Coal forum gives miners opportunity to talk about jobs - WOWK 13 Charleston, Huntington WV News, Weather, Sports

A group called Family and Friends of Coal gathered together to discuss thoughts and ideas about how to preserve coal in the Mountain State. 

This comes just hours after these miners learned about Alpha Natural Resources idling eight of their mines.

This organization says they do not associate themselves with any political affiliations.

"The darkness of a coal mine really does not know any political parties" said Joshua Nelson, an underground coal miner. "It doesn't know that.  What we do know is the importance of what we do, the pride and camaraderie of what we do.  We do understand that we are powering America."

Shaun Adkins isn't a coal miner.  He works in the lumber industry.  He said that he too is reliant on coal. 

"I have sold countless projects, be it homes or additions to coal miners and their families," Adkins said. "Without coal in my area I would be looking for another job as well."

Nelson said without his job, his family is at risk.  "I've got a year and a half year old son.  I've got a degree from Liberty University and a lot of college debt.  I went in the mines like my dad and my granddad to pay off my debt and this may mean that we might not have that."

Opponents of the coal industry said mining causes irreversible damage to the environment.

Groups like RAMPS and Mountain Justice have picketed various surface mining operations this year.

Those who attended the event held by Friends and Family for Coal tonight say those people are not basing what they consider to be assumptions, on facts.