CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- I worked at the Cabin Creek Medical Center from 1980 to 1987, helping coal miners and other workers apply for workers' compensation, Federal Black Lung, Social Security Disability and other benefits.

During that time, I toured underground mines and coal processing plants. Prior to that, I worked in a rural West Virginia anti-poverty program and for the Council of Senior West Virginians, traveling throughout the state and helping our members influence public policies.

I worked closely with union leaders including the United Mine Workers and the AFL-CIO. I met Cecil Roberts, the current UMW president, when he was on the board of the Cabin Creek clinic, and I admired his intelligence and dedication.

Over the past 38 years, I have personally seen what coal mining can do to individuals, in terms of health, and I have seen what mining does for a major portion of Southern West Virginia communities. It's hard for me to believe the claim that coal leads to prosperity. Where is that taking place today? Jobs in the coal industry have been steadily declining ever since strip mining began to eat into underground employment, and ever since state and federal regulations were either weakened by politics or ignored by crumbling, understaffed and underfunded enforcement agencies.

I just returned from a three-day conference in Athens, Ohio, where I heard the chief of the state agriculture department say that "resource extraction has been bad for the local economy."

Another speaker, referring to the historical legacy that coal brought to Appalachian southeastern Ohio, said, "When too many people try to get rich too quickly ... we've been there and done that, and we don't want to do it again."

Now Ohio is the fourth-leading state in green job development. More and more people, business developers, local governments, community colleges and universities are joining together to help take Ohio beyond the old resource-extraction economy. Over 300 people attended the meeting, called "New Energy. New Jobs. New Opportunities for Appalachia."

I firmly believe that we can increase employment in coal mining, and at the same time gradually reduce the amount of coal we extract. We can do this by insisting that coal be mined safely, responsibly and with the utmost respect for the natural environment as well as the communities where miners and their families live.

We can do this by insisting that any mining be done with minimal disturbance of our land and people, by insisting on high standards of health and safety, not just for miners but for communities.

And we must certainly assess the necessary taxes on coal mining and power generation so that West Virginians enjoy fully funded public services including mining safety, health and environmental regulations. If we do this, we can put more people to work in mining while we gradually shift to a greener economy, just like our neighbors across the border in Ohio.

Will this cost more? Of course, but those are rational, necessary costs for the electric power and other energy we produce for the benefit of the country.

Let's not sell ourselves short and sacrifice our future. Companies like Massey Energy, Heritage Equipment and Walker Machinery are out for a quick buck, and they couldn't care less what happens to coal miners and everyone else in West Virginia.

Harman, of St. Albans, is a longtime West Virginia health activist.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- I worked at the Cabin Creek Medical Center from 1980 to 1987, helping coal miners and other workers apply for workers' compensation, Federal Black Lung, Social Security Disability and other benefits.

During that time, I toured underground mines and coal processing plants. Prior to that, I worked in a rural West Virginia anti-poverty program and for the Council of Senior West Virginians, traveling throughout the state and helping our members influence public policies.

I worked closely with union leaders including the United Mine Workers and the AFL-CIO. I met Cecil Roberts, the current UMW president, when he was on the board of the Cabin Creek clinic, and I admired his intelligence and dedication.

Over the past 38 years, I have personally seen what coal mining can do to individuals, in terms of health, and I have seen what mining does for a major portion of Southern West Virginia communities. It's hard for me to believe the claim that coal leads to prosperity. Where is that taking place today? Jobs in the coal industry have been steadily declining ever since strip mining began to eat into underground employment, and ever since state and federal regulations were either weakened by politics or ignored by crumbling, understaffed and underfunded enforcement agencies.

I just returned from a three-day conference in Athens, Ohio, where I heard the chief of the state agriculture department say that "resource extraction has been bad for the local economy."

Another speaker, referring to the historical legacy that coal brought to Appalachian southeastern Ohio, said, "When too many people try to get rich too quickly ... we've been there and done that, and we don't want to do it again."

Now Ohio is the fourth-leading state in green job development. More and more people, business developers, local governments, community colleges and universities are joining together to help take Ohio beyond the old resource-extraction economy. Over 300 people attended the meeting, called "New Energy. New Jobs. New Opportunities for Appalachia."

I firmly believe that we can increase employment in coal mining, and at the same time gradually reduce the amount of coal we extract. We can do this by insisting that coal be mined safely, responsibly and with the utmost respect for the natural environment as well as the communities where miners and their families live.

We can do this by insisting that any mining be done with minimal disturbance of our land and people, by insisting on high standards of health and safety, not just for miners but for communities.

And we must certainly assess the necessary taxes on coal mining and power generation so that West Virginians enjoy fully funded public services including mining safety, health and environmental regulations. If we do this, we can put more people to work in mining while we gradually shift to a greener economy, just like our neighbors across the border in Ohio.

Will this cost more? Of course, but those are rational, necessary costs for the electric power and other energy we produce for the benefit of the country.

Let's not sell ourselves short and sacrifice our future. Companies like Massey Energy, Heritage Equipment and Walker Machinery are out for a quick buck, and they couldn't care less what happens to coal miners and everyone else in West Virginia.

Harman, of St. Albans, is a longtime West Virginia health activist.