The verdict is in.
The jury has found ex-Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship guilty of conspiracy to violate safety laws, a misdemeanor with a possible sentence up to a year. They found him not guilty of securities fraud and making a false statement. He’s free on bail until his sentencing in April. His attorneys will appeal. More details are here.
What does this all mean? Has justice been served? Opinions vary, with a lot of folks saying he got off easy. Hopefully coal executives will think twice before blatantly violating safety laws. It doesn’t mean that they’re going to start complying with other laws intended to protect the people, such as environmental laws and bridge weight limits. They certainly haven’t ended mountaintop removal, as our flyover with CBS 60 Minutes yesterday made very clear. Since coal companies aren’t ending mountaintop removal on their own, we need your support to keep working for that end.
Yes, CBS 60 Minutes was here.
The “oldest and most-watched newsmagazine on television” contacted us earlier this week, so yesterday we served as tour guides on the ground in the Coal River Valley and in the air with our friends at Southwings. We hope some of the footage will make it into their report, which should air Sunday, Dec. 20.
We work hard to tell the world about mountaintop removal, sludge dams and other coal industry abuses. Hosting local, national and international reporters is an important part of our Road Show/Storytelling project, but we need your help to keep doing it.
Would you please support this work with a tax-deductible gift of $100 today? Every donation is appreciated, and every donation is tax-deductible, no matter how large or small. We have a goal of raising $20,000 this month. We NEED to raise $20,000 this month to keep up with bills and keep doing our critical work. Please click here to help today.
Alpha executives seek $14.8 million in bonuses while cutting retirees’ benefits.
Yes, the executives that drove Alpha Natural Resources into bankruptcy want bonuses to remain at the wheel through the proceedings. Meanwhile, the miners whose blood, sweat and tears made those executives rich, those who expected the retirement benefits that they earned for their loyal service, stand to lose those benefits. More details are here.
Maybe Alpha needs to change their slogan from “running right” to “running right over the people that we threw under the bus.”
We urgently need your help.
Coal companies, even bankrupt coal companies such as Alpha, continue using their millions to destroy the mountains and influence policy. We, on the other hand, rely on our loyal supporters’ generosity. Please support our work with a tax-deductible gift here.
It’s easy to make a big difference with small recurring donations of $10. It’s all tax-deductible, very much appreciated, and urgently needed.
If you prefer, you can mail your tax-deductible donation to
CRMW
P.O. Box 303
Naoma, WV 25140.
We can also accept donations of stock, which can help you out with a tax deduction while you support our work.
Please share our work, like us on Facebook here, and urge your friends to help us meet our goal of $20,000 this month.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Vernon Haltom
Executive director
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