In a recent Orion article by Erik Reece, an important connection between the human sprit, music and environmentalism is made. This connection is illustrated through the destruction of Appalachian mountaintops for coal and the recent Music Saves Mountains concert organized by the National Resources Defense Council and Emmylou Harris.  While the knowledge of mountaintop mining in Appalachia is nothing new, the need for significant public action is.  Emmylou Harris, a renowned folk singer, makes the point that, “It seems like artists today, particularly country artists, tend to play it safe … But mountaintop removal is based on pure greed and it’s doing such incredible damage.”  The bigger question at stake is apathy; what will it take to get Americans to take a stand against blatant environmental destruction, such as mountaintop mining?

In current culture, songs are less and less about environmental issues, as were past folk songs by John Denver for example, and more and more about the individual.  For example, “Toby Keith’s latest single, ‘American Ride,’ doesn’t so much deny global warming as revel in it: ‘That’s us, that’s right, / Gotta love this American ride. / Both ends of the ozone burnin’. / Funny how the world keeps turnin’ . . .”  Clearly one cannot sum up an entire culture based on popular music, and there are many who do not follow standard norms, however, the growing concensus that there’s an increasing disconnect between Americans and nature is a startling one.  In a recent ENN article, the author makes note of the Environmental Paradox and how humans are more and more decoupled from ecosystems due to time lags and increased technology.  Perhaps the need for a psychological grassroots revolution in America is in order?  One reminscent of days when people were less distracted and consumed by massive amounts of information, but were actively involved in their communities, politics and their planet.  Without the collective action of many who care, the Appalachian mountains, like many natural wonders of this Earth, will be left to those who do care  – about profit.