Topless mountain - Letters

Sierra, Sept-Oct, 2002 by Lisa Kelly

Thanks for running the photo of the West Virginia coal mine along with the laughable quote from the Walker Machinery Web site ("Last Words," May/June). As a former West Virginian, I can attest to the ongoing devastation committed by coal companies and their puppets in the West Virginia government.

Contrary to the quote, the coal industry has created unsafe, undesirable living conditions for many who cannot afford to move elsewhere, Perhaps requiring these out-of-state coal company executives to live in the communities they exploit and destroy would cause them to reconsider their mining techniques and ongoing defiance of environmental regulations.

Lisa Kelly
Los Angeles, California