Customer Reviews

Moving Mountains: How One Woman and Her Community Won Justice from Big Coal

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Time and again when reading Moving Mountains, I found myself exclaiming, "They can't do that!" The "they" in this case being either the state regulators and politicians that we like to assume are acting in our best interests, or the 300-pound gorilla in West Virginia, King Coal.

By the end of this epic living history, you find yourself wondering if it was really written in the United States, with our cherished principles of rule of law and every man equal, or if Penny Loeb wandered into a Third World country and forgot to tell us. But no - it's all true. Until you see the complete evisceration of the land that is mountaintop removal mining, or see and hear firsthand the wanton abuses of King Coal on the land and the people, it's hard to believe that some of the things in this book actually happened.

But they did (and still are). Loeb relates them in vivid and most excruciating detail, by telling the stories of a small handful of West Virginians who had finally had enough of King Coal's daily abuses, affronts to their dignity and assaults on their health, homes and families. If she has a fault, it is that she tries to be too fair to all sides, which dilutes the power of the opposing viewpoints; and her drive to be all-inclusive of all the individuals and groups involved in the fight against King Coal and for social justice of necessity leaves out or minimizes the roles of some key players (the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition is a good example of the latter).

Moving Mountains is both a gripping, deeply person narrative about the underdog going up against the corporate behemoth, and a cautionary tale about what our nation's insatiable hunger for energy is doing to one state, West Virginia, which truly is becoming America's Energy Sacrifice Zone.

MOVING MOUNTAINS IS A SMART ENCOUNTER WITH THE TRUTH...AND THE TRUTH HURTS. I WAS AMAZED BY 2 ACTS OF PERSEVERANCE AROUND THIS BOOK. THE FIRST BEING TRISH BRAGG AND HER PERSONAL DRILLING DOWN TO THE CORE OF WHAT SAVES A COMMUNITY AND ITS PEOPLE AND SECOND, OF THE AUTHOR, PENNY LOEB, AND HER DRIVE TO STAY WITH A STORY IN THE SMALLEST OF TOWNS WHERE YOU HAD TO WONDER IF ANYONE WOULD REALLY CARE. I DID, JOE LOVETT DID AND TRISH GAVE ME A GREATER APPRECIATION OF THE POWER OF ONE, THE POWER OF A FEW AND THE THE AMERICAN WAY...FIGHTING FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AGAINST THE ODDS. I AM SURE THERE IS A METAPHOR IN SAVING THE COMMUNITIES WELL WATER...I AM JUST GLAD THE TOWNSPEOPLE STILL HAVE WATER TO DRINK. THATS A LESSON FOR US ALL.

The title says it all... "MOVING MOUNTAINS"! It is one thing to be there and share the experience, but it is another to be able to write about it. This is such a wonderful book...the author paints such a vivid picture! I was actually able to capture the heart-felt emotion and put myself within it as though I were there. It is so true when we say that there is strength in numbers, but it was the faith, prayers, and courage of Trish and her community that brought forth justice. I would love to see a movie develop from all of this... it would be a BEST SELLER! If you love to read a book of great quality, buy this one... I promise you wonn't be disappointed. Keep up the good work Penny!!!

I have only read part of the book, which is thorough if sometimes overcrowded with detail. The story will be shocking only if you aren't from coal country. Here the devastation of the land is constant and ongoing. The struggles of citizens vs. industry and politicians alike are constant too, and the wins few.

"Moving Mountains" is a stirring, reality story and facts of the corporate greed of the "Big Shots" who control the mining industry. Penny Loeb is investigative journalist who spent nine years following this story.

The community of Pie suffered environmental devastation to their homes, property, wells dried up, foundations cracked, residents dealing with respiratory illnesses, and the removal of mountain tops.

Patricia Bragg led the battle and pursued law suits against the coal companies. Bragg v. Robertson is the suit that made national news, and became one of the state's largest shut down of the mines.

Mountain Top Removal is wrong. It is wrong for the people who live there,the environment, and the destruction that is left behind untouched for generations. Once the mountains are destroyed, you can never replace them. God commanded us to take care of the world we live in.

This book is a an eye opener and you must read it. This book is used as one of our text books for an Appalachian Studies class led by Dr. Harvard Ayers.