Citizen Action Stops Funding of Mountain Top Removal: You Can be An Agent of Change

[babsbunny]

Citizen Action Stops Funding of Mountain Top Removal: You Can be An Agent of Change

Submitted by BuzzFlash on Sat, 06/05/2010 - 5:26pm.

http://blog.buzzflash.com/alert/3218

BUZZFLASH ALERT

Chase bank officials agreed at their annual shareholder meeting to stop underwriting the strip-mining called “Mountaintop Removal (MTR).” Less than two years ago, the bank managed a $690 million bond offering with the top MTR mining company, Massey Energy.

Most environmental orgs, including Rainforest Action Network (RAN) and the Sierra Club, joined citizens’ coalitions, including “Alliance for Appalachia” as well as activists willing to block gates and tree-sit – a group called “Climate Ground Zero.” RAN pressured the bank from within, buying shares and agitating at annual meetings, including the most recent meeting on May 18, 2010.

In New York City, The Life After Shopping Church, led by Reverend Billy Talen and Savitri D, sculpted “mountains in lobbies” in branch banks throughout the city. This is the practice of leaving little peaks of damaged West Virginia mountain soil in front of ATMs with information sheets that describe the impact of MTR.