As the old WWII song went. First off, street action and theatre is still needed in an environmental movement that is often way too wonkish, and focused on lobbying, and trying to get congenitally irresponsible institutions and people to become responsible. Second, don't you just love the kids? This old movement geezer and his wife were watching the events and could not help but say with a sigh, "Remember when we were young and in the streets?" Seeing all these bright eyed and bushy tailed young activists helped me take a break from my usual routine of cursing the darkness. Dare I think that there might be hope? For now, I dare, I dare.

Randy Cunningham
Cleveland, OH

Randy Cunningham

No offense Grist... but I was hoping to have seen this in some main stream media, like the Washington Post -or local news channels, where it occurred. And I've been looking... I live near DC (though was home w/ sick kids and sadly couldn't go), but I've been hoping to see the media coverage in and around the area. I got nothing. The people who care may read Grist, but the people who don't care, or don't know they should care may not, and they are the ones that need to be reached. Sigh...

Don't freak, of course it was to us but for the media, no tear gas canisters bouncing off protesters, no police dogs, no water hoses. Peaceful protest regrettably just don't get the media attention Mayor Dailey could bring to an event.

The eons of time and nature was good to us down here. It was not until we become civilized that destroying our habitat become fathomable or fashionable.

Wonderful nonviolent and effective demonstration, Kate.  I was with you in spirit and following via Twitter all day.  Thanks - Mark Gorman

I live in Canada on WestCoast so I knew the media should have picked up on it. By noon,pacific time, I found nothing. Last night, the same.
They have some letters and phone calls heading their way.
I love the signs, and the fun.

McIlmoil is not from West Virginia. It is not his home state.

...a Mountaineer.  

Its true, I'm not from West Virginia, I dont share a rich Appalachian history with those from Central Appalachia, and I dont have any coal miners in my family line.  But I have been fortunate and blessed to become close to hundreds of residents and activists living in southern West Virginia and particularly around Coal River Mountain.  They are some of the most kind, caring, beautiful and accepting people I've ever known, and I love them dearly.  

I personally am from Virginia, have grown up all over the southeast, mostly in suburbia, but my heart and soul belong to the Coal River Valley and to Coal River Mountain.  I know the mountain better than I've ever known a neighborhood or the woods in my backyard, and I know the local residents almost as well.  

I dont know how many years it takes to become an official resident of West Virginia, but I'm not going anywhere.  This is my home now.  And I'm going to help protect it.

    My family from both sides come through from old Virginia around the turn of the 19th  century.  For over 200 years since we made the trip form Spotsylvania Virginia we have thrived here in these beautiful mountains. The more accurate term would be endured from the early 1900's on. When we subsistence farmed and logged we were rich in many ways, maybe not monetarily for most of us but our large land grants and yes the isolation probably made us think we were. It is not until the North East interest come down here and stole the mineral for pennies on the acre and John Mayo's broad form deed stole the land  were we subjugated into near slavery. The wealth of our mountains being hauled and piped out of here for over a hundred years now.
    The worst thing that could have ever have happened to us was the discovery of coal in these mountains. It is destroying the people and these mountains, some say even the Earth. I have seen nothing but servitude, misery, death and destruction form a coal corporation.
    You are one of us, when you come and saw the raw beauty of the mountains and the people you become initiated into the mystery of the place. When you took upon yourself the challenge of trying to save it you become adopted into the clan. We wish you well and hope you have great success in all your endeavors. I hope you are successful in saving the Coal River Mountain, Blair Mountain and all the mountains of West Virginia that are so steeped in our history.

The eons of time and nature was good to us down here. It was not until we become civilized that destroying our habitat become fathomable or fashionable.

Liberal MSNBC editorial shows, which I usually enjoy, and other blogs and such didnt cover either.

Maddow and Olberman wouldn't know an environmental story from a hole in the ground.  They almost never cover that beat.  Same for Crooks and Liars, Kos, ect.

Sorry.

As for me, I saw plenty of positive media feedback (just google search for "capital climate action" or "powershift" and you will find about 450 results.  

This past weekend was extremely encouraging for me.  What a peaceful protest, and a great way to introduce friends to the movement.  

I am now wondering what the next step is.  How can we bring the fight home to our own states?  How can we support those in Coal River? Let's not let this be a one time deal.

Wish I had been at Powershift!  
Lots of blogs covered it though, and I'm going to cover it in my podcast.
(Futurism Now)

However -- let's not get too confused about natural gas.  It's not "good news" to switch to another fossil fuel that is finite and non-renewable.  Pelosi should be leading the charge to install solar panels  like Carter tried to do.  Jimmy Carter was installing solar panels in 1979!  And now natural gas is "good news"?   How far we have lowered our expectations.... and at crisis time too.  That's bad news.  With the crisis we have reached, solar panels should be imperative.  So should wind turbines, maybe even on the national mall.

Renewables would be good news. Coal is horrible, but natural gas emits CO2 too.  56% as much as coal.  

At the RNC last September, arrests got the protesters lots of news coverage.

Arrests would have helped publicity a lot.

Maybe that's why no one was arrested.