Gallup: West Virginia Ranks Dead Last in Well-Being Poll

Both Carmela and Ernie Brown suffered severe health hardships due to two decades of underground coal sludge injection by Massey Energy subsidiary, Rawl Sales Processing. The coal sludge, a waste by-product of the chemical cleaning of coal, is pumped underground as a disposal method into old underground mine works. The sludge in Rawl breached the water table from where residents of Rawl, Sprigg, Merricmack and Lick Creek draw their well water from. Residents were essentially drinking coal sludge and bathing in coal sludge for years without knowing it. The resulting illness throughout these communities and many others across the state would come as a shock to the American people.
Both Carmela and Ernie Brown suffered severe health hardships due to two decades of underground coal sludge injection by Massey Energy subsidiary, Rawl Sales Processing. The coal sludge, a waste by-product of the chemical cleaning of coal, is pumped underground as a disposal method into old underground mine works. The sludge in Rawl breached the water table from where residents of Rawl, Sprigg, Merricmack and Lick Creek draw their well water from. Residents were essentially drinking coal sludge and bathing in coal sludge for years without knowing it. The resulting illness throughout these communities and many others across the state would come as a shock to the American people. photograph (c) Antrim Caskey, 2006

Well-Being Rankings Reveal State Strengths and Weaknesses

Utah, Hawaii, Wyoming take top three spots in national well-being rankings

by Elizabeth Mendes

WASHINGTON D.C. Utah, Hawaii, and Wyoming top the nation in well-being in an analysis of more than 350,000 interviews conducted in 2008. Southern states West Virginia, Kentucky, and Mississippi have the lowest well-being ratings.

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Quote of the Day

From the Charleston Gazette, Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Readers’ Voice column, p. 3A ( #11 comment)

“The moment someone says “Tree hugging” you know a coal company owns their soul.”


The Coal industry has spent tens of millions of dollars on a multi-platform public relations campaign to clean up coal's image.
The Coal industry has spent tens of millions of dollars on a multi-platform public relations campaign to clean up coal's image. photograph (c) Antrim Caskey, 2008


Coal Tattoo: Massey Gives Protesters What They Want

Massey Gives Protesters What They Want

by Ken Ward Jr.


James McGuinness directs Massey Energy's private investigators off private property.
James McGuinness directs Massey Energy's private investigators off private property. photograph by Antrim Caskey


BECKLEY, W.Va. — Raleigh County Circuit Judge John A. Hutchison might not see the protesters in his courtroom again, but environmental activists seem unlikely to halt their peaceful actions against Massey Energy anytime soon.

As the Gazette reported earlier, Hutchison agreed yesterday morning to consolidate Massey’s court actions against the protesters and ship the cases over to his fellow Raleigh Circuit Judge, Robert A. Burnside. But first, Hutchison extended his previous temporary restraining order for a couple more weeks.

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