Our blogs are written by the staff of the Center for Coalfield Justice, with an occasional guest post. The most recent post appears on top, and others show up below in order of publishing date. You can receive the blogs in your inbox by signing up for our mailing list. Once per month we publish a newsletter, which contains most of the blog posts.
Health Advocacy Groups Say Pennsylvania Department of Health Not Actively Protecting Pennsylvanians Living Near Shale Gas Development
While residents continue to fear for their health, DOH is taking a hands-off approach. In a subsequent virtual meeting, however, on June 26, between DOH Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine and DOH staff members and two public health advocacy organizations – Physicians for Social Responsibility-Pennsylvania (PSR-PA) and the Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project (EHP) – raised the…
June 2020 Coalfield Review
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COVID, Courts, and the Commonwealth: What are the reappreciations if the emergency order is removed?
With very little surprise, our elected officials are at it again. This time the legislative argument has gone to the courts for clarification. The General Assembly, which is currently Republican-controlled has passed a resolution that would eliminate the emergency disaster declaration (in response to COVID-19) that led to the closure of “non-life-sustaining” businesses, bans on…
Center for Coalfield Justice and Other Coal Community Leaders Release Historic Platform for National Economic Transition
From Appalachia to the Navajo Nation, the people and communities hit hard by the changing coal economy are facing a profound and urgent crisis that the COVID-19 pandemic and economic decline have only made more difficult. Coal facility closures, layoffs, and cuts to vital services like health care and education are accelerating, devastating those that…
AG Grand Jury Findings Validate Residents Mistrust of the DEP and Operators
Many residents that we’ve worked with for over a decade were told by state officials and oil and gas operators that drilling and fracking were safe. Community members living next to these heavily industrial operations were rightly skeptical. The Grand Jury investigations have revealed that on at least two sites, Range failed to protect the…
Juneteenth Actions in Greene and Washington Counties
Legislative Panel CCJ team member Heaven Sensky was the moderator of the event, and local organizers included Ahmad Morris-Walker, A’Shon Burgess, Zhiere Patmon, Faith McClendon, Kierra King, Brianna King, and Dara Thomas. The organizers asked the panel questions focused on Criminal Justice Reform, Health Care Access, Labor and Workers Rights, Policing Reform, and Education from…
Star-lust
As part of our What’s on your mind? blog series, we’re posting mid-month entries by CCJ staff as a way for you to get to know us better. This fourth mid-month staff post is by Community Organizer Nick Hood. As I continue to grow older, new information still perplexes me as I try to wrap…
May 2020 Coalfield Review
READ OUR MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER, WHICH WILL UPDATE YOU ON OUR WORK, CURRENT ACTION ITEMS, AND UPCOMING EVENTS. IF THERE IS ANY OTHER INFORMATION YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
CCJ Statement in Solidarity
The past few weeks have left our hearts both broken and furious. We mourn for the loss of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many others who have been killed in instances of unveiled racism. We are grateful to those who continue to protest white supremacy in all of its forms,…
Organizing for Environmental Justice
This blog was written by Alex Gordon, the newest team member of PLAN (Post Landfill Action Network), TEJAS (Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services), and CCJ. Alex will be working with PLAN to implement a Zero Waste Atlas analysis at Eckerd College, in addition to working with TEJAS and CCJ on strategic petrochemical campaigning at colleges…