HealingMountainsWeekendMay2006

The Healing Mountains conference held Memorial Weekend in May, 2006 was a joint event organized by the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition and Heartwood. Christians For The Mountains was one of many sponsoring organizations. The well-attended event was held at Cedar Lakes Conference Center near Ripley, West Virginia. Numerous workshops were interspersed about plenary sessions. 96 year old Doris (Granny D) Haddock and 91 year old Ken Hechler were honored guests as well as stirring speakers. Christians For The Mountains premiered their new DVD, "Mountain Mourning" to a very receptive and appreciative audience.

On Monday, about 100 conference goers pilgrimaged to Kayford Mountain where Larry Gibson maintains an island of beauty and sanity amidst the carnage of thousands of acres of mountaintop removal destruction. The intention was to walk to the Stover Cemetery grown up with mosses, ferns, and trees in stark contrast to the thousands of acres of mountaintop removal mining. When the walkers arrived at the entrance to the lands controlled by coal corporations through which they would need to traverse to reach the cemetery, they were met politely by the guards. The walkers began the arduous climb, singing the hymn, "Amazing Grace." the sight of mountaintop removal mining caused at least one first-time viewer to break down in tears. The rugged climb culminated in a heart-rending memorial service at the cemetery. Among the walkers were four elderly Catholic Sisters, and an elderly relative of Larry Gibson's he had not seen in decades. Allen Johnson of Christians For The Mountains led prayers; the "Chief Seattle" speech was quoted by Mel Tyree; Maria Gunnoe led a rallying remembrance; and Larry Gibson spoke with great emotion on this sacred ground where the hopes, sweat, tears and joys of his forebears had once breathed forth.

Will the majestic, life-giving mountains of the southern Appalachians be only a distant memory to future generations of people? Or will the greedy, callous destruction of God's creation cease, and the remaining hills radiate their splendor to people yet unborn as testimony to the Creator of all?

For further information and photos, go to OVECs picture page, and to 3 Truthout videos (Go Tell It on the Mountain; Almost Level, West Virginia; Pennies of Promise).

Click here for Videos of Judy Bonds, Maria Gunnoe, Granny D., Larry Gibson, vigil to cemetery.

Judy Bonds preaching justice	Granny D (Doris Haddock)	Granny D and Allen Johnson
Kneeling before a Giant of Justice	Kids learning the ropes	Hug a Tree
"Kilowatt Ours" Folks	Mari-Lynn Evans and Friends	Mountain Heroines
#1 Keeper of the Mountains	Larry Gibson rallying the troops	Assembling to head for cemetery
To remember, mourn, and heal	Healers of the mountains	More healers
Kayford Mountain ravages	More Kayford destruction	Near the edge of the cemetery
Human-caused destruction	Jesus loves the little children in the world	Strength of the hills
Entrance to Stanley Heirs Park