David and Janet Carle, who set out last month on a worldwide tour of water and environment issues along the 38th parallel, are traveling west across the United States. After visiting the Mountain Keeper in West Virginia and joining a senior citizens’ protest against mountaintop removal coal mining, the Carles crossed into Kentucky’s horse country. There, they sampled Lexington’s racetrack lifestyle and, moving west, explored the ways human life intertwines with the state’s rivers and waterfronts, from the aftermath of a 2000 coal disaster to spectacular state parks, the site of an early pioneer settlement, and an Ohio River waterfront reclaimed from the shadow of a freeway.

The Carles are chronicling their travels on their blog, Parallel Universe: 38º North, and their journey will be the basis for a future UC Press book.

From Janet and David Carle’s blog, Parallel Universe: 38º North:

6a00d83453e6e169e20120a64503c8970c-120wi Seniors March Against Mountaintop Removal

Mountain Keeper Larry Gibson told us about a senior citizen
march protesting Mountain Top Removal (MTR) coal mining, which we joined this morning. The West Virginia State Capitol dome gleamed gold in the background as leaders from Climate Ground Zero , Mountain Justice and the Mountain Keepers Foundation addressed the walkers…. Read More




6a00d83453e6e169e20120a6450931970c-200wiThe Horse Capital of the World

Lexington, Kentucky bills itself as “The Horse Capital of the World.” In recent days we have explored Kentucky horse farms, the Kentucky Horse Park and International Museum of the Horse (38°08′, 84°30′), a racing stable, and spent a day at the races. What has all this got to do with our exploration of the 38th parallel?… Read More

6a00d83453e6e169e20120a5ee0e66970b-200wiRivers in Kentucky

We were not yet done with coal upon entering Eastern Kentucky. In fact, one of the worst coal industry disasters occurred there on October 11, 2000, when a sludge dam gave way and swept millions of gallons of toxic, black goo through the community of Inez, down Coldwater and Wolf creeks, and on down the Tug Fork clear to the Ohio River… Read More

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