By Beth Bissmeyer

It’s amazing how much can change in a year.

Last Valentine’s Day, I hopped a ride with two of my friends from Berea to go to KFTC’s I Love Mountains Lobbying Day in Frankfort. After navigating the icy roads and getting turned around a few times, we made it to the Capitol. I remember feeling intimidated by the place—I had never lobbied before and hadn’t been to Frankfort since elementary school—but after an orientation, I joined a group of KFTC members with lobbying experience and headed off to meet with legislators, which proved to be worthwhile as a few of the people we met with expressed interest in co-sponsoring the Stream Saver Bill.

Later on in the day, we were told to gather in room 316 of the Capitol building for a press conference. Several KFTC members from Eastern Kentucky spoke about how Mountaintop Removal mining has devastated their homes and communities. That room was packed full of members from across the state, and many more stood just outside the door, listening.

Randy Wilson put us in good spirits as he played the banjo and sang his rendition of “This Little Light of Mine,” just as he did later when we all lined the tunnel connecting the Capitol Annex and the Capitol Building to greet legislators heading to chambers.

I was one of about 200 people lobbying for the Stream Saver Bill that day, and it was a heck of a day—well worth missing four classes and a few hours of work for. I left Frankfort that day excited and filled with vigor to do more.

And here we are, a year later.

More than 20 people from Berea College traveled to Frankfort to participate in this year’s I Love Mountains Day. For many of the students, it was their first time traveling to Kentucky’s capital and their first experience lobbying. We joined other Madison County members in the Capitol Building to meet with our legislators. Around 60 people filled the room, the same room that KFTC held their press conference last year. Rep. Don Pasley, one of the leading co-sponsors of HB 164 stopped by to speak with us and answer some questions. He said he was hopeful that there would be a fair debate on the Stream Saver Bill in the very near future. Rep. Pasley also said, “The Stream Saver Bill is not my bill; it’s your bill…It’s bigger than all of us. It’s far more important than a few legislators. It’s about the young people out there and what kind of environment we want to leave them.”

Rep. Lonnie Napier also dropped in to talk with people from Madison County. Another sponsor of the Stream Saver Bill, Rep. Napier said, “I feel like everybody’s entitled to good clean water, no matter who you are or where you come from…When it comes to things like this, I don’t think it should be partisan politics. I don’t see why anybody would be partisan when it comes to human life.”

Soon after meeting with Madison County legislators, I stood in the hall above the Rotunda, watching people gather. I got downright giddy looking at how many people were down there, shaking my friend Amy’s arm and nearly shouting, “Look how many people are here!” That site didn’t at all prepare me for what I saw when I stepped outside. People lined the Capitol steps all the way to the bottom. It was so surreal to see such a huge crowd; I had never been a part of anything so big before. There were people from all over, people of all ages and of all backgrounds gathered on the steps, holding signs, braving the piercing cold, all to make their voices heard. Just a year ago, we had packed into a room; now, no room could possibly hold us. Randy Wilson started us off right, again singing a revised “This Little Light of Mine.” Several people from Eastern Kentucky addressed the crowd this year, talking about how they’ve been personally impacted by destructive mining practices. Wendell Berry moved the crowd with a rousing speech, saying that we’ve been patient for too long on this issue, calling us all to do more to bring an end to the devastation in the Appalachian coalfields. Carl Shoupe got the crowd fired up with his booming voice and spirited words, and were we fired up! Teri Blanton led chants of “Our mountains! Our streams! Our future!” between speakers, and around 1000 voices joined hers each time for one hell of an outcry. The rally was simply amazing. I feel lucky and honored to have been a part of such a large group of people coming together for positive change. There’s no other feeling like it.

Back inside the Capitol, after my feet had sufficiently thawed, I delivered a valentine to Gov. Beshear’s office and then another 50 valentines made by Berea College students to members of House leadership. After a quick lunch, I walked downstairs to join other members in lining the tunnel connecting the Annex and the Capitol. Once I planted myself halfway down the tunnel, I looked around and again felt overwhelmed and giddy. When I looked to my left, I couldn’t see where our line of people ended. I turned to the right, and again, there is no end. People lined both sides of the tunnel and overflowed out of each end, making their way up the stairs and down the hall. From where I stood, I had my choice of chants to join in on. One end of the tunnel would shout “Our mountains! Our streams! Our future!” while the other started up with “164 on the floor! 164 on the floor!” We were loud and unrelenting. We refused to be ignored. And in between the chants and chats with my neighbors, I smiled from ear to ear.

At the day’s de-briefing, we heard a few stories, some good, some bad. What struck me the most during that session was hearing about a group of fifth graders who took it upon themselves to learn about Mountaintop Removal and to find a way to come to Frankfort so they could lobby to legislators about the Stream Saver Bill. Throughout the day, different speakers commented on the strong youth presence, and to see that people are learning about such important issues at such a young age was so refreshing and inspiring. If these kids are doing such important work as fifth graders, just imagine what they’ll do next.