Coal Country Fighting Goliath

The effects of coal mining on a community can mean jobs and a thriving economy or a health and environmental nightmare, depending upon which side you sit. Coal Country explores both aspects of the mining story. Through the use of archival and present-day footage, as well as interviews with miners, coal company reps, neighbors, environmental activists, and lawyers, this video focuses on mountaintop mining in the South Appalachians. The logistics and results of this type of coal mining are illustrated as well as the results of the companies' reclamation of the land after they finish excavating.Fighting Goliath is the story of a group of Texas cities that band together to take on a coal mining company that wants to build 19 mines in an already air-polluted state. Prompted by the federal government's stricter air quality standards and lack of official help, they work together to push for plants that use the latest environmentally sound and cleaner processing technologies. Both programs cover the coal mining story, but Coal Country is a better introduction and recommended for both academic and public libraries. Fighting Goliath, narrated by Robert Redford, is recommended as a supplement for public library collections on environmental activism.—Beth Traylor, Univ. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libs.