As Bad As It Sounds: Mountaintop Removal

Vice TV releases a free documentary on environmentally devastating mountaintop removal practices in West Virginia's coal industry

Author:: Katie Herrel
Updated:: Feb 8, 2017
Original:: Feb 7, 2011

In BACKPACKER's March Issue, contributing editor Tracy Ross followed the evangelical environmental movement as they fought against mountaintop removal coal mining in West Virginia ("Hike. Pray. Protest." p. 80).

Now VBS TV is webcasting a documentary investigating mountaintop removal, and it's worth a watch. Hipster-host smugness aside, it's a solid primer for what's at stake, and well worth the 20 minutes you'd otherwise blow playing Angry Birds.

—Ted Alvarez

VBS.tv via the Goat

Obama's administration tightens coal mining regulations to improve public and environmental health, but local miners worry about economic impact

Bush administration threatens to remove scientific oversight

User-Contributed Media 17869

Air pollution threatens plants and animals in 16 national parks

One hiker falls to his death, two more struck by lightning

Biologists fight to protect the buffalo herds of Yellowstone and Wind Cave National Park from interbreeding cattle

Scientists criticize FDA ruling approving potentially toxic chemical used in bottles

Thrifty backpackers in small-town Australia poach campsites on hallowed ground--but not for much longer

User-Contributed Media 17096

Tell your boss it's a national holiday and you're free to hit the trail

Subscribe To BACKPACKER

Subscribe To BACKPACKER