Concert and Photo Exhibit to Combat Coal Mining in Central Illinois
The electricity flowing into all Illinois homes comes partly from coal and coal leaves a destructive, toxic footprint at every step of it's life cycle. On February 24th, a concert at Warren Tavern sponsored by Sierra Club will raise funds for it's work opposing coal mining in central Illinois.
Southern and central lllinois has an abundance of coal. According to SourceWatch.org there are 32 active and/or proposed mines in the state. Mining destroys land, processing coal creates billions of gallons of toxic slurry and burning coal pollutes the air with asthma and heart disease causing particulates and mercury. Burning fossil fuels is the leading contributor to climate change. The safest place for coal is under ground and Sierra Club is working to keep it there.
Concert organizer and Warrenville resident Conne Schmidt comes from a family of coal miners and her passion for the cause sprang from first hand experience. "My family is from southern Illinois where many of my uncles worked in the coal mines,” Schmidt said. “Coal mining wreaked havoc on the environment as well as on people's health. Continuing the antiquated process of mining rather than supporting renewable energy solutions seems like such a dead end to me.” Schmidt shared her vision for the future by adding, “I'd like to thwart the development of new mines in order to shift support to cleaner energy solutions."
After a trip to West Virginia with Lan and Pam Richart of Eco-Justice Collaborative, Joe Dick turned the story telling power of his camera to the destructive power of coal. “The destruction of mountains was mind boggling but even more powerful was seeing what coal mining did to the people,” said Dick. “It put people out of their homes and poisoned them. The total disregard for people in the name of profit was shocking.”
The photos displayed at the Concert to Combat Coal document the impact of coal on the land and people of Illinois. Coal's hidden costs are revealed in abandoned homes, spoiled land and toxic waste.
Music will be provided by local band Trio. Band member Roger Legal's support for environmental causes goes back many years when he performed at benefits to protect the Illinois Prairie Path from what he described as the “ruthless destruction of trees by ComEd.”
Money raised from the Concert to Combat Coal goes towards challenging permits such as the one for the North Canton coal mine. Additional information about the North Canton coal mine can be found at http://www.savecantonlake.com/north-canton-mine/
Concert and Photo Exhibit to Combat Coal in Central Illinois
February 24, 2012
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Warren Tavern
3S540 Second Street
Warrenville
$25.00 per person, $40.00 per couple, 2 drinks with admission
For more information, contact Connie Schmidt twnstr111@MSN.COM or 630.234.3029