KFTC Stands in Solidarity with Occupy Cincinnati

<!--[if !supportLists]-->§  <!--[endif]-->The federal government spent $72 billion in direct subsidies to the coal industry between 2002 and 2008. (2009 report by Environmental Law Institute called U.S. Government Subsidies for Energy Sources 2002-2008)

<!--[if !supportLists]-->§  <!--[endif]-->Citizens living in Ohio, Kentucky and our neighboring states further subsidize the coal industry by paying out of our own pockets for the high costs of coal pollution that is dumped into our air and water. Here in the Ohio River Valley, we pay with shortened lives, degraded health, and increased rates of cancer, asthma, and birth defects. We are also paying with our pocketbooks for the rising costs of climate destabilization, environmental degradation, and health care costs associated with coal pollution. 

<!--[if !supportLists]-->§  <!--[endif]-->For example, peer reviewed studies have documented that people living near mountaintop mining have cancer rates twice as high as people elsewhere in Appalachia; the risk of children being born with birth defects is significantly higher in mining communities; and the public health costs of pollution from coal operations in Appalachia amount to a staggering $75 billion a year.  (Sources include several 2011 studies by Dr. Michael Hendryx and a 2011 study published by The Harvard Center for Health and the Global Environment called Full Cost Accounting for the Life Cycle of Coal.)

If you want to help support the action you can join the OccupyCincinnati on a march to Senator Portman's Cincinnati Office beginning at 1 p.m. at Piatt Park in Cincinnati. On Monday OccupyCincinnati is asking for people to help occupy Senator Portman's office by either visiting in person, e-mailing, calling, or faxing U.S. Senator Rob Portman.

If you would like more information about Occupy Cincinnati, or about the proposed actions, contact Kate Gallion by e-mailing [email protected] or by calling 513-460-1461.