Right now, mountains in Appalachia are being destroyed at an alarming rate through a destructive form of coal mining known as mountaintop removal (MTR).  Restoring Eden believes that only God should move mountains.

Coal companies are literally blowing up mountains in Appalachia to get to a small underlying seam of coal.  They then dump the "overburden" - including topsoil, rocks, minerals, trees, and other wildlife - into nearby valleys, destroying hundreds of miles of streams.  But what's worse is that communities near mountaintop removal sites are harmed through devastated watersheds, poisoned drinking water, flooding and mudslides, damaged buildings from blasting, increased health ailments, and the disappearing Appalachian mountains they hold dear.

At Restoring Eden, we believe that the desecration of the Appalachian mountains is a tragedy that not only disregards God's beautiful and majestic handiwork in the natural world, but also the lives and health, culture and economy, and future of the people living in Appalachia.  We are working to end this practice through educational and advocacy trips and by working alongside other organizations who are doing good work in the fight against this injustice.

In March 2010, we brought students to Washington, DC to attend the 5th annual End Mountaintop Removal Week in Washington to call on our leaders to stop MTR.  We also brought a group of students from Dordt College in Iowa to witness the actual mining sites where the destruction is occurring.  You can read about the experiences of students who participated in these trips on our blog.

In our efforts to protect God's creation and care for our neighbors in Appalachia, Christians from across the country are working together to end the tragedy of mountaintop removal.  We hope you will join us!

*Learn more*  Sign up for our newsletter in the box to the right

*Get active*  Contact annajane@restoringeden.org to find out how to get involved in Restoring Eden's efforts to end mountaintop removal

*Serve*  For more information on Restoring Eden's service-learning trips to the coalfields of Appalachia please email annajane@restoringeden.org

*Host*  Have a viewing of Coal Country or Deep Down, two great documentaries that explore the struggles of coalfield residents in Appalachia.  Visit www.coalcountrythemovie.com and www.deepdownfilm.org

*Change your daily life*  Make changes to conserve energy in your daily life.  Contact us for ideas!

*Support*  Give to Restoring Eden to support our work to end the tragedy of mountaintop removal

*Share*  Tell your friends and leaders about mountaintop removal!  Share these stories with friends, explore ways to engage your local community in this critical issue, reach out to church and governmental leaders and ask them to stand up for the people and mountains of Appalachia by working to end this American tragedy.  For more information and ideas email: annajane@restoringeden.org

Want to know more or share what your learned?  Download our MTR fact sheets:

MTR fact sheet: Front

MTR fact sheet: Back