Sharing My Blog Roll

We must be Simply Outdoors to lead a Blessed Crazy Life over at Deer Camp to hear Marian's Hunting Stories about the Hunting Life of Whitetail Woods. The Hunter's Wife ,Jody, has something to share about The Buck Hunters when they come back from Base Camp to share with whom ever will listen. Being avid huntresses in the blogging world The Wild Woodswoman - Dana, FS Huntress - Kim, and NorCal Cazadora - Holly have my attention and great respect. The Great Wild Outdoors of Alpha Trilogy , Backwoods Drifter, Othmar Vorhinger, Upland Feathers reminds me of a Huntin' Junky. I can't forget Mel over at The Fishing Notebook as a voice devoted to the sport. All men devoted to experiences that could take them to a meeting at the Outdoor Bloggers Summit next Spring. With most of us looking foward to the Timber Life we focus on how to Hunt Smart and Think Safety... (Please forgive me if I missed someone this time. I had to concentrate to accomplish this tribute. I have worked and worked to try to make the links active on more than one occassion...saving doesn't seem to work. I will not send this to the recycle bin once more, because it is worth being said in any event! ;) )

Feeling the Pain

Denny, at Backwoods Drifter ,is sharing with us some intense emotion about the destruction of local flora and fauna with the practice of mountaintop removal for the purpose of coal mining. Now,it is reaching his own backyard, so to speak. It is definitely a hard thing to pass through when EVERY thing familiar is going to be rearranged,scarred, and have no rhyme or reason for years to come, maybe never. Trees,animals,rivers,buildings, and people all take a beating in situations where the practice of dynamiting away huge rock surfaces becomes the norm to reach an end result. Human nature has a way of ignoring the situation when it doesn't want to face the facts. Either on the side of the commercial entity - turning a blind eye to the people's lives that are irrevocably damaged, or the residents of the affected areas that shove it under the rug in the backs of their minds - telling themselves it "won't happen to us." My hope is that big business can start being up-front with the populations in the areas where they plan their next excavation. Or is that EXplosion ? In closing, there are many issues that can lead us to become proactive about the spaces that we live in. I hope that somewhere along the mountain road each group involved can find a solution that will satisfy the needs of both...

Mountaintop Removal Education

"Alright kids, May I have your attention please?" As the teacher stands before the 7th grade class Anywhere, USA. Today, we are going to examine a method of coal mining that is affecting the lives of fellow American citizens in Kentucky, Tennesee, Virginia and West Virginia. The strategy for mining in these areas have evolved from conventional strip mining to something called mountaintop removal. An environmentally destructive practice that eliminates quality of life for wildlife and humankind alike. Minimal reclamation of stripped mountaintops have occured because of accessibility difficulties and the initial inhospitable environments that are created by the by-products of the mining projects. Upon reading about long term studies of soil composition at the immediate mountaintop mine site - it appears after several decades it does once again have the ability to sustain vegetation. However, I argue"Why would we want to wait that long for a return to some form of normalcy?" Please go see what is being said over at Gristmill.org about a man named Larry Gibson also referred to as "gatekeeper", and the part he is playing in educating the public on this devastating deconstruction of the flora ,fauna, and communities. He is just one of many talking about what is happening in his neck of the woods. Thanks to Denny at Backwoods Drifter for bringing forward this earth shattering issue. I knew of these concerns several years ago because of environmental tidbits you catch on the news...it concerned me then and needless to say it concerns me now. Having many voices speaking out in unison against this method may or may not make a difference in the future of the way business and government will react, sadly to say. The crusade continues... The one thing that is important in my opinion is to keep seeking organizations with clout, politicians that can be your voice to stand in the State and Federal arenas. Marian at Marian's Hunting Stories etc.,etc.,etc... has joined an advocacy movement in making people aware of how to become an influential individual for the cause of protecting the Appalachian homelands. She is inviting others to join her in making a difference. I, for one, believe we need to leave the terrain of the land the way it was made. Something to consider in your own backyard...if business and governement can allow this to happen for so many years in these states. What could you be facing at the hands of local, state, or federal entities on your home-front?...