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.
EJ Groups Gather to Discuss Breaking Free From Plastics
CCJ previously attended a Break Free From Plastics gathering in Houston, but the consensus from that meeting was that environmental justice groups were not proportionally represented in the space, so groups like GAIA and TEJAS with support from Earthworks arranged this meeting. Groups like Portand Citizens United, 5 Gyres, and Louisiana Environmental Action Network attended…
Protectors of Mingo Remain Active; Ramaco Permitting Process Continues
This campaign has been active for 6 years, with small wins along the way. Township officials met with residents years ago to place a set of restrictions on the mine designed to protect community members, drivers and their passengers through the area, and homeowners. Currently, POM are keeping an eye on developments in the permitting…
Love Is Stronger Than Hate
The massacre of our neighbors in a house of worship is terrifying and a stark reminder of the recent rise in anti-Semitism, white nationalism, and racism in our communities. From the hateful chants at the Charlottesville demonstration to the appeals to violence on websites and social media, the spread of this hate has been apparent…
Demonstrations Impact Shale Insight Conference
Concerned residents from throughout the Appalachian region gathered in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, October 23 and Wednesday, October 24 for two connected actions designed to counter the Shale Insight Conference. The next morning, the major day of action began at Point State Park with a native-led water ceremony. Participants in the ceremony bought water from upstream…
Defend Our Water – Day of Action in Pittsburgh!
The petrochemical industry will be holding its annual Shale Insight Conference from Tuesday, October 23 – Thursday, October 25 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA — and local groups are organizing to send a message that they are unwelcome here. Join us for three days of action around the city of…
Organizers Build Relationship and Trust at Grassroots Organizing Summit
CCJ recently hosted the Grassroots Organizing Summit with Mountain Watershed Association in Mount Pleasant, PA. Community organizers, frontline community members from the tri-state region attended along with allies in the gulf coast and native communities resisting fossil fuels for many years. The weekend was spent learning and growing alongside other Grassroots Organizers from around the…
CCJ Goes to Washington, DC to Advocate for Black Lung Trust Fund and RECLAIM Act
The PA Center for Coalfield Justice joined forces with the Alliance for Appalachia and traveled to Washington DC to influence lawmakers on a few coalfield issues. We spent three days, September 24th – September 26 meeting with various Senatorial and Congressional Staff from Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. The RECLAIM Bill was…
#KavaNOPE
Kavanaugh, if confirmed, will be part of making crucial decisions that affect our nation’s laws and our interpretations of the law. Someone who has treated women this way throughout his life does not deserve to have decision-making power over our nation’s most important laws and values. We have a serious need for male leaders who…
Fun Times at CCJ’s Annual Party in the Park
The Center for Coalfield Justice just held its 4th annual Party in the Park Fall Fundraiser on September 29, 2018. With help from our donors and sponsors, the event was a success. Attendees enjoyed good foods, great deserts, and even better refreshments. Not forgetting to mention good music and good times! Author Nick Hood
CCJ Speaks Out at DEP and in California Borough
The day began at an event at the Department of Environmental Protection’s Southwest Regional Office in Pittsburgh, where the Breathe Project organized a press event to draw attention to the Falcon pipeline permits. The Falcon, which would transport natural gas liquids to the Shell Ethane Cracker Plant in Beaver County, PA, is still undergoing review…