The Myth Of Cheap Coal

[losthills]

Coal's True Cost
By Robert Kennedy Jr.

Last evening's GOP CNN/YouTube debate and the Democratic presidential debate on November 15 were jointly sponsored by a coal industry coalition comprised of mining, railroad and utility interests.

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Their high profile civic involvement is designed to further confuse American voters about coal's true cost to our society. Many of the Republican candidates have endorsed massive new subsidies for King Coal and dutifully parrot industry talking points including earnest promises of cheap "clean coal." Given that climate change is the most urgent threat to our collective survival, it is shocking that no debate moderator has pressed the candidates to clearly state their positions on "clean coal."

In fact, there is no such thing as "clean coal." And coal is only "cheap" if one ignores its calamitous externalized costs. In addition to global warming, these include dead forests and sterilized lakes from acid rain, poisoned fisheries in 49 states and children with damaged brains and crippled health from mercury emissions, millions of asthma attacks and lost work days and thousands dead annually from ozone and particulates. Coal's most catastrophic and permanent impacts are from mountaintop removal mining. If the American people could see what I have seen from the air and ground during my many trips to the coalfields of Kentucky and West Virginia: leveled mountains, devastated communities, wrecked economies and ruined lives, there would be a revolution in this country.

Read the rest of Robert's blog here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-f-kennedy-jr/coals-true-cost_b_74738.html

The myth of cheap coal is destroying the soul of America. Go to the I Love Mountains Action and Resource Center to find out how this issue affects you, and to take a stand:

http://www.ilovemountains.org/myconnection/

470 Mountains destroyed for electricity. How many more?

peace

[frogcycle]

1. even if you don't care for Bluegrass

give this a listen:

http://www.dbc3.com/BHS_Files/06_Paradise_Jim%20%26%20Jesse_Bluegrass%20Hall%20of%20Fame%20%5bCMH%5d_Country_64kbps%20(2).wma

[mod mom]

2. I just sent this to Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Sen Sherrod Brown!

both who support "clean" coal.

[hunter]

3. Coal is by far the most destructive way we generate electricity.

We must phase out coal generated electricity, and we must oppose synthetic fuels from coal, or we will make things much worse for ourselves than they already are.

The best thing we can do with toxic coal is to leave it undisturbed where it is.

[philb]

4. Coal Plant generates thousands of tons of toxic metals/year- mercury, lead, cadmium, thallium,etc.

see post in CO2/baking soda thread
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=123445&mesg_id=123865