Maria Gunnoe: Difference between revisions

Gunnoe became involved in [[activism]] in [[1997]] as a [[volunteer]].<ref name=GJEP /> She expanded her efforts in the 2000s, when a [[Massey Energy|coal company]] started a [[mountaintop removal]] [[Mining|mine]] near her [[home]]. The mining caused [[pollution]] and dangerous [[flood]]ing near her home, leaving her home nearly washed away.<ref name="flatten">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jan/16/usa.paulharris|title=They flattened this mountaintop to find coal - and created a wasteland|last=Harris|first=Paul|date=16 January 2005|publisher=The Observer|accessdate=2009-04-22}}</ref><ref name="MGT">{{cite web|title=Maria Gunnoe: The Mountaintop Warrior|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/lists/the-fossil-fuel-resistance-meet-the-new-green-heroes-20130411/maria-gunnoe-the-mountaintop-warrior-19691231|website=Rolling Stone|publisher=Rolling Stone|accessdate=23 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="heat">{{cite news|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0103/p02s01-ussc.html?s=widep|title=In coal country, heat rises over latest method of mining|last=Paulson|first=Amanda|date=January 3, 2006|publisher=Christian Science Monitor|accessdate=2009-04-22}}</ref><ref name="WL">{{cite web|title=2012, Maria Gunnoe|url=http://wallenberg.umich.edu/medal-recipients/2012-maria-gunnoe/|website=Wallenberg Legacy|publisher=Wallenberg Legacy|accessdate=24 November 2016}}</ref> The [[water]] near her home was also rendered contaminated.<ref name=GEP /> To protect her home, Gunnoe decided that she would start activist work against the coal company and mountaintop mining. She has continued to be active in advocating against mountaintop mining despite receiving both threats and acts of violence, including having her dog shot and killed.<ref name=GEP /><ref name=flatten /><ref name=MGT /><ref name=heat /><ref name=GJEP /><ref name=WL /> She has become an organizer for the [[Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition]] and SouthWings, a company that conducts flights to show aerial views and photography of mountaintop mining and mountaintop removal.<ref name=EJ /><ref name=GEP /> In [[2007]], she [[Testimony|testified]] against the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Army Corps of Engineers]] in a suit brought against them by the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition to stop mountaintop removal. She gathered 20 residents to testify with her.<ref name="WI">{{cite web|title=U.S. Activist Battles West Virginia Coal Industry|url=http://www.worldwatch.org/node/6094|website=Worldwatch Institute|publisher=Worldwatch Institute|accessdate=24 November 2016}}</ref> She now serves on the [[Board of directors|board]] of the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, and advocates to protect the [[Monongahela National Forest]] from [[natural gas]] extraction.<ref name="WVF">{{cite web|title=West Virginia’s Wonder Women|url=http://www.wvfocus.com/2014/09/west-virginias-wonder-women/|website=West Virginia Focus|publisher=West Virginia Focus|accessdate=24 November 2016}}</ref>

* In [[2005]], Gunnoe received the Environmental Courage Award from the [[West Virginia Environmental Council]].<ref name=GJEP />

* In [[2006]], Gunnoe received the [[Callaway Award]] for her organizing efforts in her [[southern West Virginia]] community.<ref name="ohio">{{cite web|url=http://www.ohvec.org/press_room/press_releases/2006/12_14.html|title=The Shafeek Nader Trust for the Community Interest Presents the Joe A. Callaway Award for Civic Courage on Thursday December 14, 2006|date=December 14, 2006|publisher=Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition|accessdate=2009-04-22}}</ref>

* In [[2009]] Gunnoe received the [[Goldman Environmental Prize]], which is the second time an environmentalist has been awarded a Goldman Prize for fighting coal mining operations in West Virginia. In [[2003]], [[Julia Bonds]] won a Goldman for opposing the controversial practice of mountaintop removal in Appalachia.<ref name=gun/><ref>[https://online.wsj.com/article/SB124025714886236163.html Woman Wins Environmental Prize for Fighting Mining Problems]</ref>

* In October [[2012]], Gunnoe received the [[University of Michigan]]'s [[Wallenberg Medal]], and was the first person to receive the award for environmentalist work.<ref name=EJ /><ref name=WL />

* [[2008]] documentary film ''[[Burning the Future: Coal in America]]'',

* [[2011]] documentary film ''[[The Last Mountain]]''.<ref name="NYT">{{cite web|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/452816/Burning-the-Future-Coal-in-America/details|title=Burning the Future: Coal in America (2008)|publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=2009-04-22}}</ref>