There’s Something About Appalachia…

Tom Weinandy Appalachian InstituteTom Weinandy Appalachian Institute

Overview• What is Appalachia?• Culture• Politics/Economics• Energy/Environment• Health• Making a Difference!

Appalachia

CULTURE

Outdoor Adventure

History

Boom and Bust Economies

Labor Unions

POLITICS & ECONOMICS

“A Rich Place with Poor People”

Coal Coal is King!is King!

•US electricity= 45% from coal•WV electricity= 98% from coal•Coal provides 53,000 jobs throughout entire region. In some counties it’s as high as 40-50% of employment.•Appalachian coal mining made $720 million in taxes in 2005.

Despite coal mining

more than 100 counties

remain in poverty

West Virginia:

50th in average family income

Poverty RatesPoverty Rates

Unemployment Rates Unemployment Rates

Economy of extreme

highs and lows

Energy and Environment

Mountain Top Removal

Natural Gas -- Fracking

Good or bad?

Marcellus Shale

Health 1st adult current smokers 2nd obesity rates (adults) 1st diabetes 6th low birth weight 1st loss of all teeth by age 65 46th life expectancy

Making a Difference…

…and experiencing Appalachia

Appalachian Instituteat Wheeling Jesuit Universitywju.edu/ai

Tom Weinandytweinandy@wju.edu

Twitter: @tomweinandy

Tom Weinandytweinandy@wju.edu

Twitter: @tomweinandy