Let’s work together

To the editor:

I hope you realize how lucky you are to live in such an amazingly beautiful place where you can sleep all night hearing nothing but the river and the owls.

As you are probably aware, Usibelli Coal Mine is trying to develop an open-pit mine in the area. I have noticed the dispute and stress that this is causing for all members of the community — those who want an open-pit mine near their homes and those who do not.

I am inspired by the persistence of Chickaloon Tribe and other local residents who work day and night to keep this area free of coal dust and heavy machinery that come along with an open-pit mine.

I urge those of you who support the Usibelli Coal Mine for the jobs it has told you a mine will create to please listen to what your neighbors are saying.

I urge you to work together to create jobs in the area that will last for generations, jobs that do not come at the expense of health, culture and the land that provides food and a playground for all of us.

I am visiting from Southern California, which has sunny shores and redwood forests in the midst of highway after highway, suburbs, pollution, industry, golf courses and strip malls. I didn’t grow up hunting or fishing because there wasn’t enough open land to do so. I think that maybe when you live up here for a long time you forget how unique clean rushing water and pristine open land is to the world we live in today. We need to work together to be responsible stewards of the land.

Amy Baker

Palmer