I’m only making one New Year’s Resolution this year: I resolve to reduce my carbon emissions by 10 percent in 2010.

This is going to be one of the trickier resolutions to pull off — it will require a year’s worth of effort, buy-in from the rest of my household, and some real changes in behavior.

This diary is my contribution to Blog Action Day: ‘09 Climate Change. “Blog Action Day is an annual event held every October 15 that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance.”

Our planet is faced with a grave and serious danger: global climate change. How we go about addressing this issue will say as much about humanity as what we do to address it.

Unfortunately, here in Appalachia the fear of change is stoking divisions. Instead of coming together to face a common foe, man-made climate change, strong vested issues are stoking neighbors in fever-pitched disputes with one another.

This diary is my contribution to Blog Action Day: ‘09 Climate Change. “Blog Action Day is an annual event held every October 15 that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance.”

Our planet is faced with a grave and serious danger: global climate change. How we go about addressing this issue will say as much about humanity as what we do to address it.

Unfortunately, here in Appalachia the fear of change is stoking divisions. Instead of coming together to face a common foe, man-made climate change, strong vested issues are stoking neighbors in fever-pitched disputes with one another.

Your lights are on,
but you’re not home, 
your will is not your own 
Might as well face it you’re addicted to coal.

Appalachia suffers from a resource curse. Coal mining wealth is illusory–the benefits have long been obvious to those dependent on Big Coal for a living even if the costs (largely hidden) were high. Yet, the costs are no longer as hidden and the benefits no longer so great.

Climate change legislation is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our political leadership to take bold action to help diversify the Appalachian economy. So far, that leadership is lacking. Join me today in calling for Appalachian state officials, Congressional representatives and senators to to chart a new course. Let’s all kick the habit of the dirty black rock.

Your lights are on,
but you’re not home, 
your will is not your own 
Might as well face it you’re addicted to coal.

Appalachia suffers from a resource curse. Coal mining wealth is illusory–the benefits have long been obvious to those dependent on Big Coal for a living even if the costs (largely hidden) were high. Yet, the costs are no longer as hidden and the benefits no longer so great.

Climate change legislation is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our political leadership to take bold action to help diversify the Appalachian economy. So far, that leadership is lacking. Join me today in calling for Appalachian state officials, Congressional representatives and senators to to chart a new course. Let’s all kick the habit of the dirty black rock.

For decades, how closely a coal miner paid attention to the canary in the coal mine was, literally, the difference between life and death. Today, the “canary in the coal mine” is a more sophisticated set of man-made monitors and biological indicators, but just as important for our long term health and welfare.

So what happens if the canary dies and no one hears its dying cries?

For decades, how closely a coal miner paid attention to the canary in the coal mine was, literally, the difference between life and death. Today, the “canary in the coal mine” is a more sophisticated set of man-made monitors and biological indicators, but just as important for our long term health and welfare.

So what happens if the canary dies and no one hears its dying cries?