Mountain top mining debate

Dear Don,

Thanks for your offer to publicly discuss climate change, human-made global warming, and its implications for the coal industry in general and mountaintop removal in particular. That is an excellent suggestion. I would be glad to participate in a format that allows the public to become better acquainted with the science and its implications.

I had planned to return to a meeting in Washington immediately after the activities at your place on Tuesday, but to accommodate a public discussion, I will stay another day. I expect that we will be able to find a school auditorium that would be well-suited for presentations and discussion. I am scouting that out now and will get back to you with specific information.

Usually I spend close to an hour on a climate science discussion for the public, but I can shorten that to about 40 minutes, so that you can have a similar time to present your views, if you would like that much time. You are welcome to speak either before or after me. After we have both spoken, we can open it up for discussion with the public.

If for any reason you are unable to find time for this discussion on Wednesday, I will give my talk anyhow. Hopefully the public will then be able to get back to you with information and questions about how your practices relate to climate, the environment, and the future that will be faced by young people and future generations.

Thanks again for your helpful suggestion. I very much agree on the importance of reaching out to the public and increasing public understanding of scientific matters.

Sincerely,
Jim Hansen

source

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- NASA climate scientist James Hansen has agreed to debate global warming, the coal industry and mountaintop removal mining with Massey Energy President Don Blankenship later this week.

Officials from Massey and from environmental groups who are working with Hansen on a major protest today in the Coal River Valley were busy late Monday trying to work out details, including a time and location, for the event.

Both sides, along with West Virginia Public Broadcasting, were trying to work out arrangements for the event to take place Wednesday at Mountain State University in Beckley. A time had not yet been set.

Blankenship challenged Hansen to debate the issues after it was announced that Hansen would be among the opponents of mountaintop removal who planned to risk arrest by trespassing on Massey property during today's protest near Marsh Fork Elementary School at Sundial.

Blankenship has said that he doesn't believe in climate change and has said that Hansen and others who speak out on the issue are "totally crazy" and "lying" to the public.

http://www.wvgazette.com/News/200906220554

Aaron wrote:What I'm curious about though is how someone so dumb climbed to the top of the 4th largest coal company from tiny Matewan High School.

Don Blankenship is a graduate of Matewan High School[2] and earned a degree in accounting from Marshall University in 1972.[3] He was the recipient of Marshall University’s “Most Distinguished Alumni” award and inducted into the Lewis College of Business Hall of Fame in 1999.[4]

Blankenship is certified as a public accountant.[5] In 2002, he was inducted into the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Business and Industry Hall of Fame[6] and recognized by the West Virginia Society of CPA’s as an Outstanding Member in Business and Industry.[7]

Blankenship was also inducted into the Tug Valley Mining Institute Hall of Fame.[8] He lives in a mansion on top of a mountain in West Virginia overlooking the coal camp community of Rawl.[9]

ziggy wrote:Neither Hansen nor Blankenship really wanted to "debate". They both postured, then they each found excuses to avoid confronting the other.

Aaron wrote:

ziggy wrote:Neither Hansen nor Blankenship really wanted to "debate". They both postured, then they each found excuses to avoid confronting the other.

And you know this how?