BIRMINGHAM, AL – More than 3,500 people across the country have joined a popular campaign on Change.org urging University of Alabama Trustees to block a proposed coal mine that locals say could poison Birmingham’s water supply.
Joe Olson, a senior at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, is leading the campaign to block the Shepherd Bend coal company from establishing a mine 800 feet from the Black Warrior River, a major drinking water intake for more than 200,000 Birmingham residents. The majority of the proposed mine site lies on land owned by the University of Alabama System. Olson and supporters are asking the University of Alabama Board of Trustees to commit to not sell or lease the land to the coal mine company.
“The University’s own mission statement says its main concern is to enhance the quality of life for the community and Alabamians,” said Olson. “That includes listening to Alabamians when they voice their opinions. The University should fulfill its mission by agreeing to neither sell nor lease its land for the Shepherd Bend mine.”
Within hours of the campaign’s launch, Olson had recruited hundreds of supporters on Change.org, the world’s fastest-growing platform for social change. He plans to deliver the petition during the University of Alabama Board of Trustees meeting in early February.
“Joe’s Change.org campaign has given voice to more than 3,000 people who don’t want the University of Alabama school system to facilitate the contamination of Birmingham’s water supply,” said Sarah Parsons, senior organizer at Change.org. “And now with Joe planning on delivering his petition in person, it will be doubly hard for Trustees to ignore the public outcry.”
Click the link to see live signature totals from Joseph Olson’s petition and additional information on the Change.org campaign.
