Our Stories

The Latest by Liz Judge

Advocacy Communications Director

June 7, 2012

The Many Humble Heroes of Appalachia

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

As we were working on our new campaign ("Mountain Heroes") to stop mountaintop removal coal mining, many of the folks who shared their stories told us they felt bashful about being called "heroes." In our society today, when we talk about a hero many of us imagine a caped figure flying through the sky, lifting …

Be a Mountain Hero.
June 4, 2012

Introducing Our New Mountain Heroes Website and Campaign

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

Over our years of working to stop mountaintop removal mining, we at Earthjustice have met so many brave and dedicated people fighting for their communities, mountains and waters. In 2010, Earthjustice launched our “Mountain Heroes” campaign to share their inspiring stories and show that this is not just a fight for the environment—it’s a fight …

March 26, 2012

Spruce Court Decision: A Sad Day in West Virginia

By Liz Judge  /  Washington, D.C. Office

Citizens vow to fight harder against mountaintop removal mining

March 22, 2012

On World Water Day, Take a Sip, Take a Moment

By Liz Judge

World Water Day reminds us of our most valuable resource of all: clean water.

February 28, 2012

Tennessee Standing Up For Its Mountains

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

A bipartisan bill is coming up for a vote in the Tennessee state legislature tomorrow (Feb. 29) that would ban surface mining and mountaintop removal mining at altitudes above 2,000 feet in the state. This legislation would ensure that the most scenic vistas are protected for residents and visitors instead of being razed. The Tennessee Senate’s Energy and Environment …

February 27, 2012

Remembering Buffalo Creek

By Liz Judge  /  Washington, D.C. Office

Yesterday, Feb. 26, was the 40th anniversary of the tragic Buffalo Creek coal sludge (also known as “slurry”) dam failure that killed 126 people and left thousands injured and homeless. What is sludge? Before coal can be sold, it has to be processed. During the processing of coal, it’s washed in a chemical mixture to …

February 2, 2012

World Wetlands Day: Happy Underrated Water Body Day!

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

In addition to being Groundhog Day, Feb. 2 is World Wetlands Day. Say what? An international day to celebrate swamps? If you’re scratching your head wondering why in the world we’d throw a party for swamps (and bogs and marshes and fens and floodplains and other wet, buggy places), here’s why: Wetlands protect us. They’re …

January 27, 2012

Big News for Our National Forests

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

Today, the Obama administration’s Forest Service revealed final rules for managing of our national forests. These rules typically last 15-30 years, and they serve as the blueprint for how 193 million acres of our most important watersheds are managed. Their impact is sweeping. My own memories from time spent in national forests remind me of …

January 19, 2012

Stand With Donna And All the People of Appalachia

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

The story of one woman’s fight to save her homeland

January 6, 2012

Six Environmental Imperatives for Obama in 2012

By Liz Judge

President Obama won the White House on a platform of hope and change – promising an end to dirty corporate influence over our political system and a beginning to an era in which our energy choices lead us to a clean, sustainable future, or at least don’t kill us or make us sick. So far, …