my son's website for more important information and ask me to be your facebook friend. My pic is of me surfing. My name is Janet McMahan and my son's website is www.caringbridge.org/visit/benmcmahan I will be praying for you as I hope you will be praying for us. God Bless You and All That You Love!
Submitted by Elliander (not verified) on July 24, 2011.
They should file a class action lawsuit against the coal plant for damages and medical expenses. Nothing makes a statement more than making a company pay you damages. Then use the money from the damages to compete against the coal plant with more panels of their own plant.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 24, 2011.
We should elect earth friendly representitives and not those hiding behind this extream right wing tea imperialist agenda
WAKE UP AMERICA
They not in reality and don't give a damn about you!
Submitted by Joy from Brooklyn N.Y. (not verified) on July 24, 2011.
The following link is for Erin Brockovich's website. She's a real person, who is working in real time to help people victimized by corrupt polluters such as these ghouls.
Submitted by michele johnson (not verified) on July 24, 2011.
The plans for solar panels gives a glimmer of hope in this dismal situation. I pray for your success and health. Get your documentation on the health effects, sue that coal plant and get it shut down.
Submitted by Wacato Semon (not verified) on July 24, 2011.
Unbeleivable, seems if you are rich and a huge corporation the laws do not apply toyou, well my faith is in the Creator and there is a natural law and that one does apply, my prayers and whatever support I can give, will be to end this travisty...
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on July 24, 2011.
Let's fill the coal industry executives' homes with the foul air their coal plants make and put them under house arrest.
And let's put a sticker on every one of those electric cars which says "My electric car has a dirty little secret. 85% of U.S. electricity is made from dirty coal, the dirtiest form of energy made".
Submitted by Elliander (not verified) on July 24, 2011.
In reality the average US home uses the same power from the same grid so it's an issue much larger than simply saying electric cars are a problem.
The problem with the idea of putting a sticker on an electric car is simply that it's very easy to make sure your electric car is not running on coal power. A single solar panel on top of a Garage can completely power an electric car and then some. Pushing against electric cars because of where most of our electricity comes from will only encourage more people to rely on pollution.
A simpler solution would be a law that allows all persons to choose the source of their electricity. I know in practice a local electric company can't tell you which electron is coming from where, but they have a measure of how much is coming from where overall. If you had the option of reviewing rates for different sources of power you could say, "Well this Solar plant only costs me this much more than Coal. I'm going to make a statement by choosing for my home to be powered by Solar" and thus the Coal plant will see less sales keeping it from expanding, while the solar plant will need to expand. By letting the consumer decide responsibility we can make a difference that way.
Submitted by ymzvi (not verified) on July 22, 2011.
Yes, like the commenter above said, please seek medical advice and legal representation if you can and have not done so already! Make sure that your physicians/healthcare providers are thoroughly documenting all of your symptoms, any illnesses that you have developed since living in the area, etc. Organize your community and press charges against the corporation that is poisoning your health and the environment. I hope that Earthjustice has already offered their services to you. Good luck to you all!
Submitted by Jack Enright (not verified) on July 21, 2011.
The people who are affected by this contamination should try to contact a physician and have a blood test for lead and mercury levels. Any dangerous levels of these metals reported can be used in a court of law to prosecute against the power company. Also the coal ash can cause health problems in the lungs. I do hope that you have legal representation to confront this corporation and initiate a cease and desist order by the court. This is my advice and I hope that you are well on your way in putting a stop to this criminal action.
Print this page
Email this page
Following CNN's documentary on The Battle for Blair Mountain, this is very timely. The effect of coal, whether mined underground or mountaintop creates so many more issues than the jobs of the miners. While the mining families of Blair Mountain discussed the effects on their community, it is blind and selfish to ignore the effects on health. With so many clean options, coal must be stopped.
I am appealing to every person in power is to do what ever he or she can do to stop this human atrocity , as soon as possible .
It is a terrible shame that the powers that be have allowed this polution to go on for so long. Fortunately, we as a society are finally waking up to the contamination caused from this and other fuel consumption. We, the society, have the ability as well as the power to demand better from our fellow man. Turning a blind eye to this is no longer an option and it is beyond time to stand up and demand that cleaner fuels be used. The day it becomes too late is the day we are dead. We have the power to clean our mess up and it is high time that we act and not allow any further contamination to be generated.
It figures. The Native American getting screwed again. When is the gvernment going to CARE!
Please stop the pollution!!!! Send the extra money to do the right thing. Protect the environment !!!
08/14/2011 I am sorry to hear of the environmental health problems caused by the electrical generation plant in your area. If your area has good wind, I suggest you investigate installing wind turbines (wind mill electric generation) it is free energy, and much less polluting.
Coal ash is terrible, but more disgusting is our attitude toward its disposal. We must do better.
We would all by NIMBYS (not in my back yard) We need green energy. None of us need coal and we really do have coal filth in our back yards too. The all pervasive filth of coal can be eliminated.
"Andrew Jackson's Back!" from gloriana casey 8/14/2011- a poem for the Moapa People and Earth. "As long as grass grows and waters run..." YES! Andrew Jackson lied! A land grabber and killer too. And Indians? Oh---they died! He's back! He's back! That Andrew's back, yet different in new shape. Reid Gardner-of the Coal- his name. he stalks, and life he'll take. The New Horsemen, Apocalypse, in corporate colors bleak. The white, the red, the black, the pale, will steal life at its peak! From Las Vegas---just 30 miles, this corporate pestilence. They gamble with Moapa lives; these lives valued in cents. These four Horsemen of Toxic Ash: arsenic---it poisons slow. Plus lead and mercury make three. Moapa breathes this foe. The Fourth Horseman--a corporate one, they coat the air with death. As winds blow cross this toxic sludge, No Indian health is left! Three hundred yards away, their homes. Reid Gardener wants to grow. "Expand, expand, eat up the land!" A corporate killing show. Our history of corporate greed with land grabs far and wide. But land is not enough for them, they seek the air inside! For all of us on planet Earth live not by bread alone. Clean air is real---our staff of LIFE, it feeds life --to the bone! America, America, don't take our breath away. For poison here flows round the Earth and ends our Earthly stay. The sun gives life to all below, it shares with Earth life true. A power ALL on Earth can share in health and sky of blue. No Indian I, but Earthling too their fate is linked to all. Save Moapa, and save yourself. ONE FUTURE---rise or fall.***
it is good to see the human race realize there are better ways although newer of providing a living for ourselves. When we look at the reality of our lives, we have to admit that we are all on the same "lifeboat". The planet is round and although we may think we can "safely" pollute away from ourselves, ultimately, it will come back around on us.....
Here is an instance in which the environment and the indigenous people are being so horrifically violated that the only condition that equals this abomination is the apathy many of our citizens have toward confronting these corporate monsters, and demanding from their government a Manhattan scale project to produce safe, renewable energy and technology to replace the national grid based on fossil fuels. But all is not hopeless we can use energy far more frugally than we are doing, support the indigenous people and others whose lives are being threatened, and pressure the government and corporate leaders constantly to move in a constructive direction. Thank God for EarthJustice and other groups of conscience for all their work; they are great vehicles for expressing our concerns and for defending the environment.
This is beyond sad the indians have died for so many years for nothing and now they are dying again because of White Man needs and all they do is wait to die and that is just not fair not fair at all.
How can we continue doing this to these innocent men women and their children and their innocent pets this can't continue it just can't so all the weathy people have to step up to the plate and help and that is a fact.
If we cannot find a way to mine it more safely we must look for other sources. Boyer c. August
I am deeply saddened by this story and many others. We no longer have a Democracy.
Corporations and the ultra-wealthy dictate much of our laws, our media, our politics. But we can band together for good causes and try to regain our Democracy. You can go to Care2,
they seek people who want to create new petitions for social change. Get the word out about Coal's Dirty Secret. And if you want to see how much I care about our land you can visit my website at photographyjane.com
Good Luck,
Jane Herschlag
The disastrous effects of all of the byproducts of coal fired energy plants are appalling. There is no question that managing these effects would be expensive and green technology studies may determine that it is too expensive. In that case, the coal fired plants may have to be replaced by the utilization of green energy measures. The native village which is setting out an array of solar panels is setting an example of a non greedy, non polluting energy creation....only one of many possibilities depending on location. It is one thing to realize that many of these dirty coal fired plants may have been built before the true extent of their danger to all life within their " reach" was known. There is no ethical, moral, humane reason to continue to use coal unless the mining and firing of coal can be made safe.GREED IS NO EXCUSE! It will doubtless take legislative and legal intervention to further this cause.
George Bush in his presidency cut funding to as many watchdog
agency's as he could. Stop this Republican madness. Please
Vote Democratic.
I love the plant an always will no use to stop an try to clean the air now cause my people and I are already contaminated with the chemicals ...
You love the plant? Your already polluted? No point stopping the pollution?
Have you no consideration for tomorrows people?
Obviously they pay you a lot to spout such a selfish sentiment.
We cannot go forward looking backwards. That's my quote by the way.
Kev_C
UK
But you can make the world safer for your childrens children & restore the balance!
It is really sad. We still use harmful resources for humans to use. while not only it effects us. But, the animals & plants around us. When need to stop failing our planet. Start working together in this circle of life.
Everything deserves to live a healthy happy life. If, just one person can change the world. What will happen when all of us working as one ? Earth would be a happier state. then it is today. Talk is easier said then done. Doesnt mean it cant be done ? Biggest differences started as a small idea ...
I agree with you, Neko. We need to have respect for all living things. When society and our nation wakes up to the fact that we're poisoning our environment and ourselves, then maybe we can work together and at the same time stop the greed. As a society, we need to to come up with solutions. It's time we start thinking outside of the box and be creative. We are One with each other, wildlife, our environment and our planet.
We call Earth our home. It's time we have respect for it. A Cree proverb says, “Only when the last tree has died, the last river has been poisoned, and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.”
Frankly, I've never seen such well-written and well-reasoned postings anywhere on the net. The original article drew me in, because of the artistry with which it presented the facts. Bravo!
First, we need to phase out the energy sources that cause the most immediate harm to quality of life, and that appears to be coal.
Secondly, we need to implement several alternative sources; not just one will solve the massive need for electricity.
omg i am sharing on facebook
This was the original land of the American Indians who merged with newcomers to make one great land THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. And if we are patriotic and love our land then we should protect our environment. I will propose here that illegal aliens be granted a legal business status if they are able to start up a small business or arts and trade business and that at least twenty percent of their profit be used for environmental purposes. This should help all of our environmental needs and have their businesses rely on clear air. These people can be part of the American Dream and to help rescue our country from toxines. There are millions of illegals that could pay for a new business visa and have these funds go towards our environment.
I like your idea!
Show the power companies you are in control, turn off all electrical usage in your home, If everyone turns off the lights, the power company will go out of business.
OK so you don't wnat to do that?
The power companies are in business, because YOU want electricity. What is the solution? Wind power and solar cells are not going to give us the power needs of our communites. Nuclear Power? and all of you complain that is dangerous, for todays' society needs we have been "hooked on electricity", we have trash dumps, we have sewers, we have polution, is society worth it?
We have done this to ourselves, what do we want for the future? This is an honest look at what we as humans have and are doing to our planet.
Do you want the New World Order plan of reduced population? I face real facts, WE polute, all living beings on land and in the air and in the ocean polute. This is life, I believe we are improving our control of Nuclear energy, but still accidents can happen, as did recently in Japan. This is the cost of society, nothing is safe, no guarantees for safety, so what do YOU want the government to do, for YOU? I believe we must encourage Nuclear plant construction, with better safety, or turn off the lights as you leave the planet.
How about if the people all decided to cut back on their wasteful habits? How about we stopped using high energy devices and reduced our reliance on AC units? How about we plant more trees to help soak up the carbon and the other pollutants? How about we plant more trees to aid in cooling ourselves down and improving our health and protecting the land from erosion? How about we stop trading everything from huge centralised locations and reverted back to localised trade and production? Local markets and local customers? Think about the fuel we'd save?
Think these ideas are not worthy? Think the American Dream is all about being bigger and better and tougher and globally dominant? Wrong thoughts entirely.
Sorry but your view of Nuclear is as blinkered as the governments view is on oil exploration in the Arctic, coal plant expansions and dealing with the very real issues at the front line of society. You cannot throw more paper at the problem to make it go away. The US is dying for want of grass roots innovations and localised initiatives to generate local jobs for the local communities.
Instead the people are being suckered by fear tactics. They are being conned into believing that they will be seen as something less than human if they don't engage in the corporate deceits, into believing they need electricity with all the trimmings and all the goodies and all the new fangled consumer toys and devices.
They don't.
They are now learning painfully so that all these crap items merely make them lardy and dependent on an outmoded lifestyle that will eventually kill them early.....and kill their children even earlier.
You want to promote a future that is sustainable?
Well get this neat little bit of reality.
There is only sufficient raw nuclear material left on planet earth of the type currently used to keep the current number of nuclear power plants running for the next 35-40 years.
If the next generation of power plants currently being built and proposed to be built over the nxt 15 years are taken into account(only the ones currently known about that is) then the supply will run out within the next 20 years if not sooner and the cost of the raw fuel will continue to rise exponentially from here on.
What then?
Praying for another Malthusian let off?
Hoping for the promised Rapture?
I'd say we have only one choice. To support people like these Paiute Indians and support their endeavour to generate electricity from the sun.
Support all the local initiatives to generate electricity locally and to promote it without overzealous regulations and reams of corporate sponsored bills designed to promote their business practices over the small, localised businesses.
Support local food production and local sales of local organic food and support the farmers markets. With these the energy waste will fall and the pollution will fall and the health of the people will improve beyond expectations. You don't need more drugs just more healthy environments.
Anything else is mere corporate sponsored advertising of the 'Emperors New Clothes' alternatively known as the same stuff dressed in a different box.
Don't be suckered any longer. Its your future the Government and the corporations are gambling with.
Time to stop merely looking at the problems and start dealing with them within your own communities.
You must not be paying attention to what's going down in Fukushima or what Chernobyl is like today. Nukes are not the answer. I see all that open sunny sky and read about the wind down there in the NV desert and you say they won't provide the power we need? The answer is right in front of you and you ignore it? Passive solar home construction is a step in the right direction and we just don't hear about it any more. And conservation! - turn out the lights and leave the planet alone.
To go your way we have to do something about the fuel rods all over the country. If we do not find an answer to that issue we will be doing just what coal is doing, putting toxic wast all around.
during late Clinton time the EPA started suing operators of coal plants with the first being Teco in Tampa which was a duel success as rater then face a million in fines the epa allowed Teco to upgrade the south Tampa plant to modern specs. which cost the over two million dollars but changed the south Hillsborough area from a wasteland of decay and poverty with gray air and dust to clean sky’s which has created a housing boom in the area however when bush took over he wrote an executive letter banning the epa from suing any other on the list of 50 which made the director quit and the current epa seem inept to try and sew the other 49 plants on this list also we should enact a law that all the ash should be recycled not just 47% of it which would make coal power a bit more expensive to run but would lower costs of bricks asphalt concrete blocks
Corporations have no right to claim all the air for themselves, leaving citizens nothing to breathe, no way to stay healthy. When government fails to curb them, we all become their victims, and we lose our country to these fascists. I would have thought Germany of the l930s/40s would have delivered this message. We must quit participating in corporate welfare and begin subsidizing whatever provides health and honors our citizen rights. To do so we must eliminate senators/representatives who can't figure out why our disease care costs so much and so many people are sick.
Look at the chemtrails in the sky in so many of these photos- the same thing we are dealing with here in Marin- these people are under a pollution cloud of so many things. All of this insanity needs to be stopped!
Everyone should watch the vids on YouTube and repost them on your Facebook or social gathering sites. Let's get the word out there as so many people are unaware of this stuff happening. It wasn't until I took an environmental biology class that I learned about the different issues (along with the 20 other people in my class).
Native American tradition shows us the way to live in harmony with nature. We must all learn these lessons if we want to survive as a species on earth.
It is an excellent idea to put up a solar plant to provide an alternative to the filthy coal. Suing the company that is polluting the land is a fine and just way to finance that effort. I will pray that you find the right lawyer and are successful.
Thanks for bringing this issue home . . . as a Las Vegas resident, I didn't even realize The Paiutes were subjected to this. And what a wonderful turn-around story which I'm going to circulate as widely as possible in Clark County since I'm stupefied by our lack of progress in solar. For the life of me I don't see why we can't formulate an affordable way to solarize "carport" parking all over the city for starters.
But back to The Paiutes -- and people wonder why those who live on "reservations" are so beleaguered? This is only one example of what (at least the Western-based) Tribes have to contend with. HOORAY for The Paiutes -- I wish them good fortune in their solar endeavor!
Thanks Carol! I am delighted to hear a local's thoughtful take on this. I also share your gratitude for the way The Paiutes in the region are taking the higher ground on this dreadful issue. The rest of us should do anything in our power to stop that plant from polluting on these innocent and cherished people, out of respect for our history, our land, and the health of the planet and people.
I am so proud of them for investing in solar power. They are leading by example, being the symbiotic souls they are, by taking action for the greater good and living in harmony with nature. They are showing us it can be done, even despite breathing toxic air. It gives me chills of appreciation.
Great idea with solarizing the parking lots Carol! They create micro-climates, increasing local heat. Why not offset this by benefiting from the energy it can produce? Alternative energy CAN support the community needs. The people who say only dirty and dangerous energy sources have the power to do this, are shooting our clean, sustainable and healthy future in the foot. Stay postive, and innovative. We CAN live in harmony with nature.
Excellent story and video. I send peace, light and love to the Paiutes, for healing and luck for a cleaner, healthier future.
Please check your water as well... Do not run SPIGOT water for 2 to 3 minutes, then slow to a pencil thin stream as most STATES tell you to do to collect your sample... Turn on spigot at bottom of your water heater and collect 8 ounces of water & sediment. Take to your Ext Agent and ask for them to check for ARSENIC DOWN TO ZERO. Otherwise, if you have 5 parts per billion or less, the reporter will put "Negligible" giving you a false sense of security. If you have any Arsenic in the water, that means that it is passing under you at different rates at different times... During DROUGHT the concentration will probably be higher. Also check for LEAD & MERCURY and the basic water test. We have ARSENIC III in our water, which is 500 times MORE TOXIC than pure Arsenic and it takes a special water filter to remove it, according to the State. Look up AdEdge water filter on-line. We have many CANCER CLUSTERS in our area. Our city was only checking for Arsenic once every 3 years... My son, Ben, our two Labradors & I got Cancer all around the same time during & shortly after the worst DROUGHT Georgia has seen... please look at my son's website for more important information and ask me to be your facebook friend. My pic is of me surfing. My name is Janet McMahan and my son's website is www.caringbridge.org/visit/benmcmahan I will be praying for you as I hope you will be praying for us. God Bless You and All That You Love!
They should file a class action lawsuit against the coal plant for damages and medical expenses. Nothing makes a statement more than making a company pay you damages. Then use the money from the damages to compete against the coal plant with more panels of their own plant.
We should elect earth friendly representitives and not those hiding behind this extream right wing tea imperialist agenda
WAKE UP AMERICA
They not in reality and don't give a damn about you!
The following link is for Erin Brockovich's website. She's a real person, who is working in real time to help people victimized by corrupt polluters such as these ghouls.
http://www.brockovich.com/workcontact.html
That's Ms. Brockovich's contact form. She says on her site that she reads every email.
You have nothing to lose.
JEHOVAH and Jesus bless you and keep you.
The plans for solar panels gives a glimmer of hope in this dismal situation. I pray for your success and health. Get your documentation on the health effects, sue that coal plant and get it shut down.
Unbeleivable, seems if you are rich and a huge corporation the laws do not apply toyou, well my faith is in the Creator and there is a natural law and that one does apply, my prayers and whatever support I can give, will be to end this travisty...
Let's fill the coal industry executives' homes with the foul air their coal plants make and put them under house arrest.
And let's put a sticker on every one of those electric cars which says "My electric car has a dirty little secret. 85% of U.S. electricity is made from dirty coal, the dirtiest form of energy made".
In reality the average US home uses the same power from the same grid so it's an issue much larger than simply saying electric cars are a problem.
The problem with the idea of putting a sticker on an electric car is simply that it's very easy to make sure your electric car is not running on coal power. A single solar panel on top of a Garage can completely power an electric car and then some. Pushing against electric cars because of where most of our electricity comes from will only encourage more people to rely on pollution.
A simpler solution would be a law that allows all persons to choose the source of their electricity. I know in practice a local electric company can't tell you which electron is coming from where, but they have a measure of how much is coming from where overall. If you had the option of reviewing rates for different sources of power you could say, "Well this Solar plant only costs me this much more than Coal. I'm going to make a statement by choosing for my home to be powered by Solar" and thus the Coal plant will see less sales keeping it from expanding, while the solar plant will need to expand. By letting the consumer decide responsibility we can make a difference that way.
Yes, like the commenter above said, please seek medical advice and legal representation if you can and have not done so already! Make sure that your physicians/healthcare providers are thoroughly documenting all of your symptoms, any illnesses that you have developed since living in the area, etc. Organize your community and press charges against the corporation that is poisoning your health and the environment. I hope that Earthjustice has already offered their services to you. Good luck to you all!
very true!! make a class action lawsuit. Justice needs to be served!!
The people who are affected by this contamination should try to contact a physician and have a blood test for lead and mercury levels. Any dangerous levels of these metals reported can be used in a court of law to prosecute against the power company. Also the coal ash can cause health problems in the lungs. I do hope that you have legal representation to confront this corporation and initiate a cease and desist order by the court. This is my advice and I hope that you are well on your way in putting a stop to this criminal action.
Post new comment