Saturday, February 01, 2014

People instead of Profits

There is never peace in West Virginia," labor organizer Mary "Mother" Jones famously said nearly 100 years ago, "because there is never justice."

Three-quarters of the 1,727 US coal mines listed haven't been inspected in the past five years to see if they are obeying water pollution laws. Also, 13% of the fossil-fuel fired power plants are not complying with the Clean Water Act.

After the West Virginian Elk River environmental disaster hearings and investigations will be held, legislation introduced, an un-enforced regulation or two added, perhaps even a corporate official might be fined or even go to jail although that is very unlikely, but the truth is that toxic pollution from various stages of coal mining will continue with costly and devastating health effects.

In a nation that prioritizes coal industry profits over workplace and residential safety, people are as disposable.

Taken from here

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