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Sustainable Energy and Economic Diversification in the Coal River Valley $5000 Rock Creek, WV
A Project Fund project proposed by AndrewMunn
This is a Project Fund grant recipient. Follow along on its updates blog.
- Status
- active
- Vote count in latest round
- 4688 votes
You cannot vote for this project
The Coal River Valley is at the epicenter of coal extraction in Appalachia. Ravaged by crushing force mountaintop removal and the corroding effects of black lung and industry-related ailments, community members in the Coal River Valley are ready for something new. Coal River Mountain Watch’s mission is to end mountaintop removal and create a sustainable economy in its place. The Sustainable Energy and Economy Diversification program is working towards the second part of CRMW’s mission.
Despite the economic hardship and environmental degradation in this region, many of the elements of a sustainable economy are alive and well in the folk traditions of local residents. The SEED program seeks to combine these common sense traditions and ethics with 21st century concepts of sustainability and appropriate technology. Between November 2009 and August 2010 we will interview community members, identify community-led entrepreneurial projects, select five projects to support, document our work on the website www.journeyupcoalriver.org and adapt our results as lesson plans for distribution in regional high schools and colleges.
By creating economic alternatives, and presenting them in an educational format to a wide audience of young people, this project will reduce local economic dependency on fossil fuel extraction and help educate a new generation of sustainability and justice minded Americans.
The following is our project timeline:
November
• Finalize interview questions and methodology
• Monthly Community Advisory Team Meeting (1 per month through August)
• Complete compilation of prior interviews
December
• Begin interviews (ten per month through May)
• Establish common online interview documentation format.
• Create website structure with Charles Suggs.
January
• Begin documenting sustainable economic or cultural projects (2 per month through June).
February
• Present the website at high schools in Raleigh and Boone counties, WV.
• Consult with teachers Liberty and Sherman High Schools for local public school curriculum plans.
• Andrew goes on speaking tour of Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania
March
• Launch interactive features on website to encourage community participation.
• Send press releases to regional papers and media (TV News) Sustainable Energy and Economic Diversification Project in the Coal River Valley, WV
• Consult with professors who have used Journey up Coal River curriculum in the 2009-2010 academic year on developing curriculum for regional high schools and colleges.
April
• Develop local public school curriculum
• Evaluate interactive website features
May
• Develop regional and college curriculum
• Complete interviews and their online documentation
June
• Finalize curriculum
• Finalize website content.
July
• Distribute Curriculum and plan implementation.
We are requesting $5,000:
$3,000 Three Stipends
Andrew Munn, Coordinator $1,000
Laura Steepleton, Community Outreach $1,000
Charles Suggs, Web Design, $1,000
$1,500 Travel & Food Support
Local Travel, $500
Speaking Tour, $500
Food, $500
$500 Administrative Support from Coal River Mountain Watch
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Press release for grant recipients (DOC)
This project's permalink is http://brighterplanet.com/project_fund_projects/17
Discussion
This project proposal is part of the Brighter Planet Project Fund, an initiative to support projects in U.S. communities that fight climate change and/or help people adapt to its consequences. Brighter Planet contributes to the fund whenever a customer purchases or uses one of its products. About our Project Fund →
About the author
AndrewMunn
- Tenure
- Member since September 12, 2009
- Portfolio
- Has proposed 2 projects
- Roll call
- Has cast 6 votes
ecofemboi
Wow, this is amazing. I would love for ya’ll to come speak in Michigan. We need that voice represented here!
hari
We like em’ on Coal River purty good.
Demmie
I want to Stop Now ALL mountain top removal for coal !!!!
yokai
CRMW is an effective community driven organization. I can fully recommend them as a credible and competent organization. Good luck!
MarkM
This can be an inspirational model—if a sustainable local economy can take root in the Coal River valler, it can be done anywhere! Show us the way!
CarrieF
We need people like Andrew to promote and succeed in this project so other areas can follow suite. I proudly support your project and will encourage other to support you.
Corinna
This is Change We Can Believe In, for real. We need change, and we need it now, so it’s time to start building from the bottom up! This project will have substantive and lasting benefits that could reach countless of people through the powerful ripple effects of education!
PatriciaF
Excellent and Essential Project! SEED will not only transform the Coal River Valley, but will be a life-giving model for communities throughout the coalfields and beyond.
JOBS
Can anybody say… GROUND ZERO!
heathcox
With all of the money that Big Coal has made with the help of government subsidies, I’d like to see them put in more funds for similar purposes. In the meantime, you got my vote.
captkirk999
Stop mountiantop removal before we lose our purple mountian majesties
snow1138
This is a great project on just one of many fronts! Best of luck!
BobKincaid
Green begins in Appalachia. If we don’t green Appalachia, coal’s tarry stain will poison every other effort made anywhere in this entire country. It’s that simple and projects like this one begin that process that leads to greening the entire country.
Susan82
I vote for this creative thinking in Coal River Valley. The young people need an environmentally sustainable future. Save the mountains and Appalachian heritage. Save the streams and wildlife.
ParsonBrown
I think you’ll find that the folks of Appalachia, though often having to live in and around ultimate destruction, are some of the most creative and proactive organizers the world may ever know. This vote is one more step for the future.
cosmiccarisa
We support you. Thank you for all the hard work and dedication. We empower you human family!
love and light!
bloomingmadness
This country CAN NOT have a viable future without Appalachia having sustainable energy. Plain and simple!
FluxRostrum
if you voted for something else, PLEASE reconsider. Light bulbs are great an all but we’re talking about the North American equivalent of the Rain Forest as far as biodiversity. Appalachia is under attack.
ikedzinza1981
Save our future, Save our children…….
jkilleen
Booo what happened to the Brooklyn climate project? that was the only project with a grasp on the bigger picture.
Where’d it go?
zoebe
these people are pretty cool, ya know, for some hippies … i like their music & fires. i think they are pretty much building the world of the future, which i appreciate. it’s pretty rad of them … i voted for them all 3 times & would a lot more if it wasn’t cheatin’ .. thanks you all for voting too for these people!
QuestionEverything
I see the “stop mining coal” part, but I see no plans or ideas for replacing the economical hit, let alone qualifying that unspecified goal as “sustainable”.
High schools? Reeducation? This is political indoctrination. Leave your political agenda at home, and save the math and writing for the public schools please.
leanna49
keep on rockin’ guys
Jennra
Keep WV wild and wonderful
christopherjames
Coal River Mountain Watch is an incredible group of people. They are local and they are growing long term, sustainable change from the ground up. Please support them!
TexBetsy
An excellent project!
spade141
Coal River Mountain Watch is doing great things by stopping the destruction of this beautiful area, and as a result reducing the environmentally destructive by-products of this industry
mitchbop86
I want to Stop Mountaintop Removal
evychile
Mountains are sacred!!! They are our ancestors…!
JoeHickey
Valley fills are nothing more than Super Fund sites and the legacy we’re leaving our children’s children.
nickg
Great Project Idea. Good luck. GO GO GO GO GO!!!!!!
jam10
I’ll be in touch to find out how I can help more. Thank you!
mountainhugger
For the people and for the mountains!
iheartmountains
3406 and counting! Thank you for dedicating your time to this wonderful project, there are Mountains and Lives at stake. Best of Luck! Thank You all!
phase5
“save the cheerleader, save the world”; no; save the environment; save your local environment, and save the world.
Marji
This is great!
dlsoops
With a many fast moving streams running through W.V., i propose floating energy prodicing waterwheels. By floating they would provide maximum efficiency while also having the ability to rise with flood waters. They also would allow fish migrations which dams are unable to do. By locating them in fast moving watersections they would NOT always be in the middle of the stream.
hvasquez
Mountain top removal affects everyone, but most affected are those who live at or at the bottom of the mountain. Let us all join together and stop this incredibly destructive practice of removing mountain tops for coal.
SRmanitou
Great project!
lindsayhoehn
vote vote vote!!!
paw
It is time to stop working for big buisness & start working for community!!! People need to stand togeather!
ravishankarjsr
Andrew keep it going….. all the best
greenwarriorbunny
I’m so sad! I tried to vote last night, but I did not receive the confirmation email in time to submit my vote. Please realize that I would have voted 3X for this project!
ccgandrt
This is what the result can be with using PEOPLE POWER…we got
together and made it happen! Congratulations and thanks yous to Brighter Planet and all the followers!