Advancing the Coal Conversation in West Virginia
Written by Jason Keeling on January 22, 2010
The debate over coal’s environmental impact and future, between Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship and environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was most significant due to the relatively civil manner in which it occurred. Last night’s forum, hosted at The University of Charleston, was mostly devoid of the disrespect and intimidation that arose during public demonstrations and hearings in 2009.
To date, this issue has had a polarizing effect, resulting in an “us versus them” mentality that tends to overwhelm emotions and inhibit rational discussion.
Those employed in the coal industry feel threatened by the potential loss of their economic vitality. Those immediately impacted by mining’s environmental effects are urging investment in alternative energy sources. General consumers of electricity appear removed and unconcerned regarding the future of the climate and coal-mining communities.
Progress, Not Peril
When people demonize each other as “coal thugs” and “tree huggers,” they fail to see each other as human beings. The potential for collaboration and future planning is diminished. So long as these patterns of communication continue, the likelihood of economic and social progress will remain bleak.
Perhaps the Blankenship/Kennedy debate will mark a new point in West Virginia’s history, in which people start listening to and hearing each other on the future of coal. Perhaps they’ll start caring more for their southern county neighbors, both those who are impacted by mining’s environmental effects and those with few job options outside of the industry.
As a native West Virginian, I contend it is the moral obligation of residents to stop turning a blind eye. Instead, let’s further educate ourselves on the matter, let’s listen to all parties, let’s engage in the political process and let’s make the tough decisions that help ensure an economically diversified state, whose image is no longer characterized by peril, but by progress.
Posted in Culture, Economy, Education, Government, West Virginia
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January 22nd, 2010 at 6:13 pm
I appreciate this thoughtful writing. I am sometimes guilty of failing to allow my discourse to treat others as full human beings and will try to do better.
As my current Facebook home page header says, ‘Be kinder than necessary, because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.’
January 22nd, 2010 at 6:45 pm
UC worked really hard to bring this free event to Charleston, to plan for parking, for overflow crowds, for safety, to discourage disruption and to present a level of civil discourse on an extremely important, but legitimately emotional, topic. I applaud UC president Dr. Edwin Welch for providing the forum and for moderating it in such a way as to maintain the level of civil discourse.
January 22nd, 2010 at 6:55 pm
Right. Welch stayed cool and commanded respect while under obvious stress. He is good at “crowd control”- obviously having a good understanding of group psychology.
January 22nd, 2010 at 8:37 pm
I haven’t heard a coal conversation. Kennedy’s fans cheer him, Blankenship’s fans do likewise. The two speak what might as well be different languages. They’re both right: MTR is a terrible industrial process that destroys; coal feeds a lot of families. Right - but so what? How does this talking past each other help anything? It seemed to be all about scoring points off each other. Didn’t you know beforehand that there was not going to be anyone convincing the other of anything? I did hear one noteworthy comment from Don Massey: Don’t blame coal for the lack of economic diversification in our state. Blame the venal and the corrupt and the greedy and the fearful and the narrowminded “leaders” we keep sending to Charleston and Washington.
January 22nd, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Jim, you are so right. It’s sad that the best thing about this event was the fact that nobody was screamed at or physically shoved, which seems to be the norm when the two “sides” encounter each other. But then again, perhaps this tiny fraction of a baby step might lead to another tiny fraction, so that the next “debate” includes civility AND some modicum of progress.
January 23rd, 2010 at 10:31 am
I wasn’t there and maybe this is a far stretch, but I wonder if the Bay State senatorial election just before this forum has caused the progressive liberals like the Kennedys and all who would have us believe that WE THE PEOPLE are too dumb to know how to run this country and THEY are the only ones with the solutions, to tone down their rhetoric for now. The people’s voice is finally being heard again. I agree with you, Jason, that we all need to further educate ourselves and begin to engage in the political process in this and all matters vital to the future of this republic.
January 27th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
I have to disagree with Jim. Coal is largely to blame for West Virginia’s lack of economic diversification, from the earliest days attempts to maintain a captive labor force to continual whining about “bad business climate.” The venal, corrupt and greedy are owners of the coal industry. And who spends the most to elect these fearful and narrow-minded “leaders”?
February 2nd, 2010 at 3:13 pm
As a person from the coalfields, I can tell you, these debates are useless, unless they take place in the coalfields.
Anti-Mountain top removal people have failed to take their campaign to the coalfields in general, and to the miners in particular. Imagine a pro-choice movement that is all men. Get the point?
Miners believe their jobs are at stake. They are being told this - or forced to accept/say this. A serious campaign for underground mining and the increased jobs it will bring and the environmental benefits, have to be taken more serious.
Groups like CAG - having wine/beer fundraisers on the East End, patting each other on the back and then going home, are wasting their time.
A long, hard, serious campaign waged with trusted figures (like Jennifer Garner, Robert Byrd, etc.) is the only way to begin this change.
And of course, that playground for open-mindedness, the public school system, has to be engaged too.
This battle will not be won from Charleston and on up north above the Mason-Dixon Line.
Take the war to the battlegrounds or call the damn thing off. I am beginning to believe it isn’t being taken very seriously at all. I am beginning to believe that there is a certain segment of the population that must always be against something and stand for nothing.
February 4th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Although we are not from West Virgina, our line of business is closely aligned with the energy industry. For every debate there seems to two sides, both have good points, but ultimately the marketplace will decide what thrives and what doesn’t.