Southside Concerned Citizens is a nonprofit, all volunteer, 501-C-3 corporation which was formed in the early 1980's with the mission of protecting the environment and quality of life in southern Virginia. SCC does this by educating our members and the general public about issues that threaten our region.
Southern Virginia is blessed with many rivers and interconnected streams, fertile land and clean air. These treasures must be protected for future generations and that is being accomplished today by this dedicated group volunteering time, talents and resources.
Environmentally, SCC represents all of the thousands of people in southern Virginia. In the past we have attracted as many as 1000 supporters to a public hearing in Halifax County. Over the years SCC has participated in numerous public meetings from Martinsville, to Virginia Beach, to Fairfax County near Washington D.C. and many points in between.
In the early 1980's SCC fought long and hard across the state and in the Virginia General Assembly to ward off uranium mining. Since that time we have successfully waged battles against a proposed nuclear waste dump, a proposed low level nuclear storage site, and fought for the best available technology for stack emissions for power plants in our area.
In the late 1990's SCC spearheaded the effort to protect Southside Virginia from an influx of foul smelling and polluting industrial hog farms that after years of polluting North Carolina were looking for a new haven to set up shop. We traveled to eastern North Carolina and found people who were virtual prisoners in their own homes because the stench from nearby hog facilities prevented them from going outside. Many experienced health problems related to the high concentrations of contaminants in the air and water. We found that industrial hog farms not only pollute but are notoriously cruel to animals which often must be kept alive by the daily use of steroids and antibiotics. These factory hog farms have also proven to reduce nearby property values by as much as 90%.
More recently, SCC has worked to promote community schools. We feel that communities benefit when they have their own identity and a school is a very big part of small communities.
We are currently, and once again, in the struggle to keep uranium mining out of Virginia. This poisonous scourge on the people and land that we love must NEVER be allowed to happen!
In summary, SCC is a very proactive watchdog group staffed by unpaid volunteers whose goal is to protect the environment and quality of life in southern Virginia. SCC accepts no corporate money and relies on the support of good everyday working people in all of its efforts.