Mountain Toping Waste

In my previous posting I mentioned just how impressive the new administration looks from over here in Britain. The review of Guantanamo, the unblocking of Californian state law requiring lower emission cars, even the financial stimulus package that is set to create green jobs.
Almost every day I am hearing what appears to be good news regarding the environment, human rights and creating a truly fair society. Then today I heard more good news that threw out one of the last ditch executive orders from Bush. This allowed the waste from the foul practice of mounting topping to be dumped into water courses.

As coal is the major source of Lead and Mercury pollution, allowing this waste to pollute the water was just beyond belief, as this would destroy the water supply for the immediate communities around the extraction operation, but also all the communities downstream. That could in time seriously impact major cities miles from the source of this pollution. While mountain topping may be the most cost effective way of extracting coal, the damage it does to the physical environment is incredibly damaging. Also, the impacts on the communities are something that would be shocking in a developing country, but in a sophisticated developed economy like America just beggars belief.

As the people who advocate this destructive practice always say, well it creates jobs. Well jobs at any cost are never the way to go. At least with the new president also capping Wall Street pay on the banks that have accepted taxpayer’s money shows that he understands this, also allowing people to make money with no regard for other people, communities or the environment, looks less likely to happen with president Obama.

Now all we need in Britain is a coloured leader, I don’t mean a Black leader, I don’t care what colour the skin of our leaders is, as long as they are Green.