TO THE EDITOR:
Despite pressure from student organizations and coverage from The Daily Tar Heel, administrators have continued to allow UNC to buy coal extracted from surface mines, ignoring UNC’s own coal sourcing policies and contributing to the devastating public health and ecological issues caused by strip mining.
These consequences include the burial of 2,000 miles of streams, the annihilation of 500 mountains, and the clearing of 1 million acres of once-thriving forest. Central Appalachia is a war zone.
But there are real solutions we can pursue at UNC while we continue burning coal. We can find coal sourced from deep mines to replace these dirty “contour” mining contracts, and we can hold Energy Services accountable for evaluating mines in person before signing contracts.
Last May, many students supported and applauded our university’s commitment to move beyond coal by 2020 at the latest. But if UNC has broken its promise on coal sourcing, can we trust them to uphold others?
If you are interested or want to learn more about mountaintop removal, join us this morning at Music Saves Mountains, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room in the bottom of the Student Union. The Sierra Student Coalition has put together great music including Ben Sollee, as well as photos, videos, and speakers, plus delicious free food!
John Allen
Senior
Environmental Science
