Where are the Solutions?

Many are completely ignorant to the fact that one of the oldest and most diverse ecosystems in the country, the Appalachian Mountains are being destroyed by strip mining placing all of humanity at risk of extinction. In his book, “Lost Mountain,” Erik Reece does an excellent job in bringing to the forefront the complexity of the problems associated with strip mining but offers very little in the way of real solutions.

Erik Reece brings awareness of the effects of mountain top removal in a way that is unique and compelling. He delves deep within the problems associated with strip mining rather than simply pointing out the issues on the surface. By spending time with the families who live in Eastern Kentucky, he is able to give us real life accounts of the human suffering that is taking place there. He tactfully raises questions of decency, fairness, and justice. One example of this is found in the story Reece tells us about “the powerlessness of landowner Mrs. Bige Ritchie who had to stand by and watch a bulldozer plow through a family graveyard uprooting the coffin of her infant son and pushing it over into the creek.” (82)

The audience is quickly aroused when Reece points out the alliances between politicians and the coal industry and their blatant disregard for the human beings who reside in Eastern Kentucky. They have neither concern nor remorse for those who have become ill due to their water being poisoned, have to wade around in a foot of mud in their living rooms because of flooding, have the foundations of their homes cracked, and their gardens that many rely on for food destroyed. Erik Reece compassionately points out that this crime upon humanity is taking place as a consequence of a type of blindness, an ignorance fueled by greed on the part of politicians and the coal industry. Reece points out this greed by advising us that “both George W. Bush and Kentucky senator Mitch McConnell received millions of dollars in campaign contributions from the coal industry.” “In return the coal industry received fewer restrictions as a result of the rewording of the Clean Water Act by the Bush Administration, lower coal dust standards that protect workers from black lung, and lower fines for violations.” (136, 137)

The author, Erik Reece is very vague and at times contradictory in his approach to offer real solutions to the problems associated with strip mining. For instance, in one section of the book Erik tells the reader he believes there should be a higher tax placed on the coal taken out of Eastern Kentucky and the money collected from such a tax stay in Eastern Kentucky. In another section of his book, he tells the reader we need to get away from the use of coal all together and begin thinking about alternatives. So does he feel we should continue extracting the coal leading to the destruction of our natural resources or doesn’t he? Realistically thinking, the money collected from this proposed tax would more than likely fall into the hands of those in power as opposed to those living in poverty. There are no guarantees that a tax hike wouldn’t fall on the backs of the public making it even more difficult for those in poverty, the elderly, etc. to afford the luxury of heating their homes.