| Throughout Spring 2007 the Berea College Appalachian Center, along with other College departments, is sponsoring a variety of programs to bring awareness about mountaintop removal coal mining (or MTR). For more information, contact Center director Dr. Chad Berry or directors of the co-sponsoring departments noted below.
February 14
I Love Mountains Day Rally in Frankfort
Students, faculty, and staff will be attending the “I Love Mountains Day” Rally in Frankfort, Kentucky. To join the group contact Tammy Horn (x3724); RSVP by February 9. Co-sponsored by the Office of Ecological Sustainability Education (ESE), Tammy Clemons, 859-3610
February 23
Noon, Frost 218
Maurice Manning — A Poetry Reading
A native of Danville, Maurice Manning has written three books of poetry: Lawrence Booth’s Book of Visions, which won the Yale Younger Poets Award in 2007; A Companion for Owls: Being the Commonplace Book of D. Boone, Long Hunter, Back Woodsman &c, published in 2004; and Bucolics, due in 2007. He is a professor of Creative Writing at Indiana University.
February 23,
7:30 p.m., Gray Auditorium in Presser Hall
“Songs for the Mountaintop”
A concert and discussion with George Ella Lyon, Anne Shelby, Kate Larken, and the Doolittles (Silas House and Jason Howard), who contributed original songs to a new album singing out against mountaintop removal. The CD, released in September 2006 and entitled “Songs for the Mountaintop,” was organized by Kentuckians for the Commonwealth as a companion to the author’s tour called “Missing Mountains,” which has been traveling throughout the state.
March 6
2:00 p.m., Woods-Penn Commons
Educational Forum on Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining
Plans are underway to bring three experts to discuss the facts as well as the complexities associated with mountain top removal mining. More details will follow soon.
March 7
10:00-11:00am, Trustees Room, Seabury Center
Tony Oppegard & Steve Earle on Mine Safety and History of the UMW
Tony Oppegard has worked as a mining safety advocate for 26 years as a public interest attorney, a federal (MSHA) mining official, a state prosecutor of mine safety violations, and a private attorney for wrongful death cases. Most recently, he has represented the Darby miners’ widows. Steve Earle has been a United Mine Workers member for 27 years. As representative of UMWA, he lobbies state officials for health benefits related to black-lung victims, mine safety, and scholarships for children of disabled miners. He will be speaking about UMW history in Kentucky. They will be speaking to Dr. Tammy Horn’s Appalachian Studies class. Sponsored by Sustainability and Environmental Studies (SENS), 859-985-3593 and Office of Ecological Sustainability Education (ESE) 859-985-3610.
March 12
7:30 p.m., Place TBA
Dave Cooper and the Mountaintop Removal Road Show
A narrated slide-show introduction to MTR, with general information about issues related to the process, including coal and electricity, community and environmental impacts of MTR, reclamation and the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.
April 2-30
Hutchins Library
Exhibit: Dobree Adams—Fiber Art and Photographs
Kentucky artist Dobree Adams weaves rugs and tapestries from her handspun yarns. She also photographs the landscape that so powerfully influences and inspires her work. This exhibit will include pieces that explore MTR’s affect on the landscape and the artist. Half of any sales will be donated to KFTC.
April 13
Time 3-5 p.m., Hutchins Library
Reception and Gallery Talk (4:00 p.m.) for artist Dobree Adams
April 14-15
Mountain Top Removal Tour
Sponsored by SENS, ESE, and the Appalachian Center. More details will be announced soon.
April 20
Noon-1 p.m., Bruce-Trades Room 226
Randy Wilson, “Spirituality and Environmental Activism”
In a lunchtime session, Randy Wilson will discuss how spirituality informs his environmental activism, sharing some of his music and stories along the way. Randy has been active in the folk music and dance communities of Eastern Kentucky and beyond, as well as in the multi-issue activist group, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth. He holds a B.A. in Philosophy and Religion from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, and a Master of Divinity from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. He is currently folk artist-in-residence at the Hindman Settlement School in Knott County, Kentucky, and has been a visiting artist in the schools throughout the state. Co-sponsored by the Campus Christian Center, 859-985-3134 or 985-3926
April 25
10:00 a.m., Frost 103
Tom FitzGerald, “Environmental Legislation History in Kentucky”
FitzGerald graduated with a law degree from UK in 1980. Since 1984, he has been director of the Kentucky Resources Council. He has received numerous awards for his service to the citizens of Kentucky, most recently by Kentuckians for the Commonwealth in 2006. He will be speaking in Tammy Horn’s Appalachian Studies 229 Contemporary Issues Class about environmental legislation history in Kentucky.
May 3
3:00 p.m. Phelps-Stokes Chapel
Tricia Feeney, “Water Rights Are Human Rights: A Berea Graduate’s Journey to Justice in the Appalachian Coal Fields”
This college-wide convocation features community organizer, 2005 recipient of the Compton Mentor Fellowship, and Berea College graduate Tricia Feeney. Feeney spent her fellowship year based in Boone, North Carolina, strengthening grassroots efforts for local change and developing a Citizen’s Guide for Water Security in Appalachian Mining Communities. This convocation event is co-sponsored with the Campus Christian Center, 859-985-3134 and the Center for Excellence in Learning through Service (CELTS), 859-985-3935.
May 10
Time and Location TBA
Tammy Horn on the Impact of MTR on Honey Bees
After researching bees in Hawaii, Mexico, England, South Africa, and Ireland, current holder of the Center’s NEH chair in Appalachian Studies and author Tammy Horn currently is studying how mountaintop removal may affect honey bees in Appalachia. She’ll be speaking about her current research on May 10, the original Mother’s Day. Time and place to be announced. |
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