Mountain Heroes: Larry Gibson
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My name is Larry.
People ask me why I still fight for these mountains.
I ask them what they’d do if this was their home. -
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Larry Gibson: My Mountain Story
When he watched mountaintop removal mining raze the mountain all around his home and family’s land on Kayford Mountain in West Virginia, Larry Gibson became one of the country’s first people to speak out against this extreme and egregiously irresponsible mining practice. When there was hardly a gaggle of people brave enough to go against the grain of Big Coal in Appalachia, Larry railed against the destruction and injustice that he saw happening all around him. He bought himself some highlighter-yellow T-shirts and printed a simple message on them, calling for reinforcement from anyone with the courage to join the fight: "We Are the Keepers of the Mountains, Love Them or Leave Them, Just Don't Destroy Them. If You Dare to Be One Call 304-542-1134." Today, as he travels the country in his signature fluorescent shirts educating the public on through his Keeper of the Mountains Foundation, he is a hero to many in the movement to stop mountaintop removal mining. He was named one of CNN's "Heroes" in 2007, has appeared on ABC's 20/20, testified before the United Nations, and has spoken to thousands of community, church, and university groups across the country. His courage to stand up and speak out against mountaintop removal mining has inspired and given voice to countless other Americans who live with the injustices of environmental pollution and destruction. Standing at just above five feet tall, Larry’s leadership in the movement to bring justice to Appalachia is larger than life.
Larry Gibson passed away from a heart attack on September 9, 2012, while at his beloved Kayford Mountain. Earthjustice Campaign Manager Liz Judge shares her memories of this incredible man who just a few months ago took her up to Kayford to see the devastation in Mourning A Hero And A Friend. Multimedia Producer Chris Jordan-Bloch reminisces on meeting Larry and the making of his Mountain Heroes video story in Part Of Me Stayed There. Senior Legislative Counsel Joan Mulhern remembers her first meeting with Larry, more than a decade ago, in Hero For Those "Who Don't Have A Say".
This is Larry's story:
My name is Larry Gibson, and I’m standing on top of my family’s land on Kayford Mountain. All around me in every direction on this very mountain is mountaintop removal mining. This family land is an island of rich green in a sea of barren wasteland.
They say I have 39 seams of coal here, underneath our land. They also say this land is worth $650 million to the coal industry. But there’s not enough money that’s been printed or made that can buy this place. There are some things money shouldn’t be able to buy.
When I was a boy, we had 60 families living here. We had a general store, a school, and a church. This place has been in the family more than 235 years. From this place, we didn’t just get our shelter, our warmth, our food, our medicine – we got everything we needed in life.
My mother gave me birth, but this land gave me life. Growing up here was an adventure every day. I played with my pet bobcat, my fox, my hawk. All of these things, the good Lord provided on this land.
But just a stone’s throw away, on that mountaintop removal mining site, you couldn’t find anything alive if you wanted to. It’s bare rock, uninhabitable. Some Native Americans believe we should think seven generations ahead. When you look out on this site, it’s clear we haven’t done that.
I remember when they started mining here. It was a fine day: pretty sky, no clouds. All of a sudden I heard thunder in the distance. Couldn’t see no clouds, but we heard thunder. That was in spring of ’86.
By the fall of ’86, it was upon us – we could see the dynamite explosions and we were breathing in their dust.
Then by the spring of ’87, we could taste it in our mouths. It was foreign. We didn’t know what it was, or if it was legal to blow up a mountain. I mean, who does that? I just didn’t believe it, I couldn’t fathom it. But I was hearing it, and I was seeing it in the distance, and then finally I could throw a rock and hit it.
I was like most people in this country who don’t know about mountaintop removal mining, but I saw things I never dreamed I would see as an adult. I’d be sitting in my cabin, and the dishes would start shaking. Then, suddenly everything would start shaking! Things would break. My world as I knew it was coming to an end. You don’t even realize what you’ve got until you lose it.
One of the first things that I did was educate myself about what was happening to the water downstream, and how people were paying the price for this mining with their health and their lives. With mountaintop removal, the companies get all the coal. They leave nothing behind, except medical problems for people nearby.
I first set out to save my mountain, Kayford Mountain. By establishing a land trust, we saved our piece of it forever. Now, I fight to save all mountains, and all the people living in them. Because this movement can’t be about just me. It can’t be about just this mountain. It has to be about the people who don’t have a say, like our children and grandchildren.
Thirty years ago, I said, "Gosh, don’t anybody know what they’re doing out here? How come nobody’s stopping it?" People said, "In six months we’ll have this fixed." It’s been the longest six months of my life. The most common question asked of me is why I keep fighting after 30 years and 7,538 acres lost? It's not complex at all. It's that I'm right. Plain and simple. And mountaintop removal mining is wrong.
But today, things are changing. We are making a difference. Our movement is picking up. People are starting to listen, especially our youth. I hear older folks constantly say that our kids today don’t have direction. I disagree. I’ve spoken to young kids from one end of this country to the other. If you give them the information, and they see mountaintop removal mining, you won’t be able to stop them from trying to end it. And I know we will end it together.
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Jonathan Gensler
A former officer for the United States Army and Iraq War veteran, he is working on transforming the energy profile of the one of the largest energy consumers in the world, the Department of Defense.
"We can make a similar choice today, if we want: We can say 'Yes' to growing our economy beyond reliance on deadly fossil fuels, which will inevitably run out, and embrace a profitable future with a balance of renewable energy and enhanced efficiency, supporting healthy communities for generations to come."
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Dustin White
Dustin works to educate the public, elected officials, and members of Congress on the devastation mountaintop removal mining.
"Many don't realize the thing they cling to, coal, is the thing that is harming us. Even at home it is hard to get people to understand."
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Ken Hechler
In his early years in Congress, Rep. Hechler became an outspoken opponent of strip mining — and drafted the nation’s first law setting up safety measures for coal miners.
"There have been many uphill fights that have come out successful, and I wish we could see it for the fight to end mountaintop removal mining. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, but the tougher it gets, the more exciting it gets when you can see victory."
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James Tawney
The son of a coal miner, James grew up on a small farm on Daupinspeck Mountain, in the scenic Gauley River canyon. Now, this area famous for its whitewater rapids is being trashed by mountaintop removal.
"To me, nothing is worth the loss of our mountains and streams. Without drinkable water, there is no life."
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Donetta Blankenship
Donetta and her family's only source of water was contaminated with toxic chemicals. Hospitalized twice for liver problems due to the poisonous water, Donetta's resolve to stand up against mountaintop removal has only strengthened.
"I am going to do all I can to try to help, to save people's lives, and help them so that they won't have to go through this with their water."
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Teri Blanton
Teri has been fighting mountaintop removal mining and toxic pollution in her home state of Kentucky for 20 years. Along with thousands of her Kentucky comrades, Teri is at the forefront of the movement for healthy communities in America.
"My children didn’t get to enjoy the creek the way I did; they grew up in the midst of coal muck in the ’80s and early ’90s."
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Mickey McCoy
Mickey is the former mayor of Inez, Kentucky, a town that captured the nation’s attention when a massive coal waste dam failed and flooded it in 2000.
"You have just got to give the human race a big high five when you see some of these people who are getting involved in this peaceful movement to stop mountaintop removal, many of them young people — it’s just wonderful ... To all my brothers and sisters who are in this movement and to those who are ready to join us, I cry, 'Hoka Hey!'"
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Jane Branham
Jane is vice president of the Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards, a citizen group in southwest Virginia that is working to protect communities from coal pollution and end mountaintop removal mining.
"My hope is that we start rebuilding our community to what it used to be before coal ever invaded our lives."
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Cindy Rank
Cindy is the humble backbone of decades of efforts to hold accountable the agencies whose responsibilities are to strictly enforce federal and state mining laws.
"I do believe that even what appear to be small victories make a difference, slow the tide of destruction, and are worth whatever improved mining practices that occur as a result. People in Appalachia are still suffering greatly, but were it not for those small victories many more communities would already be gone."
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Allen Johnson
With his strong faith and his generous heart, Allen reaches out to Christians and their congregations to educate and motivate them on injustices of mountaintop removal mining.
"These areas where they are extracting all this coal are the poorest in the country. It’s take, take, take, and not give back...Answering this call involves rebuilding central Appalachia, with a sustainable, clean, vibrant economy; a renewal of our culture of hospitality and neighborliness."
Read Allen's Story -
Karen Woodrum
Karen is proud of her work as an underground miner and wants to make her message clear: she is not against coal; she is against mountaintop removal coal mining.
"There would be more jobs if they would mine it underground, and I think people’s lives would not be disrupted as they are with mountaintop removal going on. And there’s less damage done to the earth."
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Sid Moye
Sid never considered himself an environmentalist—just a regular mountain man who loves his family, loves his garden, and loves life in the mountains. But that all changed when he went to fulfill his lifelong dream of a retiring to fish in nearby mountain streams.
"When they leave, after the coal company is done with this, we'll not have any resources, we'll not have any land, we'll not have any water, the air is already poisoned."
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John Slattery
John Slattery is an actor and director, best known for his role as Roger Sterling on AMC's series Mad Men. In joining this Earthjustice campaign, John Slattery is standing with all Mountain Heroes in opposition to mountaintop removal mining.
"My name is John. Some things are better with their tops left on. I stand with the Mountain Heroes. Let's stop removing the tops off mountains."
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Wendell Berry
The author of more than 40 books of poetry, fiction, and essays, Wendell Berry is the recipient of numerous awards and honors. He has dedicated much of his energy and time to the cause of saving mountains and waters.
"My connection to mountaintop removal mining is the Kentucky River, beside which I live, and I know that surface mining in the mountains of Kentucky damages the river."
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Lisa Henderson
Born in a town that went vacant because of pollution from mountaintop removal mining, she was raised under the wing of one country’s most ardent voices for environmental justice, Judy Bonds.
"We traced the polluted creek to mountaintop removal mining. We started talking to community members from the other side of the mountain, and the more we talked to people, the more we heard, "Oh, you just wait. There’s more in store for you." They were right."
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Junior Walk
From living with contaminated water in his own home as a child, to being kicked out of the house for speaking out against the coal company, Junior has had to muster courage at every step along the way.
"I knew I couldn’t live with myself if I just sat on my hands, knowing that my friends and family were being poisoned, so I started to speak out against mountaintop removal mining."
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Julian Martin
In 1999, Julian walked across the state of West Virginia with another Mountain Hero, Larry Gibson, in protest of mountaintop removal mining. He hasn’t stop marching since.
"Mountaintop removal mining is just a one-shot deal. It kills everything and then leaves. These mountains will never be replaced, and nothing good is ever going to happen on these mountains again. They’re finished."
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Debbie Jarrell
Co-director of Coal River Mountain Watch, Debbie brings her caring spirit and indomitable dedication to the movement to end mountaintop removal mining.
"I have two grown children and three grandchildren. What’s similar about their experience is the amazement and the enjoyment that they get from being out in the woods and around the rivers. But a major difference is that my grandchildren can’t kneel down and get a drink in these streams whenever they want to, because of the pollution and contamination from mountaintop removal mining."
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Bo Webb
A no-nonsense Vietnam War veteran, Bo is determined to fight for the health of communities near mountaintop removal mining. He won't give up until protections are brought to Appalachia.
"After mountaintop removal is over we will work to build sustainable economies within our communities. For now, we must focus on this fight, because we are fighting for our survival. We and the mountains are connected; one and the same. As they are being destroyed, so are we."
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Amber Whittington
Amber's younger brother is only five years old, and he will spend his entire childhood growing up next to a mountaintop removal mining site. For his sake, she's pledged to work to end mountaintop removal mining.
"It seems hopeless at times, but it’s not. I have to remind myself that it will get better as long as I keep fighting. I’m inspired by the amazing people I’ve met who won’t back down on this. We need more people from all over the country fighting to stop this."
Read Amber's Story -
Terry Tempest
Highly celebrated and decorated literary icon Terry Tempest Williams stands firmly against mountaintop removal mining. Williams' writings and books have earned her critical acclaim, and now she is using her vaunted name to try to stop this devastating mining practice and protect families across Appalachia. Join her.
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Jerry Cope
Writer, filmmaker, designer, and activist Jerry Cope is standing up for justice, clean water, healthy communities, and mountains by standing against destructive mountaintop removal mining. Will you join him?
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Daryl Hannah
Award-winning actress Daryl Hannah has thrown herself into the fight to stop mountaintop removal mining. She stands in solidarity with all Mountain Heroes. Will you join her?
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Warren Haynes
Widely considered one of rock & roll’s greatest guitarists of all time, Warren Haynes has performed on stage and in the recording studio with a diverse array of musicians including Phil Lesh & Friends, James Hetfield, Bob Dylan, John Lee Hooker, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt and many more.
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Alex Honnold
World-renowned climber Alex Honnold, whose famed record-setting climbs are unrivaled in the climbing world, joins thousands of Mountain Heroes in standing up to defend Appalachia's mountains and communities.
"My name is Alex. Climbing mountains is my life. We should protect them."
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My Morning Jacket
"We are My Morning Jacket. We want to see an end to mountaintop removal. We care about our mountains and Appalachia."
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Mari-Lynn
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Silas House
I'm an Appalachian. And my homeland is being destroyed.
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Joan Mulhern
Earthjustice mourns the passing of the strongest and bravest advocate for clean water and justice that we have ever known, our very own senior legislative counsel Joan Mulhern.
A fighter for the planet and for all people who suffered environmental injustice, Joan was a tireless advocate for the underdog in every situation, and she seldom if ever lost.
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Maria Gunnoe
Maria's life has been threatened numerous times for her criticism of the coal industry, and she’s been assaulted and harassed, but she has refused to be silenced.
"We do not have to blow up our mountains and poison our water to create energy. I will be here to fight for our rights. My family is here, we’ve been here for the past 10 generations, and we’re not leaving."
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Edward Norton
An actor and filmmaker, Edward Norton is standing with all Mountain Heroes in opposition to mountaintop removal mining.
"Mountaintop removal coal mining destroys our natural resources, our communities, our health. It privatizes all the profit of dirty energy and socializes all the costs to the rest of us. It's a travesty and a scam and needs to be stopped."
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Larry Gibson
Considered the father of the movement to stop mountaintop removal mining, he travels the country in his signature fluorescent shirts educating the public on through his Keeper of the Mountains Foundation.
"We didn’t know what it was, or if it was legal to blow up a mountain. I mean, who does that? I just didn’t believe it, I couldn’t fathom it. But I was hearing it, and I was seeing it in the distance, and then finally I could throw a rock and hit it."
Read Larry's Story -
Chuck Nelson
For nearly 30 years he worked as an underground coal miner. When mountaintop removal mining came to his area, Chuck watched the communities around him fall apart. And so his journey began.
"Being a coal miner, I depended on coal to raise the family. But I knew when I went into the underground mine, I was sacrificing my own health. It was my choice, as an underground coal miner. But mountaintop removal mining is different, because it affects whole communities — people who don’t get a choice in the matter."
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Alexandra Cousteau
A National Geographic "Emerging Explorer," filmmaker, and globally recognized advocate on water issues, Alexandra sees the link between our oceans and the waters that connect to them, including the important headwaters that begin in the Appalachian Mountains.
"We are drawn to the mountains like we are drawn to the sea. Could you imagine a world without either?"
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Leilani Munter
A biology graduate who became a race car driver and environmental activist, Leilani is now directing her attention to the mining practice that is devastating Appalachia. She stands with all Mountain Heroes in opposition to mountaintop removal mining.
"Mountains are being destroyed for corporate greed. There is no Planet B. Let's save this one."
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Woody Harrelson
Woody Harrelson is an award-winning actor and longtime environmental activist, and a steadfast ally in the movement to stop mountaintop removal mining.
"Mountains, forests, streams, birds, fauna are sacred. The closest we get to God."
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Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is one of our nation's leading environmental advocates and litigators. Named one of TIME magazine’s “Heroes for the Planet," Kennedy works to defend our nation's clean waterways and oppose mountaintop removal coal mining.
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Comments
I just finished reading Days Of Destruction Days of Revolt (by Hedges and Sacco), where I met Larry, et al. Looking Larry up online, I learned minutes ago that he is no longer alive. But his message and intentions are -- in our country (U. S.) and around our world. Nevertheless, we need more people behaving like Larry not like the greedy jerks who killed the man's dog. Disgusting all around.
I finally met Larry, Carol, & baby Victoria when I was visiting relatives in the Charleston area. He was my mother's cousin on the maternal side of the family. He'd left a lasting impression on me-such a warm personality. Unfortunately, we'd lost touch over these many years, and I happened to catch a documentary on t.v. last year, because of its reference to W.Va. I was shocked to see Larry in it, as I had not seen him during all these years, & that he was therefore involved in a monumental struggle against this detrimental practice of mountain-top mining. I've never seen such devastation by mankind. It looks like something out of the Apocalypse-very ugly & depressing. I remember the beautiful acreage Larry had proudly shown me-acres of orchards, tree-filled mountain tops, wildlife, etc. It epitomized the state's slogan of "Almost Heaven". I truly believe the perpetrators will answer one day for what is nothing but greed, at the expense of the residents. I am very saddened that Larry left this earth much too soon. Ironically, it was 2 days before my birthday! To his wife and children, I offer my deepest sympathies. His work did not go un-noticed; his life has been forever etched deep into the mountains.
R.I.P Larry! You were a good man. :)
We must follow Larry's lead: stop the greed-driven destruction.
I have been reading that big companies are looking to the Cook Inlet area in Alaska to begin this type of destruction. Thank you Larry for fighting back and educating the population on this environmental disaster continuing to unfold. Stay strong everyone!
Dad, what a role model you were in my life.
If anyone heard him speak and was inspired by his passion, determination, his energy or that spark he put in you to stand up for what you believe in. Then, I implore you to continue organizing and stand up for the MTR cause.
Love you Dad
Your oldest son, Cameron
Rip you were such an amaizing person iam gonna misss u so much i will love u each and everyday you will never be forgotten you will be in my heart i love u awlays
RIP Larry! Hopefully, other heroes will carry on your work to protect the mountains from being ravaged.
Thank you Larry for your endless and selfless work ,
You will not be forgotten and I know you are still
Fighting with us!
we are so thankful that Larry stood for the rights of the people to own land and live in peace. the pressure by energy companies to destroy our land, water and air resources must be resisted and we must carry on the work of Larry and his family.Larry made such a powerful example by simply saving his family farm.Never, never give in to injustice and greed. Remember Larry Gibson.
I spend a fair amount of time in southern West VA every year, Running the Gorge, and fishing the New, and Greenbriar Rivers. I've seen firsthand the damage and permanent destruction cause by mountain top mining. As a conservationist, people like Larry Gibson serve as my heroes, and my inspiration. Via Con Dios Larry. Your work will continue, and you will NOT be forgotten.
Herschel Finch
Conservation Chairman -Potomac River Smallmouth Club
Shenandoah RiverKeeper -Member and Volunteeer
He might have stood alone in the beginning of this fight but he wasn't alone in the end. He inspired us so much, letting each of us know that WE was not in this alone. He might be gone but he will forever be with us.
There are still heroes in many walks of life .But there is one less here and He is watching the Mountains of Heaven.He fought the fight ,He will be missed but not forgotten.Larry mother earth loves you for all you did .People that care for her will always love you.
Being from Appalachia all my life I watched this w/ some eitcxement and some trepidation. These shows usually portray the worst examples of poverty in our region. Some thoughts:1. Diane Sawyer improved on Rory Kennedy's work American Hollow. Her focus was on mountain folks' dignity and the challenges of breaking the cycle they're caught up in rather than some pseduo-marxist babble about our victimization Mt. Dew being a slight exception.2. The show did make clear that there are two Appalachia's. The one many find themselves trapped in that's shrouded in poverty and bad lifestyles and a better one that's more like mainstream America. This is important b/c Appalachia is not monolothic. We do get advanced degrees and find jobs and thrive. But we do have a class of people at the bottom who're trapped. It's important to understand that complexity. I just wish someone would make a show someday about the better off in Appalachia so folks would understand this issue.3. These people need non-material help most. Shawn showed us that. Despite a scholarship to a nice school he found the cylce of poverty and bad lifestyles too powerful to break out of. A book in recent years by William Fogel about the next egalitarianism would be a good start for folks concerned about this. We have to impress upon these very poor people their self worth and ability to do better things w/ their lives. That's the hardest problem of all in the hills.I could go on, but that's enough for now. Thanks for this story and for all the people who love E. KY and Appalachia.
Thank you Larry!
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