Our Stories

The Latest by Liz Judge

Advocacy Communications Director

Liz Judge worked at Earthjustice from 2010–2016. During that time, she worked on mountaintop removal mining, national forests, and clean water issues, and led the media and advocacy communications teams.

October 19, 2012

How Clean Are Your Local Waterways?

By Liz Judge  /  Policy and Legislation Team & Washington, D.C. Office

You know that creek in your backyard, or the river or lake near your town? Have any idea what kind of condition it is in, or how polluted it is? Most people probably don’t  — up until now, it hasn’t been very easy to get this information. But to help people find out about the condition …

October 18, 2012

What the Clean Water Act Means To Me

By Liz Judge  /  Policy and Legislation Team & Washington, D.C. Office

In 1972, Congress passed the Clean Water Act by a two-thirds majority and with strong bipartisan support, and a Republican president signed it into law.

The Mountain Heroes photo petition.
September 13, 2012

Stand With Appalachia Solidarity Day

By Liz Judge  /  Policy and Legislation Team

Today’s the day that we deliver our Mountain Heroes photo petition to the Obama administration! This massive photo petition is historic—it includes photos and personal messages and stories from more than 13,500 people across the country who wrote to President Obama and his administration for an end to mountaintop removal mining. It’s the largest photo petition ever to be delivered to the president, and it’s all about ending the nation’s most destructive mining practice, protecting Appalachian families and communities, and standing up for clean water, healthy communities, environmental justice, and beautiful mountains and wildlife.

Larry Gibson, watching the sun set over a decimated Kayford Mountain.
September 10, 2012

Mourning A Hero And A Friend

By Liz Judge  /  Policy and Legislation Team & Washington, D.C. Office

Last night, we got devastating news. Larry Gibson, our close friend, partner, ally and comrade in the work to end mountaintop removal mining and secure justice for communities across Appalachia, had passed away of a heart attack. Larry was more than a friend and partner, he was our hero and our inspiration.

August 24, 2012

Musicians Join Hit Parade As Mountain Heroes

By Liz Judge  /  Policy and Legislation Team

The next artist is My Morning Jacket, a band from Louisville, KY. They have been outspoken environmental advocates for many years, working hard with partners such as Rock The Earth to educate their fans and concert-goers about critical environmental issues, and have played at festivals such as the Forecastle Festival, which promotes sustainability and conservation. In 2010, lead singer and guitarist Jim James collaborated with other Kentucky musicians to release Dear Companion, an album that draws attention to the problems caused by mountaintop removal coal mining. It’s amazing to have him join our Mountain Hero cause!

Be a Mountain Hero.
August 8, 2012

Kayford Mountain, Prettiest Lady I've Ever Seen

By Liz Judge  /  Policy and Legislation Team & Washington, D.C. Office

This is the story of a man who fell in love with a mountain and his struggle to keep it and all mountains from being destroyed by coal mining.

July 24, 2012

Daryl Hannah Making Splash For Mountain Heroes

By Liz Judge  /  Policy and Legislation Team & Washington, D.C. Office

Daryl Hannah is best known as an actor in films such as Splash, Blade Runner, Roxanne, Wall Street, and Kill Bill Volumes 1 and 2. But outside of the studio, she is a vocal environmental activist who dedicates herself to raising awareness of climate change, sustainable farming energy solutions, and of course, mountaintop removal. For …

July 20, 2012

Terry Tempest Williams Joins Mountain Hero Campaign

By Liz Judge  /  Policy and Legislation Team & Washington, D.C. Office

Fighting against mountaintop removal, this week we’re proud to announce the support of an incredibly strong woman: writer and activist Terry Tempest Williams. We know our supporters care deeply about the welfare of animals in the wild, and saw this vividly on our Facebook page when we highlighted the animals of Appalachia in a photo …

June 25, 2012

Mountain Hero Gets Help from Author Wendell Berry

By Liz Judge  /  Policy and Legislation Team & Washington, D.C. Office

Junior Walk is not a celebrity. He grew up in Whitesville, West Virginia, born into a family of coal miners and workers. When he was just a kid, the water in his family’s home became contaminated with coal slurry. Though it was blood-red and smelled like sulfur, Junior, who was just a child at the …

June 19, 2012

Bill Will Protect Communities, Families From Mountaintop Removal

By Liz Judge  /  Policy and Legislation Team & Washington, D.C. Office

Big news today in our fight to end destructive mountaintop removal mining: 13 congressional leaders joined to introduce legislation to protect communities and families from the dangerous health effects of our nation’s most extreme form of coal mining—mountaintop removal mining. The Appalachian Community Health Emergency Act is the first federal legislation to address the human …