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Kentucky
needs more citizens like Evelyn Williams, citizens who speak out for
countless other people whose histories have been affected by inequality
and injustice. She once
considered herself powerless, but in 1992 she took on Equitable
Resources and Exploration, Inc. (EREX) in its attempt to service a gas
well on her property.
In
order to understand Williams fight, it is necessary to understand the
broad form deed, which made it possible for companies to purchase
mineral rights to a piece of property, while leaving the original owner
with the rights to the surface of the land.
Broad form deeds did not become problematic until strip mining
became common practice, and Kentucky courts interpreted broad form deeds
to include the right of the mining company to extract minerals however
they saw fit. Although laws
were changed somewhat in 1988 to protect property owners from coal
miners, landowners had no protections against companies mining for oil
and natural gas until 1994. Meanwhile,
Williams knew that her water had turned red from the wells pollution
and that there was erosion on her tumbling hillside.
Williams chose the route of peaceful demonstration and blocked an
EREX trucks entry by sitting down in the road and reading a book.
Members of the grassroots organization Kentuckians for the
Commonwealth joined her fight, and EREX agreed not to damage her
property any further, and to notify her before coming onto the property
to service the well.
Evelyn
Williams believes that corporations need to have better ethical
standards for the common goodnot just for their stockholders.
Visit Appalshop's Web site to
find out how to order a copy of Evelyn Williams, an Appalshop
film directed by Anne Lewis.
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