Impact of Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining on the Web of Socio-Ecological Life

This paper discusses the impact of mountaintop removal coal mining on the web of socio-ecological life, including the effects on the environment, economy, and communities. It explores the interconnectedness of human activities and the natural world, and the consequences of capital accumulation. The lack of regulation and the costs associated with this form of mining are also examined. Subject: Anthropology

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Anthropology
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Introduction
The world today has undergone a lot of drastic and dramatic changes due to human
activities. We currently live in an “Anthropocene” era whereby humans are engaging in activities
that alter the ecological life-support system (Marley and Samantha 265) Traditional economic
models differ significantly with today’s concept since they were established in an empty world
with no human interruptions. With the increase in human population and activities, the
ecological system has been affected significantly. For instance, the mountaintop removal coal
mining in West Virginia has negatively affected the communities around that region as well as
the economy and environment. Human beings are dependent on social relations and the
economy is embedded in a society that is in turn embedded in an ecological life-support system
(Bell et al. 115). Therefore, it is important to understand how this interconnected system can be
improved. As such, this paper discusses the web of social-ecological life and material embedding
of capital accumulation, how the new shifts towards MTR has affected the web of social-
ecological life, effects of lack of regulation on MTR and coal burning and dumping, and the
coast associated with this form of capital accumulation.
Web of Social-ecological Life and Material Embedding of Capital Accumulation
Marxian theory brings out the concept of environmental concerns in regard to historical
origins that affects the ecosystem leading to ecological crisis (Foster 3). The connection between
human activities and nature results into advance consequences on the environment. For instance,
capital accumulation damage as well as devastation to the natural habitats. Due to different social
activities within a particular community, there arises uneven geographical developments
(Charnock and Guido 327). This is usually related to the manner in which the social groups
materially embed their way of sociality or manner of doing things into the web of life. Naturally,

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humans are made in such a way that they are consistently searching for novelty and ways to
sustain themselves. As such, the socio-ecological system is dynamic and is evolving everyday
leading to unintended consequences due to social actions. Sociologists, anthropologists,
historians, and geographers report that environmental shifts occur due to diverse human activities
(Harvey 6). In turn they lead to social struggle, capital accumulation as well as environmental
transformation.
The concept of web of social-ecological life that is materially embedded in capital
accumulation can be illustrated by the human activities that occurs around the Appalachia’s
coalfields of West Virginia. Due to the increasing mountaintop removal coal mining activities,
the ecological system has been affected significantly (Marley et al. 261). The human capital is
increasingly being sought and their coal mining activities as shaped and reshaped the mountains.
The activity has led to unequal region development whereby the coal mining industry and
organization are gaining much profits at the expense of the society and the environment. The
physical landscape is being eroded while the communities nearby being forced to move out due
to unbearable life threatening circumstances. The human and social life is dependent on the
natural world. Consequently, the natural capital is non-substitutable and, therefore, need to
balance between social activities and resources obtained from natural habitats to avoid depleting
them (Marley 237). Activities like extensive coal mining will ultimately cause decrease of
biodiversity and also threaten human survival.
How the new shifts towards MTR has affected the “web of socio-ecological life?”
Mountaintop Removal (MTR) is an ecological violence that occurs due to human
practices and activities. The trip to West Virginia exposed me to mining activities that goes on at
the Appalachia hills involving MTR. The communities around that region have complained of

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water poisoning, pollution of the air, and damage of the forests and, mountains where majority
lives (Lindberg et al. 20931). MTR has not only caused economical and health problems but also
it has affected the social-ecological system life. Traditionally, coal mining was done
underground but recently companies have moved to surface mining that has been facilitated by
technological advancements. Mining coal at the mountain surface has been embraced since
mining underground is usually deadly and hazardous. Although the MTR is a simple process
compared to underground mining, it is very destructive as trees are clear-cut and pushed into the
nearby valleys (Austin and Brett 447). It also uses tons of explosives that loosens the soil and
rocks which also are pushed into the valley. These explosives are toxic and the heavy metals
originating from here also contaminates streams and wells.
MTR has led to misunderstandings between the Appalachia community and the coal
mining companies. It has resulted into conflicts since the society argue that the violation of the
landscape it equal to rape. The companies, however, are out to make money and they are not
worried of the negative effect the MTR has on the ecology and society. It is difficult to separate
social life and ecology since they are dependent on each other for survival. When the ecology
system is destroyed the human life is also affected either directly or indirectly. Geographers and
historians like David Harvey, Don Mitchell, Ronald Eller, and Henri Lefebvre explains the
connection between people and the natural world. Before capital-intensive development and
resource exploitation in Appalachian, the mountain settlements and social life of people was
peaceful. The MTR, however, resulted into disruption of the environment (Hendryx 6) and the
socio-ecology life.
Effects of lack of regulation on MTR and coal burning and dumping (re: coal ash) as
critical to understanding “how the company will always cut corners to ensure profitability”

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Various organizations and labor relations have put efforts to unionize the community and
environment by actively advocating for coal mining companies to stop the MTR. However, there
are no laws or regulations set by the West Virginia government to regulate the mountaintop
removal (Hendryx 6). This has resulted into massive coal mining in Appalachia resulting into
several conflicts between the coalfield residents such as the United Mine Workers Union and
Save Our Cumberland Mountains and the coal industry. Despite the fact that the residents and
activists complain of the negative effect of coal mining, the government and the coal industry
dismiss them terming the complains as emotional, hyperbole, radical, and exaggerated talk. The
state politics, therefore, are set to marginalize any person or community that speaks negatively
concerning the coal industry. As such, the coal mining industries get an easy way of continuing
to mine as they make more profits at the expense of the community and environment.
Due to lack of laws regulating the coal mining industry, the coal miners have come up
with some objectivities that are meant to deceive the society. For instance, they claim that ending
the MTR will make many people lose their jobs. However, they do not consider the danger those
workers are exposed to and the negative effect the whole process brings to the society in the
long-run (Zullig and Michael 851). They claim that MTR improves land by flattening it for
future development and the topsoil substitute is way better than the native topsoil. However, due
to lack of proper infrastructure in the region, no future development is likely to occur. Also, the
native soil is better than the top soil since the naturally and culturally hardwoods grow in such
soils. Therefore, due to lack of regulation, the mining companies get away with deceitful facts
and end up making a lot of profits.
Cost associated with this form of capital accumulation

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The MTR and the coalfield industry has negatively impacted the Appalachian economy
(Palmer, 148). It has made the government to invest into the industry, buying of huge machinery,
and building infrastructure to aid running of the process. Nevertheless, despite the high cost of
maintaining the industry, the side effects are costlier. People living around the Appalachian hills
undergo several health complications due to presence of heavy metals from the mining site and
water contamination (Zullig and Michael 849). The conflicts that arise between the mining
companies and the community leads to economic, political, and social issues that affect the web
of socio-ecological life. Capital accumulation in the coal mining industry has led to destruction
of the ecology and resources. Flash floods are being experienced around that region due to the
flattened mountains. Spills that originate from slurry also hugely affect the human life (Kaneva
931). As such, MTR negatively affects the ecological life of the community and the mountain as
well.
Conclusion
Human activities are strongly linked to ecological life-support system. Their actions will
determine whether there will be an improved human well-being, social equity, decreased
ecological scarcities, and reduced environmental risks. People’s daily activities and practices
create the social, cultural, economic, and political features of society according to the practice
theory. Therefore, the human activities should be closely monitored to ensure they are not
detrimental to the ecology. Coal mining in Appalachia especially the MTR has resulted in
negative impacts to the society by causing massive destruction of the ecology. To create an
economy that encourages human well-being and environmental sustainability, new economic
paradigm needs to be developed that will lead to equal geographical developments. This will

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involve government coming up with regulations that monitors human activities and promotes
social-ecological life.
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