Damaging. Denying. Dragging.

After posting last night, I thought that it would perhaps be a week or so before CONSOL went into quick spin mode. Wrong. Awoke this morning to see that CONSOL, the criminal enterprise that is called longwall mining, had already denied any culpability for the damage to the dam. Which as we all know, ended up turning Ryerson Lake into Ryerson weed field.

We knew they would deny. We know they will go to court. We know that they will drag this out as long as they possibly can. All that really remains is the time frame for the dragging portion. That is the portion that is most significant.

As long as CONSOL and their criminal activity of longwall mining continues, there will be further damage done to other structures. That further means that there will be further damage to people, animals and the environment at large. And, even though we all know that they are responsible, nothing will change. They will continue as in the past with all fecal material, mercury, lead, arsenic, et.al., running downhill, as it surely will.

So long as these criminals are allowed to pursue profits, regardless of the damage they do to the people of southern PA, nothing will change. Until they are forced to pay, immediately and in full for all the damage done, they will, without doubt continue on their merry way. Damaging. Denying. Dragging. And, finally, whining as loudly as possible that they have been wronged.

CONSOL's Long Whine

Well, okay. DEP in Pennsylvania has decided to take some action against CONSOL. DEP has told CONSOL that they believe they are responsible for the damage done to a dam. That dam was damaged beyond repair due to CONSOL's longwall mining operation that ended with Ryerson Lake being emptied. The DEP decision is good news. As far as it goes.

However, we all know what comes next. CONSOL will now go to court. Where, if the past is any guide, the decision will remain for a goodly long time. During that time, CONSOL will buy up as many supporters (in and out of government) as possible. In the end, there will be a ruling so watered down and pasty that it will resemble more a ghost than a well reasoned court decision.

You think maybe I'm just a little too cynical? Let us just use two examples. Both where the destruction was so obvious and widespread that anyone with access to radio, newspaper, tv or internet could see or hear all of the damage for themselves. First, EXXON and the destruction in Alaska. Second, the BP catastrophe in the Gulf. Both of these continue. However, EXXON walked away with no more than a slap on the wrist. BP is dragging its heals and turning down assistance as quickly as possible. Assistance which of course they told us all about with millions spent on oh so heartfelt television adds.

Now back to CONSOL. Yes, they have destroyed the homes of thousands. Dewatered ponds and wells for countless farmers. Damaged some roads. And, oh yes. There is that little matter of Ryerson Lake. But, just how many people in this country actually, even now, know about the decision by DEP? Or, CONSOL and their longwall mining operations' culpability? How many will remember in five years?

Perhaps, because I am a little cynical, I will just call this forthcoming time as CONSOL's long whine.

Planned Subsidence

Everyone who has been effected by, or seen subsidence due to longwall mining, knows the devastation wrought. But, how would any of us feel if we were faced with such a thing?

Supposing a mining company representative came to your house and told you they were going to mine beneath it? And, that there wasn't a damned thing you could do, pro or con.

Now, suppose they then told you that there was, due to their action, planned subsidence? Planned subsidence, you might ask? What exactly is planned subsidence? The representative then might calmly explain that planned subsidence meant that the ground behind the area mined would drop four to six (4-6) feet.

Do you think that might have effect on you? On your family? On your house? It has had great effect on many peoples lives all over the country. But, mainly back East, where a lot of the longwall mining takes place.

If ever you have the opportunity, take a drive in southern Pennsylvania to what used to be Ryerson Lake. It will give you a new perspective on planned subsidence. If it can empty a whole lake, you can bet it will have effect on your house.

So. The next time you see an article that has anything to do with longwall mining, think of the two words, planned and subsidence. The mining company knows before hand what will happen. And, frankly,they really don't give a damn. Profits count a whole lot more than the mere loss of your home. Just ask the CEO of any logwall mining company.

To Govern...or,not

As expected the Republicans won this election cycle. Now comes the really hard part. They have declared for a couple of decades that they can't govern. And, as during the last Administration, they proved their point. So now, once again they find themselves in the governing chair. Let us hope that they have changed their collective minds and will now go to work for the people of the nation. I, for one, am not optimistic on that point. But, we shall see. And, likely sooner than later.

VOTE!!

There is no more time to dally. It is time to make your decision and cast your ballot.

My vote may not change anything in this election cycle. But, it gives me the absolute right to bitch, moan and complain...as loudly as I wish.

VOTE!!

Real. Paying. Jobs.

Real. Paying. Jobs.

Yes, there really are such things. With all the bad economics news online, on tv and radio,in barber shops and just about everywhere else, and deservedly so, there are jobs available right now. As I read that, it looks like a tv infomercial. But, its absolutely true.

Where? In northwest North Dakota. What sort of jobs? Oil patch jobs. Lots of very difficult, dirty jobs. Hot in the summer, cold in the winter jobs. But, real, paying jobs.

Looking for housing is a big issue in that area. Why? Because those out doing those very tough jobs need housing. Hotels are full. Apartments, where they can be found, are full. Homes are difficult to come by, and expensive. And, when found, may not be your ideal.

Of course, not all of the jobs there are in the patch. There are lots of support jobs as well. They don't pay as well as rig jobs, but they don't expose you to the elements in the same way either. An example, a fellow was looking for help repairing two-way radios. He had advertised in Minneapolis, Bismarck and other large cities. To no avail.

Some of that could be explained by location. It gets really hot during the summer and really cold during the summer. And, its in the northwest corner of North Dakota. But, the other reason is that drilling companies pay more. So, they pull most of the available workforce out of town and onto the rigs.

The bottom line of course, is that if you are looking for work, there are jobs available. Just head for Minot, North Dakota for real, paying, jobs.

Jobs Reality

On most any day, you are likely to hear a mouthpiece of one of the life destroying longwall mining companies claiming to be a friend of the worker. That the company is all about providing good paying jobs for people over so many years. Of course, anyone who is willing to look at the numbers from 1850 to present, knows full well that those jobs have been declining at a faster and faster rate.

Well, looks like that downward spiral is going to take a big drop. In fact, the underground jobs in the longwall business are going to disappear altogether. And no, I don't mean that those companies are going to stop their destruction of the planet we live on.

Those great jobs creating companies are looking at longwall panel machines that require no humans under the surface whatsoever. Welcome to jobs reality. The way it has always been. Not admitted to. But, the way it has always been.

Jobs reality is where the company mechanizes whenever and whatever they can, eliminating as many people as possible. Where management can work machines day in and day out with no breaks, no overtime and no worry about mine safety or health issues. Profits get larger and those pesky humans disappear from the scene.

Those aren't the things CONSOL, Massey or Peabody talk about. And, rightly so. That would mean telling the truth. And, we know damned well those folks are about some very basic things, dollars specifically, but the truth isn't one of them.

No, they will continue to talk of job creation as if it were true. But, don't be misled for an instant. Job reality, that is to say getting humans out of the equation as quickly as possible, is where they are headed. And, in their world, the faster the better.

Prop 8

Finally, love wins.

A stay has been put in place. And, it looks like this is being fast tracked to the SCOTUS. No way of telling how that plays out with Roberts, Scalia, et. al. involved. But, it looks like we are at least now on the road to putting this thing in it's proper place. That is, behind us.

To all those who did so much to make this possible, our greatest thanks.

For all those who have waited so long to be treated as nothing more than equal, my apologies that it took so long. My house hopes that all those who have been waiting for this simple possibility, can now embark on their voyage of marriage.

My teen aged Grandchildren think this whole thing has been assinine. I couldn't agree more.

Yea, Us.

Massey tells the truth?

Here is something new. Massey said that if they were subjected to increased Federal mining inspection, it would reduce coal productivity. No shit. If they have to make safety a priority and put up with oversight, its gonna cost them.

Hmmmm! Every time a worker dies in one of their mines, they trot out the "safety of our employee's is our number one priority" show. It comes with tears, very stern faces and short talks with the family members involved.

So, how do we know they are lying? Not just because their lips are moving. No. In this case they have told us exactly what their highest priority really amounts to. It's coal production. They don't want any of that government interference going on.

And, there you have it. Straight from Massey. The coal that they are digging up to send to China is more important than any damned government regulation. Or, miners lives either, for that matter.

"unprecedented operational tempo"

A new report out from the military reporting on why suicides have risen so high over the past decade. Turns out one of the root causes is "unprecedented operational tempo." Now who in the hell figured that out? And, why did they have to pay for a study?

If you put troops into a war zone over and over, they die. One way or another, they are going to be killed. And, directly or indirectly is irrelevant. Dead is dead no matter how it happened.

That someone would use words like "unprecedented operational tempo," to mean we keep putting them into the kill zone over and over, knowing that this will be the outcome, sounds a whole lot like bullshit to me.

For anyone who doesn't know the sound of bullshit, "unprecedented operational tempo" likely sounds fine. For anyone who has a built in bullshit-o-meter, called common sense in some quarters, its pretty obvious.

nn10

Hard to believe, but Netroots Nation has come and gone. At least the 2010 version. As one who signs up early, it seemed like an eternity from Pittsburgh to Las Vegas. But, those few days seem to supply only four hour days. Just not enough to get all that is available.

Las Vegas did not disappoint. It was near the 110F mark front to back. And, the panels inside were even hotter. There were politicians with balls of brass, Tom Udall. And, some with balls of jell-o. Views from center to those a little closer to my own.

To all of those who put in so much time and effort to make it all happen, my deepest and most hardy Thanks. And, I look forward with eagerness to meeting up once again with those I have met through Dailykos and other on-line venues.

Specifically, Edgerly, thanks for your hard work and good sense of humor. Solarmom, thanks for witnessing. Austen, thanks for the calm demeanor, there was some crazy shit behind the curtain. Brillig, thanks for the enthusiasm. Marcos, thanks for having balls enough to start the ball rolling.

Killing For Coal

Let it be noted that the first of what will likely be many lawsuits have been filed against Massey Energy involving the deaths of those who were recently killed in the mines of West Virginia. Those families have every right, both legally and morally, to file suit against the criminals who did everything they could to make sure that the killings will continue.

But, just so that we pay attention to the realities of these legalized killings, lets just see how they have played out over time. This is not how I, or any other human being would desire it to be, but merely what has happened. After the initial blow back, lawsuits re filed. Time passes. In fact, years pass by. Mining companies are doing business as usual. Government regulators are still playing patty cake with the mining companies. The lawsuits are settled out of court. The mining companies pay some pathetically small fine and life goes on.

Case in point. In 2006, two men were killed in a fire in the Massey Energy owned Aracoma mine. The firm was found guilty. In 2009, they were fined 2.5 millions. Pretty impressive fine, if you're paying it out of your household checkbook. But, revenue for Massey Energy in 2009, was 2.69 billions. The income on that amount was 104.4 millions.

So, what changed? Not one damned thing. The company has been and continues to fight with all the money at its disposal, to keep from making any change that would help those miners in any significant way. Just part of doing business if you're involved in the business of destroying mountain tops, longwall mining or even using a jack hammer and shovel.

The reality for them is quite simple. People are expendable. Pay off the families with some paltry sum, and whine and cry about how much the government is killing you with fines. All the while continuing the practices that will result in the killing of more miners.

Yada, Yada

"Miners should never have to sacrifice their lives for their livelihood." A government official

"New safety measures taken since a deadly 2006 West Virginia mine explosion did nothing to save at least 25 more men who died under similar circumstances this week." Top headline - MSNBC - 04/08/10

Several days ago I suggested that all of the yada, yada we were hearing and would likely hear were just window dressing. Note that firs quote from a government official. Sounds a little like something other high placed officials have pronounced.

Now lets add in that second bit. New safety measures were added after the killings in 2006. So, how has that worked out for those who lost their lives this time? Geez, I wonder if the owners of those mines have put those measures into place? Or, if the foxes guarding the hen houses in the state and federal agencies have been strictly enforcing those new safety measures?

Never mind. Those were rhetorical questions. We know damned good and well that if the criminals involved in the longwall mining business put those measures into place, it done only on paper, by their lawyers. As for the regulators, they are just a guilty as the CONSOLs and Masseys of the world. They know as well as the companies that it's all a charade to produce a cover for the likes of CEO Blankenship of Massey.

Blankenship is available on the net with his diatribe against the government regulators who would destroy the lives of every single miner. He doesn't bother to tell those miners that longwall mining, and for that matter any other form of mining will kill them outright. Neither does he say that a goodly portion of the money that those mining companies make is spent lobbying against any law that would provide any measure of safety for miners of all stripes.

Longwall mining is not needed. Neither is mountaintop removal (destruction). Most of that coal is delivered to India and China for coking. It does nothing for the US, and less for those miners who died trying to make a living for their families. Unprotected by the companies they worked for and the governmental bodies who were supposed to be looking out for their health and welfare.

We will likely hear more words. Maybe even get some bit of action from the government. But, until those inside the mining companies make meaningful changes in the ground. And, the regulators begin to strictly enforce the laws, we will see this very sad scenario again and again.

Killing People For Profit

And so it has begun. The usual ritual by the usual people. The heartfelt statements by the government officials, from the White House to the local mayor's office. The demand to "get to the bottom" of the situation. All presented with stern faces and sometimes the thumping of the podium. Of course, the CEO of whatever company will show up in his Docker's and jacket. Telling those closely involved that the company will offer whatever assistance is needed. Oh yes, and the Blue Ribbon Panel.

People died. Just like they have died oh so many times before. And always those responsible appear with the same ridiculous stern faces and words, signifying absolutely nothing. Always the deaths. Always the meaningless words. Always the same old, same old. And then, within a month or two, its back to making sure the country has the needed coal to make the country run.

All bullshit. Every single syllable. Every single tear drop. They have all been trotted out so many times that most anyone who's been alive any length of time could likely write the whole play in an evening. The words are useless. The tears are fake. The fact is that the dead will not rise. They will not return. And, many, many more will follow as surely as the sun rises.

How can I be so sure? Because absolutely nothing will change. The coal companies will continue to do everything they can to keep from making the changes that have been needed for more than a century to prevent those deaths. The Inspectors will make reports. Their bosses will file them away. The folks in the concerned capitols, including Washington, DC will go back to cocktail parties and backyard bbq's. All will resume life as usual. Until the next disaster.

This, of course, will bring about once again the scenario we all know. The ones we have heard on the radio, seen on tv and the internet for oh so many years. When once again the government shills will appear with wringing hands and stern words. And, the obligatory company officials will appear before us.

How can anyone with an ounce of integrity believe for a minute the play that has been presented time after time, year after year, century after century? When even now we know that coal companies, especially those involved in longwall mining are doing everything possible in every venue possible to keep from making the changes needed to make workers safe. When even now they are fighting EPA on the matter of whether they should be allowed to continue to poison our water.

Much of the coal being mined with the longwall process today is not doing anything for this country in any way. In fact, it is going to China. Everyone knows it. The government officials. The water carrying press. And, us. We all know that these companies, Massey, Peabody, CONSOL an all the rest, are lying. They are killing people for profit. Not to protect the nation. Not to provide jobs. They are killing people for profit.

Business As Usual

It must be by now abundantly clear to any who care to look closely at the facts, that coal kills. We have just witnessed the murder of over two dozen of our fellow citizens. Harsh? Not at all. The company involved, Massey, has a long history of mine violations. Yes, at the site of the most recent disaster, but that mine is not the only one.

And, what exactly has been done about all of the violations? It has to have been obvious to the regulators a long time ago that this company, along with CONSOL and the rest, care nothing for the lives of the people involved in the day to day work. That they were never going to correct the many and continuing violations. Or, even make a half hearted attempt.

Now, once again, we are reading on the many web sites and viewing on television, the sorrow and mourning felt by so many, for so little. The wives and children weeping for the husband and father who will never return. The son or brother who will never again grace the door of the family home.

Again we wait to see what will be done to hold the criminal enterprise known as coal mining accountable. There are those among us who believe that this time it will be different. That this time those who would violate the laws of the land will be prosecuted. I, for one, cannot be counted among them. For it is my belief that the likes of Joe Pizarchik will be doing all they can to keep that from happening.

It could have been different. Those put in place of regulating mining could have been those who would indeed uphold the law. Make those who would put others lives in jeopardy for profit, pay for their disregard. But, that is not the case. Instead we are likely to hear that there will be a study of the matter. Then, perhaps a hearing. Followed by a hollow fine. All the while the enterprise will continue unabated. Perhaps not in that very site where death occurred this week. But, in all other places around the country.

Those whose duty it is to uphold the law of the land have failed those miners in every conceivable way. The President chose a mining shill to enforce the law. The inspectors wrote up violation after violation, with nothing of note being done to correct the violations. It became a useless enterprise, with the eventual end of deaths in the mine.

Now, of course, there will be the sternly worded letters. The, shame upon those who let this thing happen. But, in all likelihood, within a very short time, it will be back to business as usual. If they ever slow or stop at all.

Jobs? Again?

There are reasons to lie. Ask any tobacco company. When the truth is known, there product begins to lose customers. They fought, and continue to fight, over the harm that tobacco does. They to this day are fighting in court to keep from taking responsibility for knowing what damage their product could do. And, then doing everything possible to keep that information under wraps, including lying before Congress.

So, why would coal companies continue to claim that if they are kept from their mountain top destruction (mtd) and longwall mining practices, jobs will be lost? One simply has to look at historical records of employment in the mining industry to know that jobs have declined sharply over the past 50 years. If miners aren't needed because the tops of mountains are blown off so as to expose the underlying coal, then that saves the company money. But, it of course means jobs are lost. If miners aren't needed because longwall mining machines are grinding the earth away to collect that seam of coal, the company saves money. And, again, jobs are lost.

Look again at the first sentence of the first paragraph. If Consol, and their ilk, can make people, especially those working in the mining industry, believe that EPA, or whoever is trying to kill their jobs, they won't pay attention to the facts. Mining companies are killing off jobs as quickly as they can by replacing miners with machines. Or, very high explosives. And, there is this little issue of farmers and ranchers losing their livelihood due to the loss of water caused by longwall mining and refuse from mtd being dropped into rivers.

There are many forms of lying. One is lying by omission. Consol, or someone like them, will leave out pertinent facts in any argument. Then there is overt lying. This one is generally something like, the Clean Water Act, if enforced, will take your jobs. But, both types of lying are, at their base, exactly the same. They are lies.

Jobs are not important to coal companies. Except as it concerns accounting. They are lying when they say they care about the jobs of miners.

CYA? Or,...

We have seen recently a step, and I do mean a step, toward holding longwall mining outfits like Consol Energy responsible for their actions. Pennsylvania's DEP has said that Consol's mining operation was the direct cause of the destruction of Ryerson Lake in Greene County.

What that proclamation suggests is that, at least in PA, those who are charged with protection of the world at large from the criminal element that is longwall mining, may be slowly awakening to the fact that they have been negligent, and perhaps criminally so, for a very long time.

Having said that, I must give them an "atta boy" for making even this most obvious declaration. It must have taken some bit of courage, political and otherwise. And, it is appreciated by all who have worked so diligently to make it happen. Specifically, the activists in the area who have stood against Consol Energy.

DEP has taken the first step. But, now what? Having stated publicly that Consol Energy was the direct cause of the destruction of Ryerson Lake, what remedy do they intend to call for? Is the dam to be rebuilt? The lake restored to it's previous condition? Is Consol to pay for not only the restoration of the lake, but the damage they have done, and continue to do to the farmers who have lost their water due to longwall mining? Late to the dance? Of course. Governments tend to be reactive rather than active. But, what happens next is of great import to not only Greene County, but the world at large. Is DEP going to begin providing meaningful oversight? Not just rubber stamping permits, but actually looking to see what damage might be caused by the longwall mining process? Not just slapping wrists, but levying stiff, and progressive fines for damage that is done?

So, what have we seen? A CYA step? Or, can we expect DEP to begin following it's mandate to protect the ecosystem both small an large? I know what I am hoping for. And, by and by, we will all know.

Connections

Longwall mining activity is increasing in Australia, while evidence mounts that it is greatly impacting rivers. These same activities are to go ahead under Illinois Highway 185, with subsidence a known factor.

What is the connection? The connection is the close ties between the companies who will do anything, including the destruction of their own world, and those in government who are charged with oversight of those companies.

It really is no surprise to anyone that mining companies will destroy any and every ecosystem to get the ore they are after. They do it all over the world. And, the destruction they cause is no secret, either. It has been captured on film and is widely available to all.

What is not so widely spoken of, but certainly should be, is the connection to government. The very people we depend upon to protect our air and water, are as much of the problem as those doing the actual polluting and killing.

For any mining operation to begin, a permit must be issued. That permit comes from those who act on our behalf. If those people know that a longwall mining operation will dewater an area, or that it will cause road damage in the future, why would they issue a permit?

It cerainly couldn't be the record. The recordis ffilled with examples of the destruction caused by longwall mining. From release of mercury and arsenic upon first contact, to these same elements being pumped into our waterways after being burned.
And, it certainly isn't common sense. For common sense would give pause before allowing the destruction of our roads and waterways.

So, what could be the possible reason? How about, those who are supposed to be looking out for our collective welfare are in fact no more than shills for those who would cause the physical damage? If dewatering and damage to roads is allowed, knowing it can and will happen, how could it be any other way? Are we to believe that people with good and sound reasoning abilities would allow such things? It is my opinion that they would not. You?

BS Alert

This is a bs alert.

Just so that we're all clear, bs is bs. No matter where it comes
from. No matter who's face is plastered on the pile.

During his State of the Union Address, President Obama mentioned "clean coal." That is your common, garden variety bs. There is no such thing as clean coal. It doesn't exist. Not even in fantasy land. And, anytime you hear those words used together, you should instantly recognize it as such.

Here is another example of bs. Coal companies claiming that we (US) need the coal that they are digging up using longwall mining and mountaintop destruction. CONSOL energy just shipped off five (5) shipping vessels worth of the stuff to China. Not sure if you've seen a shipping vessel in your neighborhood lately. But, you might want to google/bing, or whatever one just to see.

Just one more here. Jobs. Anytime you hear one those criminal org's (mining companies) talking about protecting jobs, you can bet your bottom dollar that what they would much rather do is eliminate as many as possible. Machines don't get black lung, work only 8 hours at a time, need safety equipment, or belong to one of those damned Unions. No, it's not about creating or saving jobs. It's just bs.

Christmas Connections

This has been spoken and written about many times, but I thought it might the worth the effort to bring it up again, since they are so proud of the fact. CONSOL Energy, part of the Climate Criminal group, has released information about the coal from it's longwall mining efforts, being sent to China.

Of course, part of the rational for their destruction of peoples lives and livelihoods is that WE, as in people living in the United States, NEED this coal to operate our infrastructure and keep our heating and air conditioning running. It's one of those things that has always been true, and never was.

Coal, like oil, is sold to the highest bidder. There is no altruism involved in the discussion. It is about profit. The people who buy and sell commodities have no interest in the need of this, or any other country. Greed is the prime factor in this little equation.

So, let us all stop pretending that the Climate Criminals have any interest in "goodwill toward men", remember that stuff from last month? It's all manure. They will not stop destroying peoples lives and the world at large until every last dollar is stripped from the ground.

Just as an aside, to Anonymous, yes, I read the Order. And, knowing the difference between saying "peace on earth" and actually working toward that end, I wrote the articles.