America is a nation of change. We strive to always move forward, pushing to make new technologies viable while leaving the old and inefficient to wither away. Sometimes, we must be reminded of our heritage, especially when that heritage is still being formed. Appalachian coal mining is one of America’s energy mainstays, but many Americans are blissfully unaware of its intricacies. This is exactly what the Beehive Design Collective is trying to reverse with their “True Cost of Coal” design campaign. The Bee’s image will be displayed at Lower Price Hill Community School (2104 Michael St.) at 5:30 p.m. Sunday and at Xavier University (3800 Victory Pkwy., Conaton Learning Center, Room 406) at 7 p.m. Monday. The event is free. During the presentation, the Bees will explain their image, interweaving facts, anecdotes and stories collected from first-hand interviews with Appalachian citizens. Two years in the making, the “True Cost of Coal” is a complex tapestry that explores not only the actual process of mountaintop mining for coal, but also the effects the mining has on the communities it surrounds. In today’s fast moving society, taking a step back isn’t always accepted. But sometimes, as the Bees strive to demonstrate, it’s necessary.
Go here for event details and directions.
