Alberta country singer Corb Lund joined a few musician friends to reissue a 12-year-old song to oppose the possibility of surface mining in the Rocky Mountains.
The song, This Is My Prairie, stars big names in the Alberta country scene, including Brett Kissel, Terri Clark and Paul Brandt, in a new version that Corb Lund hopes will become an anthem of opposition to proposed mining developments.
Corb Lund claims the song was first written to tell the story of a rancher who is trying to preserve the countryside. He believes that the words correspond word for word to the fight that many ranchers in Alberta have started against mining development.
The singer says it was easy to convince other artists to join him for the song, the proceeds of which will go to local organizations opposed to coal mining projects.
The Government of Alberta is awaiting recommendations from a panel of experts who have polled Albertans on the desirability of this type of mining development – and if so, how to do it.