Beehive Collective

"True Cost of Coal" - Beehive Presentation - 2/27

Coal is the result of "millions of years of compressed decomposed organic materials".  In its natural form, coal serves as a natural filter for water trickling out of natural springs. 

I have been a supporter of the work produced by the artist collective for a long time.  I was excited to not only see documentation of their collective creative process, but also hear the stories and research guiding their work.

Over the years, I have appreciated their used of animals (rather than humans) in their narratives as it brings attention to biodiversity of our planet.  Also, the exclusion of text has allowed the messages in the Beehive's work to transcend beyond spoken and written languages.  

The Beehive's new poster addresses the current environmental crisis, a result from mountain-top removal in Appalachia. The meticulously detailed narrative walks us through a brief history of corporate coal  mining practices and their destructive impact on our environment.  The fast-pace and large scale "bio-destruction" threatens human and other  lifeforms with not only displacement but also great health risks.  In terms of its impacts on human health, the spread of toxicity  through groundwater and air pollution   has contributed to alarming cancer rates, respiratory diseases, and other illnesses among members of Appalachian communities.  

Calling attention to our "sick forests" and endangered ecosystems, environmental groups are urging immediate  bio-remediation  in order to heal our waters, air, and planet. Groups and organizations like West Virginia's "Dustbuster Sisters" and "Mountain Justice", and the Highlander Research and Education Center in Tennessee are making great community efforts to educate others around this critical environmental issue. 

*Images from http://www.beehivecollective.org/english/coal.htm