Posted by: Jerry Hardt on June 16, 2012
Last Wednesday the U.S. Senate rejected an attempt by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul to gut the food stamp program. The vote was 65 to 33 to table what was called the Rand Paul Block Grant amendment.
Sen. Paul's amendment was to the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 (S. 3240, or the Farm Bill). It would have cut program funding by 45% next year, and permanently frozen future funding with no adjustment for increases in food prices or poverty, according to the Presbyterian Office of Public Witness.
Posted by: Nancy Reinhart on June 15, 2012
Have you ever wondered just how much electricity Kentuckians could generate by using small-scale renewable energy systems, such as solar hot water heaters and home geo-thermal heating and cooling? Join us to find out!
Posted by: Ondine Quinn on June 11, 2012
Last week members of the central Kentucky chapter registered voters at the Lexington transit center. The transit center is the hub of public transportation in the city with 25 routes loading and unloading riders every 30 minutes. The transit center is a great place to meet folks and to talk to them about voter empowerment.
Posted by: Jessica Hays on June 11, 2012
We're starting to learn more about the impact of the massive budget cuts proposed and passed by Kentucky's elected leaders earlier this year.
Posted by: Jerry Hardt on June 9, 2012
A video released by the Earth System Research Laboratory, brought to our attention by Jim Bruggers and his Watchdog Earth blog, offers a visual depiction of the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide from 800,000 years ago to 2011.
This video illustrates the alarming trend in carbon dioxide emissions in the recent past. In pre-industrial society, our atmospheric CO2 was about 278 parts per million (ppm). But from 1979 to 2011 alone, carbon dioxide has gone from 336 to 391 ppm. Since the video was produced, CO2 levels have continued to climb and are now near 400 ppm on average worldwide, and have exceeded that level in the Arctic region.
Posted by: Jerry Hardt on June 6, 2012
Essar Minerals, an India-based company that operates Frasure Creek Mining and other subsidiaries in Kentucky, illegally buried more than two miles of streams in eastern Kentucky, according to legal action taken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Posted by: Jerry Hardt on June 6, 2012
KFTC members delivered a strong message Tuesday evening that the Beshear administration needs to be accountable for failing to enforce the Clean Water Act, and that the U.S. EPA should be allowed to do its job.
By not enforcing the law, there are serious health consequences for people who live near coal mining operations and downstream, members emphasized.
"Each time a [water pollution] permit is issued, the Beshear administration is killing citizens," testified Samantha Cole of Beattyville.
Posted by: Jerry Hardt on June 5, 2012
UPDATE, 9 pm June 6th:
Seven Kentuckians protesting mountaintop mining were arrested today in Congressman Hal Rogers' office for taking part in a non-violent a day of action called Appalachia Rising. In all, 22 citizens were arrested in congressional offices from West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. Kentuckians arrested included Stanley Sturgill, Teri Blanton, Tress Spencer, Mary Love, Carey Henson and Erika Skaggs. As of a few moments ago, all have been released.
Photos and more details are available on the Facebook page of Kentuckians For The Commonwealth and at appalachiarising.org.
Posted by: Jerry Hardt on June 5, 2012
The seven people who were arrested today to help expose the complicity of Rep. Hal Rogers with those who are pillaging Appalachia have now been released.
They are Carey Henson, Erika Skaggs, Stanley Sturgill, Mary Love, Kat Wallace, Tress La'Ree and Teri Blanton.
They and other members of the Kentucky delegation, along with more than 100 other residents of Central Appalachia participating in the Week in Washington to End Mountaintop Removal, are waiting for the release of others who were arrested for refusing to leave the offices of members of Congress from other states.
Posted by: Jerry Hardt on June 4, 2012
Seventeen KFTC members are part of a group of about 150 participating this week in the annual Week in Washington to End Mountaintop Removal, coordinated by the Alliance for Appalachia.
Members are participating in meetings with the offices of members of Congress and agencies that enforce mining and clean water laws. Tomorrow (Wednesday), they will join a rally and Day of Action organized by Appalachia Rising at the capitol.
"I'm a senior citizen and while I should be working on my bucket list and enjoying my retirement," said Harlan County member Stanley Sturgill. "But instead I'm back in Washington, D.C. again because I am so displeased with the horrific health conditions as a result of all the mountaintop removal.
