On Saturday, a new phase of the Operation Appalachian Spring started, which included several actions to raise awareness on this destructive practice of mining extraction, which destroys mountains and risks the lives of the people who live near the coal exploitation sites.

One of the actions carried out by the demonstrators was to float a banner which read “No more toxic sludge” across a huge coal toxic residues lake. According to the US agency Democracy Now! the two activists in charge of these actions were ironically arrested on “littering” charges.

Other 15 activists were also arrested during the peaceful demonstration, and nine of them are still held into custody, without being able to afford the high bails demanded by the authorities. For this reason, web site www.mountainjustice.org is collecting money to pay the fines.

During the protests, the activist filmed a video in which they recorded part of what occurred. The video shows one of the demonstrators explaining why he has decided to participate in the action.

“It´s inacceptable to kill our friends” he states in the video, and he adds: “From occupying the Appalachian tops to occupying Irak, it´s time to leave fossil fuels in the ground, once and for all. The environmental crisis is not just an environmental crisis, it´s a social justice crisis, an economic justice crisis. A racial equality crisis. What I mean is this has got to end”.

The video also shows 94-year old former Democrat Congressman, Ken Hechler, who decided to participate in the mobilizations: “As I said, the first three words of the Constitution are “We, the people”, not “We, the corporations”, said Hechler holding a megaphone. Hechler is renowned for being a strong opponent to mining carried out at mountain tops.

Later, he explained why it is necessary to reject mining: “The governors of West Virginia always call me an environmental extremist. You’ve got to be an extremist in order to achieve things. You’ve got to be ready to make enemies in order to accomplish something. And it’s absolutely necessary that the people here today continue to demonstrate this highly destructive practice.”, he stated in the video.