Comments on: “Clean coal” is a fantasy

By: grumpypilgrim

grumpypilgrim — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:24:53 +0000

One other dirty little fact about coal of which most people are unaware: coal-fired powerplants actually release *more* radioactive waste into the environment than do nuclear powerplants. It happens because radioactive elements exist naturally in coal, so are released up the smokestack when coal is burned. It’s not a large quantity, but it is more than comes out of nuclear plants.

By: Erich Vieth

Erich Vieth — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 02:21:32 +0000

Where did I ever write “don’t shave”? People like Uncle B have their energy-irresponsibility-detectors set to high sensitivity.

I agree with you, Grumpy. There is a whole lot of energy waste we can stop before we ever get to essentials like shaving. And America is leading the pack in energy waste. It’s nothing to be proud of and it is becoming ever more clear that this wasting of our limited energy resources is a national security issue. Plain and simple. When oil doubles in price again, those countries that have taken meaningful steps to prepare for that day will still be humming along but the American economy will grind to a halt. All of those abandoned SUV’s sitting on the side of the highway. All of those people stuck out in the suburbs. Energy-wasting factories and office buildings that we can no longer afford to use.

http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/10/28/we%e2%80%99re-running-out-of-water-and-oil-yawn/

By: grumpypilgrim

grumpypilgrim — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:36:09 +0000

Uncle B writes: “Don’t burn gas, don’t go to work, Don’t burn coal, Don’t shave, don’t do anything, until a starving, shivering, hungry, sick world calls us back and appreciates what we do!”

The U.S. comprises about 5% of the world’s population and consumes about 25% of the world’s resources. Accordingly, it seems to me that most of the rest of this planet’s population (i.e., the remaining 95% of humanity) would get along just fine without our consumption.

By: Erich Vieth

Erich Vieth — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 04:12:18 +0000

Peabody Coal Company is boasting about its $9 million investment into “clean coal” technology while downplaying “that the coal industry’s largest front group has vowed to pour $40 million into efforts to block climate change and alternative energy legislation.” http://thinkprogress.org/2008/08/19/coal-company-ceo-black-is-the-new-green/

By: Erich Vieth

Erich Vieth — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 04:37:28 +0000

Rolling Stone has now weighed in, demonstrating how coal companies (and politicians) are duping American Citizens about coal. http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/21918521/big_coals_campaign_of_lies

By: Uncle B

Uncle B — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:01:14 +0000

Its time for America to go on a fishing retreat! Don’t burn gas, don’t go to work, Don’t burn coal, Don’t shave, don’t do anything, until a starving, shivering, hungry, sick world calls us back and appreciates what we do! If they don’t like what we do, f**k ‘em we’ll quit! Like the man said, ‘take this job and shove it! Now they’re telling us we can’t even burn coal right! I’m telling them ‘do better or f**k off until you can!

By: KGrandia

KGrandia — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:18:24 +0000

Agreed! Great post, it just popped up in my RSS - I just started a new site called http://www.coal-is-dirty.com, send along anything you find on this topic!