And if these are well-known to be very toxic, we are waiting until it is too late, and the solution is to place "bubbles" that isolate these areas from the rest of the world. Sad, is still more important to exploit the resources and leave devastated areas to maintain a synergy with those places.

There seem to be two worlds out there --- the countries that are trying to correct their issues and become cleaner (i.e. the U.S. and parts of Europe) and then countries where pollution runs rampant (I'm looking at you, China).

Sad pictures of course I also see a lot of potential material to make Biomass Ethanol (from Garbage) with! Just think not only cleaning up these places but also using what you clean up as a alternative energy source!!

"Even after the extinction of human beings, the amount of toxic waste we are going to leave behind will be so abundant that no other living beings will exist or survive"
I am fascinated how commentors on this website just throw out fantastic claims that are either totally unproveable or have no basis whatsoever in reality. Then all you lemmings follow along believing their ignorant rhetoric. Mother nature, Mother earth; Just because you WANT to personalize something does not make it a person.

What I prefer is wisdom (the right application of knowledge). This website, and its most of its commentors, have neither.. What we are talking about here is policy. An ignorant populace votes for ignorant politicians who put forth ignorant policy that ends up doing more harm than good.

Yes Earth Day..SPOT ON..I am ashamed to be a human, and the sooner Mother Nature let's us have it the better...even if she did not, Greed will outstrip Good whilst there is breath in our bodies. SHAME HUMANS, SHAME.

If the list were of the 60 most toxic places to live in the U.S., mine would be #57. Our air is the 57th worst in the nation,our groundwater, Aquifer, the Gulf of Mexico, and Fenholloway river are badly contaminated by the P&G/Buckeye pulp mill effluent, containing thousands of toxics, including dioxins,furans, arsenicals.
Dire straits....that's what we are in.

I just love how some people ignore the fact that we are doing this to ourselves...this is not about population growth, this is about poorly educated people that have no concept of taking on the correct responsibility. Just like some of the idiots that think banning everthing, including children, is the way to go.

One man - one child - vasectomy, for at least two generations. If you all can manage that you can watch everything change for the better, and I do mean everything including war. And just think, you all won't have to screech about abortion anymore. Nor is a vasectomy against the LAW of man of God. Men can still screw their heads off without the resulting damage.
But after watching the human race for 77 years, I think pigs will fly first. Flap jawed nincompoopery is todays claim to fame.

French journalist Herve Kempf has documented to horrors described in these photographs. He has also pointed a finger at those guilty of aiding and abetting the environmental degradation reflected in these riveting images.

D. Grant Haynes

In my thinking that big media companies like CNN and Discovery should use their brains more often.
In 2009 Discovery produced an environmental series with Canadian millionaire Kevin O'Leary and I mean it showed possible solutions, but, they probably released more GHG's in filming it using helicopter's. Alot of people love the earth and would volunteer to do what they tried to do.

what does toxicity and desolution of the planet matter compared to profit
you can point this out-- and rightly so but all you will get in reply is honeyed words and the continued practice

Not "could be thinking wrong" Einstein. Try "not thinking at all", like most of you buddies here.

You're not going to find any info. on this website that is'nt seriously tainted by ignorance and bias. The drama-queens who post their uneducated, human loathing blather on this site, are the logical fruit of the website's wacky reporting. Read the article about the silver lining behind the Iceland volcano and grounded planes. Their logic is funny and frightening.

I totally agree with you. I think we should limit the amount of children we're allowed to have, if it gets any worse! People have no respect for this earth, you see trash everywhere you go. Just as my husband says "where there's trash there's humans."

I was really hopeful when I heard about this web-site on FOX Business this morning. I was expecting a clearinghouse for info on a miriad of environmental subjects. Instead, I've found the same old crap. I know it takes all kinds, but disappointing.

I am confused. Are you unhappy with MNN? What are you looking for?

Countries like Russia, China, India, Indonesia, South America have appalling pollution that their populations live in each and every day. I wish these countries could clean up their own backyards - but - which countries are responsible for all the space pollution that surrounds the earth???? I am shocked. As individuals we are each trying to prevent pollution and aid the environment - but the space pollution is not down to us as individuals - what future impact will it have on the earth?

Space pollution's impact on earth, seriously? None Sherlock!! Use your brain.

Space pollution's impact on earth, seriously? None Sherlock!! Use your brain.

Enter your comments hereToday, December 3, 2009, is the 20th anniversary of the Union Carbide disaster in India. Today, those who are still living, but had been exposed to the toxic gases, their children all have birth defects. They have the highest birth defect rate in the world; and it can all be traced back to the disaster on December 3, 1984. I remember it as I was in my first year of college.

A dumping site contains high levels of something that is being mined elsewhere, so we are really not thinking this out. Either we should mine where the dump sites are located (recycle) or we should transport the waste to the mining location (recycle).

Oh, wait. What am I thinking? Manufacturers might care? NOT.

i guarantee one thing.....i know one holler that wont have its mountains destroyed. ill take things into my own hands if they ever try to strip leatherwood ky...yeee hawww damn yankees wont tear these down

Well, I'm a northerner, as north as you can get, and I'll stand with you and stop that holler from being destroyed. That's what we're gonna have to do to stop these bloodsuckers wherever they're from.

We can't all discuss things like adults? Why does it always boil down to insulting one another? I honestly don't see this as an effective means of communicating, nor getting someone to agree with your point of view. When I read through the forums sometimes and see how absolutely angry and rude people can be towards one another, I am ashamed to be a part of the human race.

Actually, it isn't "to bad", it's "too bad". FYI.

I hope none of you people turn on a light or use electricity tonight. Chances are the power you're using comes from coal

Why don't you come the Buchanan 1 coal mine and try and have a rally here its not toxic at all u have no evidence for your study you are a dumb as our great president if you think this is a toxic bad place to live

Then why do they scrubbers on coal plants?

Did you ever stop to think.that you're seeing more wild animals around because they're being blown away from their habitat?

Ther are more deer in the U.S. today than any time in history. Many other animals are flourishing. Just because you don't see them walking down your street does not mean they are not thriving. Last week someone wrote that air polution was worse than ever in this country. Also patently false. I wish more people would challenge the nonsense being spewed on this website

Remember: "Legal" is not the same as Right, or even Good!

Yepp they built a pond here to catch excess catchment from mining.. and then it rained rained rained..pong filled then over filled and poured into local creek.....whether you have a creek there or not..it still seeps into the ground... :(

What exactly is a fare share? Is that a new program where multiple people can share the same MARTA pass?

surface miner for 9 years dozer operator ,the mining company today do every thing that is in the law to make it safe for the environment,we buld ponds to catch the water run off laid off for the surface mines right know if you are going to talk about at least know the facts not what you hear!!!!!!

MTR is NOT mining and heavy equipment operators are NOT miners. If you guys are dong such a fine job protecting the environment, why not have your families relocated to the "reclaimed" MTR sites? And while you're there, drink some of the fine water.
Simply because it is legal does not make it right. Go back underground and bring back the unions and the jobs that MTR eliminated.
Wake up and stop drinking the Kool-Aid.

Everyone stop being so nasty. Spend your energy on assistance not resistance!

Isn't this just a lovely little melting pot of friendly folk! :o)

Environmentalist.... We need coal for power.... least for now.
Mining Companies.... You're wrecking the mountain you bastards. Spend a buck and start more deep mining again. And treat the miners well. They are good people who have always had a hard life. U guys are such a bunch of suits. :op

i guarantee one thing.....i know one holler that wont have its mountains destroyed. ill take things into my own hands if they ever try to strip leatherwood ky...yeee hawww damn yankees wont tear these down

hey dumbass they done striped it and i was part of it, you dont like coal cut your fucking lights off

People are being brain washed by the coal operators.There is alternative energy opportunities.Coal is nasty and there needs to be better enforcement of law.The coal operators dont care about you or me,and only want a fasttrack to minning.

They're right up the road from ya'll...

Misplaced anger? The people of this area have every right to be angry when someone writes an unfounded (hit piece) such as this....Show the proof...studies,numbers etc.

If coal worshipers could throw off their slavish devotion to their masters in the industry, maybe they could see the truth. Your anger at environmentalists is ridiculous but oh so typical of your limited intelligence. You should be angry at the people who did this to Appalachia and who refused to pay taxes,, leaving you so poorly educated.

What a bunch of uneducated and selfish nasty people! Sad to see how self-centered people are , isn't it. How about think outside of "your" box. We need to respect the planet!Enter your comments here

The coal operators are brain washing people.The sun put out enough rays everyday to power the whole world for 1 year.And yes cancer rate in eastern ky is highest in the us.coal dust deisel smoke and rock dust covers the region from filthy coal operators.All the dust and deisel smoke causes several kinds of cancer.just search each one on the internet..

If this is just all about money then why don't they leave the marijuana grower alone. Coal has been here for 100 years and what do we have to show for it - we are the poorest region in North America, most unhealthy, least educated and have the highest unemployment rate. The coal companies just want all they get for as little as they can get it and they don't care to destroy all of Appalachia.

its good to hear someone still supports us

I tried to count the number of misspelled words and grammatical infractions in the above post and gave up. Is this level of (il)literacy typical for Appalachia? Firefox has built in spell check. Are you still using IE? At least make an effort to appear literate. Posts like this only serve to support the suppositions of your critics.