United Mine Workers rally in Pittsburgh against EPA plan to cut carbon pollution

[theHandpuppet]

I'm about as pro-union as they come but in this case, the UMW is just plain wrong.

July 31, 2014
UPDATE: Roberts and Caputo arrested during UMW Pittsburgh rally
By Emily Gallagher
Times West Virginian
Thu Jul 31, 2014

PITTSBURGH, Pennyslvania — After marching from the David L. Lawrence Convention Center to the William S. Moorhead Federal Building in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, around 15 United Mine Workers of America (UMW) leaders were arrested.

They stood their ground at the steps of the building and when they were asked to move, they would not. The leaders were arrested for civil disobedience.

Of those 15 arrested were UMW International President Cecil Roberts and Vice President of the UMW International District 31 Mike Caputo.

The march was part of a labor rally opposing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan. The plan expects to cut carbon pollution from power plants and coal-fired power plants.

- See more at: http://www.timeswv.com/local/x1926571587/UPDATE-Roberts-and-Caputo-arrested-during-UMW-Pittsburgh-rally#sthash.JopvUExQ.dpuf

[theHandpuppet]

1. UMW's Roberts says EPA rules will 'devastate Appalachia'

July 31, 2014
HAPPENING NOW: UMW's Roberts says EPA rules will 'devastate Appalachia'
Rally today will include thousands of union members in Pittsburgh
By Emily Gallagher
Times West Virginian
Thu Jul 31, 2014

PITTSBURGH, Pennyslvania — During a press conference at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center United Miner Workers of America (UMW) president Cecil Roberts talked about the reason why 5,000 miners and their families are protesting the EPA's Clean Power Plan.

Roberts said the plan is going to "devastate Appalachia." The EPA’s Clean Power Plan was proposed June 2 and plans to cut carbon pollution from power plants and coal-fired power plants.

Roberts said the is to show other countries like China and India that the US has a plan for climate control. He said the plan will eliminate jobs in several states.

- See more at: http://www.timeswv.com/local/x1926571474/HAPPENING-NOW-UMWs-Roberts-says-EPA-rules-will-devastate-Appalachia#sthash.o25Q8dfE.dpuf

[TIMETOCHANGE]

2. This will kill jobs in Republican held enclaves.

Which will only keep those unemployed folks Republican. We need jobs and can't afford for folks to lose good ones. We need to either find a substitute form of employment for these folks (like erecting Windmills and solar panel farms), or leave them be to keep their jobs. I'd rather we create solar farms and windmill farms than keep coal mines open but just closing down coal mines with nothing to replace the jobs lost is pure idiocy in my mind.

[theHandpuppet]

3. And therein lies the problem

The policy towards Appalachia has been one of take, take, take when it should have been one of investment. Investing in education, job creation, etc. so that when the day came (which everyone knew it would) that a coal economy could not be sustained, the people could transition into another economy.

This is a bad situation all around.

[TIMETOCHANGE]

4. So lets start investing now.

We need Windmill and solar panel farms sooner rather than later. And investing in them will make more sense than just handing out more welfare and unemployment.

[theHandpuppet]

5. It's already started but it will take years for those returns to kick in

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1272440