How many more miners have to loose their lives before politicians and their committes reform safety standards? These are human beings were are talking about here. People with families, friends and lives that are being destroyed beacause your concern is with the almighty dollar. So please tell me how are you gonna reach your precious little quotas of you have noone willing to take the chance to walk down that path into youe mines?

Amen to that, Mokkiesmom!

It is because of our (national) dependence on fossil fuels that people are having to go down into the mines... and it is because of greed, that the mining companies don't take sufficient protective measures for those miners.

This is a double-edged sword, though... if we should 'wise up' and depend on renewable resources for energy (solar, wind, hydro, geothermal), how will these miners be able to provide for their families' needs. There are many aspects of the question that need to be looked at.

But the first is to ensure the safest conditions possible for those in the mines. Both of the recent incidents were at non-union mines. Would the union have been able to ensure different conditions, thus preventing these disasters? I think perhaps so, though there is always a risk.

(Welcome over to the Group W bench, MMom!)

The Alma Mine, in Melville is owned by Massey Coal, I believe...they have a history of fighting the UMW. Even with numerous violent confrontations in the 1980's and early 90's. Many folks outside Appalachia or even West Virginia hadn't heard about this stuff. I read an article today that there were measures set in place in the 1990's to make solid checks on things like conveyor belts, but that those measures were scrapped in 2002. Of the 2 men that died in the mine fire, one had 2 children and the other had 4 children.

Mr Peabody's coal train has hauled it away.

My hubbys (Mikes) father used to be a miner in KY. When the mines closed in 58 they moved to VA. Mikes moms first hubby died in a mining accident. Those have been going on for yrs & they need to make the mines safer. God bless our miners & their families...

I'm with you, Wyld. There's no way that coal mining is going to stop in this country/economy. Corporate America has its claws too far into the government for that to happen, at least to the extent that it should. There are measures that can and should be taken to increase safety for the miners. But it's a business and the pricks who run most of the corporations in this country (hell, on the whole freakin' planet) could give a rat's ass about workers' health, safety, well being and/or lives. At least the governor of West Virginia is trying to introduce some measures into law. That's a start but, sadly, too late for the dead miners and their families and friends.

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