Coal Propaganda for Kids

| Fri Nov. 6, 2009 11:32 AM PST
coalgivesuspower.jpg

The coal industry seems to be taking an ever-greater interest in children—not their future, natch, but what they're coloring. A few months ago we highlighted a "clean coal" coloring book aimed at developing youthful enthusiasm for coal-generated power. Today we find yet another coloring book homage to the industry featuring anthropomorphized lumps of coal.

This one comes from the West Virginia Coal Association, "a trade association representing more than 90 percent of the state's underground and surface coal mine production" (see a list of members here.)

It explains that coal is a major source of electricity (without, however, noting that it's not the only form of electricity). It also features lumps of coal bathing and being cleaned off by a dog—which I'm fairly certain is an entirely new definition of "clean" coal. Actually, it kind of undermines the idea that coal is clean if it has to be washed, no? 

 

Think Progress has more.

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Kate Sheppard covers energy and environmental politics in Mother Jones' Washington bureau. For more of her stories, click here. She Tweets here.

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Comments

Such a nice post i must say

Such a nice post i must say . The only way the term "clean coal" would make any sense to me is if they remove pollutants from the emissions. If they figure out how to stop putting mercury and whatever else into the air then they can talk about clean.

off topic: you know what would be really interesting with these +/- ratings is if you could mouse over the rating and get an info box showing who rated your comment + or -. Accountability and all that.

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Try and deep breath and some logic

While I'm all for alternative fuel sources, your article isn't exactly helping the debate.

So the book “explains that coal is a major source of electricity (without, however, noting that it’s not the only form of electricity)”? Um, “a major source” means there are other sources.

No, washing things doesn't undermine the idea they are clean. Are you dirty since you shower occassionally?

But, really, the whole premise is flawed. You're attempting to attack a coloring book published by the West Virginia Coal Association that favorably casts the industry. Clearly, they should be telling children they—and the kids’ whose parents work for them—are vile and repulsive since you think they are.

Sure, make a response coloring book. I'll give it to the kids I know. But this isn't helping.

If they figure out how to

If they figure out how to stop putting mercury and whatever else into the air then they can talk about clean.off topic: you know what would be really interesting with these +/- ratings is if you could mouse over

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