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REAP statement about the West Virginia coal mine explosion:
Recently, West Virginia was struck with the country's deadliest underground disaster in a quarter of a century. Twenty-nine people were killed after an explosion in a Massey company coal mine. Don Blankenship, Chairman and CEO of Massey Energy Co. is facing various investigations to determine whether he has put his company’s profits ahead of worker safety. In fact, Upper Big Branch Mine, where the disaster occurred has been cited more than 3,000 times for safety violations. But, as Massey stated in a 2003 interview, “We don't pay much attention to the violation count."
Coal mining is a dirty, deadly, outdated source of fuel. There is simply no justification for the human toll that the mining and burning of coal takes on the health and well-being of our country’s communities. Whether it be through increased asthma and cancer rates, or horrific underground explosions, the price we pay for this “cheap” fuel source has become too costly to bear.
All of us here at REAP send our condolences and prayers to those who have lost family members and friends to this most recent tragedy.
