Massey president wants to debate top climate scientist

[Karmadillo]

http://wvgazette.com/News/200906190594

June 19, 2009
Massey president wants to debate top climate scientist
By Ken Ward Jr.
Staff writer

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Massey Energy President Don Blankenship wants to debate one of the world's top climate scientists about global warming, coal and the West Virginia economy.

Blankenship issued the challenge Friday to renowned NASA scientist James Hansen after word came out that Hansen was scheduled to attend a mountaintop removal protest next week outside of one of Massey's Raleigh County operations.

Hansen is among the headliners at the Tuesday event, along with actress Daryl Hannah. Protesters plan to meet near Marsh Fork Elementary School, which sits below a huge Massey slurry impoundment, and risk arrest at a nearby Massey office.

"While I don't recall anyone inviting out-of-state environmental protesters from San Francisco and a Hollywood actress to Massey's property on June 23, I'm more than willing to invite Dr. Hansen to have a factual discussion about coal mining in West Virginia, which provides thousands of jobs in the state and provides low-cost energy to millions of Americans," Blankenship said in a press release.

"I look forward to hearing from Dr. Hansen, as I'm sure a productive dialogue -- not publicity arrests -- is what Dr. Hansen, a university professor who values an exchange of ideas, surely must desire," Blankenship added.

Hansen could not be reached for comment late Friday afternoon.

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[timeforpeace]

1. Good. Hansen will mop the floor with this guy.

[MisterP]

2. eek! beware the scary Californians (go ahead, Don, ask WVers how much they like mountaintop removal)

[Birthmark]

3. I'm sure that Dr. Hansen will be happy to debate...

...the moment Don Blankenship has a relevant freakin' idea, should that unlikely event come to pass.

[quidam56]

4. Wonder if the debate can be covered live on the Internet ?

Wise County, VA sure can't stand anymore of the progress and prosperity of mountaintop removal by the new and improved, clean, green, hybrid coal industry. http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=138

[WVRICK13]

5. Don Blankenship is an Ignorant

pile of shit stacked to resemble a human. He has bought and owns our state government and is responsible for the destruction of our ecology. Mountaintop removal is the way to avoid employing people. One worker with the machines can produce what 50 underground miners produced. From Massey's view this is a good thing, but not for creating jobs in WV. Again I will say it, West Virginia is a third world nation with political corruption beyond compare.