South Carolina Say NO!!

A letter forwarded by a friend was in my inbox this morning.  It was passed on to me because its about a topic that causes great emotional rise in me.  It should cause more of a rise in everybody! (the apathy is part of what gets my goat...or is it canary?)

Here is a bit of the letter (if you don't read it all AT LEAST read the bit I highlighted in red):

I was moved by the documentary shown Sunday at the Charleston Film Festival and on PBS about West Virginia and the effects of Mountaintop Coal Removal.

Bi-partisan legislation is being presented this week in South Carolina to ban its use in our state and I would like to invite you to lend your support to this bill.

 

What:  South Carolina legislators say “No” to Mountaintop Removal Coal

Where:  First floor lobby, State House building

When:  10 a.m., Thursday, April 30

 

Why: Mountaintop Removal Coal (MTR) is destroying one of the most beautiful and species-diverse places on the planet. It’s ruining a unique American

culture and killing its inhabitants. It is all happening very, very quickly, unchecked, here - not in China, not Darfur, not Afghanistan.

 

MTR methods release mercury and other chemicals through blasting into the air, “legally” dumping waste directly into streams and rivers, and through huge, open, unlined sludge ponds surrounding homes and schools, leaching poisons directly into the drinking water supplies. It is literally unchecked as the coal companies run the governor and the state environmental regulatory agencies. It is literally making the entire half of the state of West Virginia a toxic waste dump. There is nowhere for the people to run, they cannot afford to buy clean water, they are sick, they are dying and no one is looking out for them. We are complicit, especially as South Carolina is the destination of most of the MTR coal:

 

* South Carolina is the among the top ten users of MTR in the country.

            * 98% of the Coal burned in South Carolina is sourced from Central Appalachia.

            * 50% of the Coal burned in South Carolina is from MTR; approx. 8 million tons MTR consumed annually in SC alone.

            * Duke Energy & Progress Energy are among the top 5 corporate consumers of MTR coal in the country.    

            * Santee Cooper is 7th largest consumer of MTR, SCE &G is the 10th largest corporate consumer of MTR.

 

At our statehouse Thursday. Austin Hall, the young man from West Virginia who is so well-informed and spoke after the film “Burning the Future” will be accompanied by a group of the ordinary folks from Appalachia who are so affected. If you hear their stories you will never forget them. Please try to come and lend support to our brave legislators and these proud people.  For rides or other information please contact: John Ramsburgh, Sierra Club of South Carolina, 1314 Lincoln Street, Suite 211, Columbia, SC  29202, office: 803-256-8487;  cell: 803-743-6144. His press release follows. I respect your time and thank you for allowing me to share this matter with you.  

 

ANOTHER SOURCE FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.scsaysno.com/

Purse Donation for Center for Women Benefit Thursday!

http://www.c4women.org/in_the_bag.htm

This Thursday come bid on my purse and others at the Waterfront Gallery!

(one side is a painted bunting, the other a snow bunting)

Green Paint

My flat-land-coastal-legs re-acclimated to the mountain streets and took me many great places. One was a store Build It Naturally.

Got some NO VOC paint and low VOC / non-toxic clear coat to try out.  Very excited.  Have to check if our local Dwell Smart has the same products.

 

The trees around Asheville looked sad, brownish leaves that should be spring-green.  Lack of water I think.  Drought conditions are bad.  Lots of fire potential. yikes.

Earth Day everyday.....?

A reminder that plastics never go away....yes, they can be recycled, but it seems they usually end up in our oceans (The pics are from the ocean garbage gyres that occur). I did not post the disgusting pics of birds that died from plastic in their stomach.



What can you do???? The next time you're out shopping, think twice before buying disposable plastic items (razors, tootbrushes, bottled water, toys, etc. etc.), plastic packaged food, just look look look at what you're buying.
Will you start taking your own re-usable bags to the store as well??!?! Keep bags in your car. Leave a chico bag in your pocketbook (or for bikers-easy bag option!). Most stores have their own logo-ed bag by the check out or check out: http://worldofgood.ebay.com/Chico-Bag-Planet-Earth-Strong-Light-Grocery-Shopper-NWT/370152227674/item

KULTURE KLASH 4 THIS SATURDAY APRIL 18th

Kulture Klash 4 is this Saturday in the warehouse on the corner of Spurill and Cosgrove at the Navy Yard.  Starts at 8pm.        info: http://www.heiligmultimedia.com/kk3/

Pictured is some of my new pieces in the show.  

Hope to see you Saturday!

Charleston Mag pick!

Charleston Magazine chose the closing reception at Plum Elements as an art pick.  I will be giving a little informal talk about my work and share the "stage" with Bryan Cordell from the Sustainability Institute.  

Essentially I will speak a bit about my passion in art and concerns over the environment. Bryan will offer tips that EVERYONE can easily use to help conserve energy and in your own way save a part of the environment.

Plum Elements is located on lower King St., right above Queen St.  161 1/2 to be exact.

TUESDAY APRIL 21st  5:30-7:00 p.m.

CARROTMOB TOMORROW!

CALLING ALL ARTISTS

4/16 Deadline for Our Artful Moment Entries

Thursday, April 16, 2009 is the submission deadline for, Our Artful Moment, the first juried show at Plum Elements. All artists are encouraged to submit their work.

Open to artists working in any discipline or media — painting, prose, drawing, sculpture, poetry, photography, graphics, mixed media, video, and digital — Our Artful Moment is an opportunity for all to capture, via their art, the power of President Obama's inauguration.

Only original work will be accepted. There is no entry fee. The work will be available for sale. Email info@plumelements.com or call 843.727.3747 for an application form or additional information.

Andrea Schenck, owner of Plum Elements, said submissions are arriving, and she looks forward to more work of all types. “It was such a moment. I am optimistic that the work will be an exceptional depiction of that day," said Schenck. She encourages everyone to take part —
by creating and submitting or enjoying when the show opens. The exhibition is April 27 - May 17 in Plum Elements' main gallery. The opening reception will be April 30th, the President's 100th day in office.

Charleston's home for artful living, Plum Elements is located at: 161 1/2 King Street, across from the Library Society on Lower King. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 10-ish a.m. until 6 p.m., on Thursday until 7 p.m. and by appointment. For more information contact: 843.727.3747 or info@plumelements.com.