Coal and Water News

Kentucky has plenty of politicians and business executives. But at this critical moment in history, what it really needs are leaders.

KFTC member Pam Maggard leads her community in its effort to stop a coal company's plan to blast away more than 750 acres of mountaintop within view of her home, an operation that promises disruptions to the local community and continued assault on their quality of life.

The voices and stories of Appalachian residents, including KFTC members, were shared recently with the United Nations Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals.

KFTC members joined more than 2,000 others in Louisville on Thursday for the Energy for Change: Interfaith Action for Clean Energy and Healthy Communities rally.

"It matters little where we live … dirty energy is polluting our air and water," said Mark Steiner of Kentucky Interfaith Power & Light told the crowd, many of whom were in Louisville from across the country for the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly. "Dirty energy is making us and making our children sick."

Activist Tim DeChristopher said he grew up in West Virginia where people live with "fear under the oppression of the coal industry." But he was able to overcome his fear "when my actions aligned with my sentiments.