A residents’ battle is on in Illinois, US, to bring a halt to Peabody Energy’s open-cast coal strip mining.
Two people were arrested March 28 in a road blockade to stop Peabody’s strip mine expansion in Rocky Branch, IL. Peabody has rushed to log and clear as quickly as possible to sidestep the endangered species act protections of the Indiana Bat by destroying the Bat’s roosting sites. Peabody is also currently trying to reroute Rocky Branch Road, the main artery for the residents, local farmers and tourists.
“Peabody doesn’t care about our roads, our homes or our health. Just as Peabody has no compassion for our smallest creatures, the Indiana bat, they have no compassion for human beings. We have followed the letter of the law and they don’t. We have no choice but to take peaceful action. We are asking everyone to come join us in our fight to preserve our homes,” said Judy Kellen, an elected official from the township of Rocky Branch.
This action is the second road blockade at Rocky Branch in the last two weeks and demonstrates the organized opposition ready to fight extraction from coal mining and impending fracking.
Judy Kellen has proved a reluctant but plucky fighter in taking action against the mining. Check out the short documentary below made by Mitchell Wenkus that offers an insight into the challenge.
