West Virginia activist receives environmental prize for fighting mountaintop-removal mining

After mountaintop mining destroyed the West Virginia ridge overlooking her childhood home, Maria Gunnoe turned into an environmental activist, organizing meetings, speaking at rallies, testifying at lawsuits, and many other anti-mining activities. Her efforts won her both threats from miners and one of this year's prestigious Goldman Prizes, which honor grassroots environmental activists across the world. (Photo by Antrim Caskey)

Since the mountaintop removal began near her Boone County home in 2000, "Gunnoe has lived with periodic flooding and with water pollution she blames on the Magnum Coal operation up the hollow," writes Ken Ward Jr. for The Charleston Gazette. Testifying in federal court two years ago, she said the mining "has devastated our property." (Read more)

The Web site for the Goldman Prize notes that her work for the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition has led to serious threats from opponents of her work: "Gunnoe’s neighbors recently overheard people planning an arson attack on her home. Her daughter’s dog was shot dead, and 'wanted' posters of Gunnoe have appeared in local convenience stores." Gunnoe joins recipients this year from Gabon, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Russia and Suriname. (Read more)