Cindy Rank Speaks the Truth to Massey CEO

October 28, 2003
Photos by Vivian Stockman

University of Charleston Forum on Mountaintop Removal

Over 200 people showed up to hear West Virginia Highland Conservancy's mining chair Cindy Rank speak the truth about mountaintop removal to Massey Energy CEO Don "Blank-Out-The-Truth" Blankenship.  About 30 Friends of the Mountains members (a coalition of groups opposed to mountaintop removal) showed up early to hand out flyers on Massey and mountaintop removal to incoming audience members.

Blankenship displayed his utter ignorance of the web of life -- the ecological systems that make our lives and our jobs possible. He said the words "children" and "jobs" numerous times, attempting to convince us he really, truly cares about both. He implied that coal is grand for homeland security, while completely dismissing mountaintop removal's role in the destruction of Appalachian homelands and homeplaces. 

Among Blankenship's scientifically-uniformed opinions were his utterances about the streams Massey loves to bury and spew blackwater into. He essentially said that intermittent streams are worthless. That's a long-standing piece of coal industry propaganda. Studies in the draft Environmental Impact Statement show the extreme biological importance of so-called intermittent streams to the healthy functioning of downstream river and surrounding forest ecosystems. 

Cindy didn't let even one of his, um, shall we say misspeakings, get by. Way to go Cindy for being so factually armed and remaining so calm in the face of his absurdities! 

Folks began to gather by 5:30 to hand out flyers to incoming audience members. Here, folks review our flyers (prepared by Bill Price) on Massey Energy's horrid environmental and labor record. We handed one to Massey Energy CEO Don "Sinkingship" Blankenship as he strode into the venue, oozing the bravado of one untroubled by a firm grip on reality. 

More people arrive to hand out flyers.

Hey Larry, are you preaching to the choir?

The place is packed.

Cindy maintains her calm in spite of the drivel coming out of Mr. Massey's mouth.