Grandpa marches on DC for clean air and safe schools

[Sapphire Blue]

Grandpa marches on DC for clean air and safe schools
By Lisa Lambert
Sun Sep 10, 8:12 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Ed Wiley, a West Virginia grandfather, is marching on Washington, walking hundreds of miles on mountain roads to entreat the federal government to do what local officials won't do: Move a schoolhouse that sits yards away from a coal silo he says makes kids sick.

"This school has to be moved," said Wiley, 49, standing on a two-lane road in the Appalachian coalfields. "This is a toxic site. It has to go."

Goals Coal, a Massey Energy subsidiary, stores coal waste and chemicals in a 2.8 billion-gallon pond up the mountain from Marsh Fork Elementary, where Wiley's granddaughter attended school. Less than 100 yards from the playground, a silo holds coal processed at an adjacent plant.

Wiley, a former coal industry contractor, and his neighbors say the company plans to erect a second silo nearby that will produce even more coal dust and potentially sicken more of Marsh Fork's 220 pupils.

(snip)

When Wiley arrives in the nation's capitol on September 12, he plans to deliver a letter to U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings asking for her help to build a new school. He also hopes to meet with his state's veteran senator, Democrat Robert Byrd to find ways to get additional monetary support.

Continued @ http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060911/pl_nm/protest_mining_grandpa_dc_1

For more info:

Pennies of Promise: http://duke.securenet-server.net/~mnoerpel/pennies/index.php

YOU can help build the kids at Marsh Fork Elementary a new school! http://duke.securenet-server.net/~mnoerpel/pennies/get_involved.php

Please watch this video: Ed Wiley on Marsh Fork Elementary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9afd2K6xx_I (other videos are also available here. Videos are also available on the Pennies of Promise website: http://duke.securenet-server.net/~mnoerpel/pennies/index.php)


If you wish to contact Secretary Spellings on behalf of the Marsh Fork Elementary schoolchildren, her contact info is available @ http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/CFAPPS/employee_locator/employee_detail.cfm?id=4371

Senator Byrd's contact info is available @ http://byrd.senate.gov/issues/byrd_contact/byrd_contact.html


Please keep this kicked for the children! Thanks! :hi:

[MountainLaurel]

1. Good for him.

:applause:

[Gormy Cuss]

2. K &R n/t

[Sapphire Blue]

4. Thank you!

:hi:

[demnan]

3. Good for him

Grassroots Community action! :kick:

[Lars39]

5. K&R

[Sapphire Blue]

6. Thank you!

:hi:

[calimary]

7. Love to see this stuff. Personal activism.

And because it's a sweet li'l ol' grandpa, it'll get coverage just for the "AWWWWWwwwwww..." aspect.

[Individualist]

8. K&R

[Sapphire Blue]

11. Thank you!

:hi:

[YankeyMCC]

9. k & r

[Sapphire Blue]

12. Thank you!

:hi:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

10. We need more Mr Wileys in this country

MANY more!

K&R

[Sapphire Blue]

13. Yes, we do!

Thank you for the K & R! :hi:

[Lochloosa]

14. Kick

[symbolman]

15. I'll show you WHY these kids are getting sick

and how screwed they are - I was in West Virgina a few months ago making a film about Mountain Top Removal, and put this short together - Another person fighting for the environment, and another reason why those kids are getting sick.

Not to mention they are being KILLED by the MTR mining, where they are literally Blowing up the Mountains and flattening them, filling the valleys with Pollution.

This is one of my pet projects, I'm trying to get Robert Redford to show up and HELP THESE PEOPLE, show his face up there.

I hope this is of use to the cause, pass it along to Grandpa if someone needs to know WHY the kids are getting sick :)

A windows media version:

http://www.tbtmradio.com/video/mtrgibson.wmv

[Sapphire Blue]

16. symbolman, once again, an excellent video! Thanks so much!

Pennies of Promise's contact info is on the bottom of their website page, if you would like to contact them: http://duke.securenet-server.net/~mnoerpel/pennies/index.php

[symbolman]

29. Beautiful people

doing wonderful things, how great to see this - I wish I could spend more time there, still seeking funding to make my film about Mr Gibson something I can submit to Sundance.. Mr Gibson has had Mike Wallace come up there (didn't like him) and even Oprah, but all he gets is two minutes of air time between Michael Jackson and Britney Spears -- he indicated to me that he needs Redford up there, so I figured if I can make a documentary about all this THEN Mr Redford CANNOT ignore it..

I'm so glad that they're trying to help the kids, but they may have to move them hundreds of miles away from what I've seen up there. it's not just the chemicals, the dust, etc.. they are also subjected to HURLING ROCKS from the explosions -- a three year old was killed in his bed by a three TON boulder that rolled over him.

The chemicals in the holding pits and aquifers are LETHAL on top of it. I wish someone would listen, some of these kids may DROWN when the runoff from these FLATTENED mountains DROWNS their town..

Man, it's going to take ALL OF US to stop this, the destruction of a CULTURE, the APPALACHAINS, a national treasure, the environment, the KIDS.. how much worse does it have to get.

To me as a talking point Larry Gibson, ONE MAN fighting all these Corps surrounding his land, OCCUPIED territory is something anyone can understand, the kids too of course.

All this I filmed is in HiDef and I was only there one day, I want to go back and make a great film that Redford sees and GOES TO THEM..

Thanks for the comments and THANKS FOR Helping these people!

[Sapphire Blue]

31. What can we @ DU do to help w/your efforts?

Edited to add: I had no idea that you were involved in this project. Have you posted anything here before? Is there anything on TBTM about this? Any suggestions on how to encourage Redford's involvement?

[symbolman]

41. Well, I can't reveal my connections here

but I know people that personally know Redford, have films of their projects on Sundance now, and can get whatever I can come up with into his hands..

I've been wanting to get back there before winter hits and film some more, but after 5 years of doing Takebackthemedia for nearly free (and using the mortgage) I can't really afford to travel and burn up digital film, camp out (have a 20 month old, so we can't subject him to that so much), etc.

I wish MoveOn or True Majority or some of the folks with the big donations would get behind funding a film about all this (and I can call Wes Boyd, I know him, but don't think they'd get behind a film about this unless it's already made).. I got turned onto this by someone in the film industry and was horrified. So while my wife and I were visiting her parents back east we decided to take a day and stop and interview Mr Gibson and get the tour. While I have a lot of footage, I didn't have my tripod with (used a monopod) so the footage is not up to the standards a real film like this would need to make the best impact. And I'd want to interview the parents of that three year old killed by the boulder, more film like that, and of course these kids, that school and Grandpa.

That's how you get to someone like Redford. If you have a finished film they can just RUN IT, and get the word out, maybe on Sundance, and the sale can pay for production costs. You won't believe how this footage looks in HiDef on a Plasma screen, and now they are using HiDef at film festivals, so people can see EVERY MISSING TREE - this lends itself, the natural beauty and then catastrophe to HiDef, it blows your mind.

With 20 years of battling all these corporations surrounding him, Mr Gibson is a very informed man. He showed me, and I filmed GRAVES BEING MINED.

I asked him when was the last time an authoritarian group burned people in ovens (along with the coal) and he grinned. He saw where I was going with that as a PR tool. It's OUTRAGEOUS.

And I've heard about these kids, I knew about this, didn't have time to film any of it.

Remember, a lot of the very people who have DIED to get electricity to the rest of the country have NEVER HAD IT THEMSELVES.

I dunno what the DU can do, other than donate to a good cause - I want to do this, but while I can save a lot of costs, it can't be done for free.

Thanks for thinking of me, I've moved into film and environmentalistic causes, GORE is a visionary and that's the future.

Meantime I'm working on a book that involves environmental concerns and spirituality which is garnering some interest in the film industry so I'm working hard on that, it may just change a lot of minds, and it would be cool for a DU'r to have a feature movie made that hits the nail on the head, if I'm lucky and work hard.

I really admire this grandfather, he's got more guts than a lot of people, especially in that part of the world where they are crushed 24/7 like the coal..

[Jcrowley]

18. K&R

excellent video

[Sapphire Blue]

20. Thanks for the K & R, Jcrowley!

Welcome to DU! :hi: :hi: :hi:

[Sapphire Blue]

23. kick *** please watch symbolman's video in post #15 ***

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

34. !!!

:kick:

[ismnotwasm]

57. Thank you n/t

[helderheid]

17. K & R!

[Sapphire Blue]

19. Thank you, helderheid!

:hi:

[Rainscents]

21. K&R!!!

:kick: :kick: :kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

22. Thank you, Rainscents!!!

:hi:

[Cameron27]

24. Tragic side of America

"Most... mining laws are signed in blood," he said. "And hopefully we can do it before there's bloodshed there.

America 2006, and a grandfather has to fight to protect kids from breathing coal dust. Being poor can kill you in so many ways.

[Sapphire Blue]

26. Did you have a chance to watch the youtube video?

Ed Wiley on Marsh Fork Elementary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9afd2K6xx_I

[Cameron27]

63. I'm so sorry Sapphire Blue

I completely lost track of this thread.

The video was much worse than I expected. Those children are in grave danger of developing serious lung disease if left in the same situation. This nation will be faced with another community flooded with toxic waste if the dam breaks.

Can I help? Who can I write to?

[Sapphire Blue]

64. Suggestions & links...

From Pennies of Promise... Get involved: http://duke.securenet-server.net/~mnoerpel/pennies/get_involved.php

Contact:

Senator Byrd: http://byrd.senate.gov/issues/byrd_contact/byrd_contact.html (Mr. Wiley has a meeting scheduled w/him)

Secretary Spellings: http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/CFAPPS/employee_locator/employee_detail.cfm?id=4371

Coal River Mountain Watch: http://webpages.charter.net/crmw/contact.htm

Links from Coal River Mountain Watch: http://webpages.charter.net/crmw/links.htm

Appalachian Voices: http://www.appvoices.org/

And write letters to the editor: http://www.newspaperlinks.com/home.cfm?mid=

Yes, that was a powerful video! Thank you so much for caring! :hug:

[Sapphire Blue]

65. Appalachian Treasures: A National Campaign to End Mountaintop Removal

Appalachian Treasures: A National Campaign to End Mountaintop Removal: http://www.appvoices.org/index.php?/mtr/cwpa/ (ask your representative to co-sponsor the Clean Water Protection Act, HR 2719)

From the Appalachian Voice Front Porch Blog...

Monday, September 11, 2006
The MTR Week In Washington Has Begun!

Just a quick note from Washington to let everyone know that we’re here and the Mountaintop Removal Week in Washington has begun!!! We had an excellent, very full day of training today and we’re ready to hit Capitol Hill tomorrow. Believe it or not, we have over 60 people here from 13 states who already have over 50 lobbying appointments scheduled! I can’t tell you how inspiring and exciting it was to see all the faces of people who have traveled from all across America, many of them on their own dime, to help us end mountaintop removal and pass the Clean Water Protection Act.

On top of that, Ed Wiley arrives on Wednesday for the completion of his 450-mile, 6-week walk to Washington for the kids of Marsh Fork Elementary School, so the next few days are going to be quite a powerful and exciting. More later - we’ll keep you posted!

http://www.appvoices.org/index.php?/avforum/

[Cameron27]

66. Fantastic, thank you

I've bookmarked this thread and will start reading through the links tomorrow.

I hate contacting by phone but I love writing so there's plenty for me to do.

[CabalPowered]

25. Some FYI for concerned folks, the BFEE is trying to kill..

the Safe and Drug Free Schools program. This is their third attempt trying to kill SDFS. This time they've appointed a committee ...

http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/sdfscac/index.html

Please take the time to tell DoEd that we want Safe and Drug Free schools. The email address to use is [e-mail].

[bliss_eternal]

27. K &R!

:thumbsup:

[Sapphire Blue]

28. Thank you, bliss_eternal!

:hi:

[AzDar]

30. Kick n/t

[Sapphire Blue]

32. Thanks, AzDar!

:hi:

[countryjake]

33. K&R for the children!

[Sapphire Blue]

35. Thank you, countryjake!

:hi: :hug:

[Solly Mack]

36. Bookmarked, recommended...Thank you for posting!!!!

[Sapphire Blue]

37. Thanks, Solly Mack! Please also see symbolman's posts #15 & 29

:hi:

[Solly Mack]

38. Reading it now...Thanks again, Sapphire Blue!!!!!

[Sapphire Blue]

39. If/when you have time, check out Ed Wiley's youtube videos @

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9afd2K6xx_I

& on the Pennies of Promise website @ http://duke.securenet-server.net/~mnoerpel/pennies/index.php

[Solly Mack]

40. Am :)

Spent 17 years of my life in the Blue Ridge

[Pastiche423]

42. You are correct, Mr. Wiley

He did take an oath to protect all of the people of WVA.

Day 2 of Ed Wiley's march on DC

[Dystopian]

43. K & R......

:kick:

Thank you for posting.....Yes, keep kicking for the children & the wonderful grandpa.....

peace~

[Sapphire Blue]

44. Thanks, Dystopian!

:hi: :hug:

[Dystopian]

72. you're welcome...

:hug:


peace~

[Iowa]

45. K&R

[Sapphire Blue]

46. Thank you, Iowa!

:hi: :hug:

[ismnotwasm]

47. Kick

On edit: I removed my "no text" part, on reading this chilling sentence;


"Most... mining laws are signed in blood," he said. "And hopefully we can do it before there's bloodshed there."

Mining laws signed in blood. Words fail.

Bless you, Mr. Wiley, and bless the children.

I'll be marching with you in my heart.

[Sapphire Blue]

51. Mr. Wiley will be meeting w/Sen. Byrd; please consider contacting...

... the Senator in support of Mr. Wiley & the children: http://byrd.senate.gov/issues/byrd_contact/byrd_contact.html

Knock Knock Knockin on DC's Door
September 10, 2006

Oh and I almost forgot to tell you, we have our meeting with Byrd. Ed Wiley will now bring the plea of the Marsh Fork Elementary School to the national delegation of West Virginia WOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

http://duke.securenet-server.net/~mnoerpel/pennies/index.php

[ismnotwasm]

54. Oh absolutely

Consider it done.

[Sapphire Blue]

55. Thank you so much, ismnotwasm!

:hug:

[ismnotwasm]

59. You're welcome

:hug:

[Sapphire Blue]

48. Another kick for Grandpa Wiley & the children!

:kick:

[ismnotwasm]

49. It's amazing how many dire Amercian conditions

We are unaware of. Those children, being slowly poisoned-- would have NO VOICE is this man hadn't become one. That's the most frightening thing I think about poverty. The invisibility of it. It becomes visible to many only when it somehow becomes inconvenient.

[pecwae]

50. Kick for those kids and grampy.

I was an Appalachian kid myself in KY and WV. Good on Mr. Wiley!

[Sapphire Blue]

53. Thank you, pecwae!

:hi:

[SpiralHawk]

52. Odyssey of the 8th Fire

http://www.8thfire.net/


Odyssey of the 8th Fire is the true tale
of an epic pilgrimage across North America
by people of all colors and faiths.

We walked for the Earth,
listening to the wisdom keepers,
looking to the whirling rainbow.

The saga of the 8th Fire odyssey will unfold on this web site http://www.8thfire.net/
day by day until February, 2007.

[smalll]

56. Nice, but don't oversell it, he's not the next Granny D -

http://www.grannyd.com/

A lot of people walk across the country nowadays for good causes like this man's (as Granny D did, amongst others) he is after all only heading into DC from West Virginia. More importantly, Ol' "Grampa"/"Gramps"/"Grampy" Wiley is just 49.

[Sapphire Blue]

58. Whether he walks 10 miles or 10,000, I greatly appreciate his efforts!

There's no such thing as "overselling" his efforts to help these children.

I am fully aware of his age, as it was given in the news report posted in the OP. What point are you trying to make w/your comment? Does his age minimize his commitment to help these children?

Welcome to DU (I think).

[smalll]

71. You are right

And I don't really think you were "overselling" this at all - I was wrong to write it that way. I felt really that the other responders to your OP were "overbuying" it. I doubt Mr. Wiley himself actually enjoys being called "Grampy" or "Gramps" in his early middle age!

Thanks for not being too hard on this little newbie, and thanks for the welcome!

[Sapphire Blue]

73. ...

:hi:

If you haven't yet watched this video, please do...

Ed Wiley on Marsh Fork Elementary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9afd2K6xx_I

[Sapphire Blue]

60. Well, I'll give this a kick while I can! (At least I hope that I can!)

:kick:

[aaronbees]

61. K & R - I hope he's successful

I don't understand this country's resurgent interest in coal. Seems very misguided to me.

[Sapphire Blue]

62. Thank you, aaronbees!

:hi:

[jdadd]

67. K and R

[Sapphire Blue]

68. Thank you, jdadd!

:hi:

[calimary]

69. Kicking.

Worth it.

[donco6]

70. I could use some new schools, too.

I have one that's close to a Superfund site, and marching from Colorado would take a lot longer. Would that get us more money?

[Cameron27]

74. kicking for a worthy cause

[Sapphire Blue]

75. *** NEW THREAD *** Mr. Wiley is in Washington!!!

**HE MADE IT!!!** Ed Wiley (the W. VA Grandfather) Arrives in Washington: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2126022