POWHR to the People: Fighting for Climate Justice and Opposing the Mountain Valley Pipeline in Appalachia

ABSTRACT

This case study explores the rhetorical tactics and strategies of grassroots environmental efforts to oppose the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) in Appalachia. I emphasize the use of epideictic rhetoric by POWHR in their advocacy for climate justice

KEYWORDS:

• Science communication/environmental communication
• social justice/ethics
• public policy/law/civic engagement

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. For a list of award winners, including the award for best website, refer to the Appalachian Studies Association awards page. (http://appalachianstudies.org/awards/pastrecipients/award-by-year.php).

2. Per POWHR’s newsletter: “The Violation Vigil Project was a collaboration between 7 Directions of Service, Appalachian Voices, ARTivism Virginia, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, EarthFolk, Food & Water Watch, Friends of Buckingham County, Virginia, Green New Deal VA, Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, Protect Our Water Heritage Rights, Repairers of the Breach, RVA Interfaith Climate Justice League, S.A.V.E., Sierra Club Virginia Chapter, Virginia Interfaith Power & Light, Virginia Organizing, & Wild Virginia” (Tuttle, 2021).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Appalachian State University [RRI Seed Grant, (002516)].

Notes on contributors

Savannah Paige Murray

Savannah Paige Murray is an Assistant Professor of Rhetoric and Writing Studies in the Department of English at Appalachian State University. Her work focuses on grassroots environmental rhetoric and the pursuit of climate and environmental justice.