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Clearing the PR Pollution that Clouds Climate Science

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Massive Coal Ash Spill in Tennessee puts the lie to Clean Coal

When it comes to PR spindoctoring there is always one surefire cure - reality.

If you were fooled by the multimillion dollar "clean coal" PR marketing campaign take a look at this video footage of a massive flood of toxic coal sludge from a dam that burst at a local coal company's processing plant in Tennessee yesterday.

The spill covered as many as 400 acres of land with toxic ash as high as six feet deep.

You can go here to see some local TV news coverage. Here's some raw footage of the spill zone:

According to local news reports millions of yards of ashy toxic sludge broke through a dike at TVA's Kingston coal-fired plant Monday, covering hundreds of acres, knocking one home off its foundation. Coal ash can carry toxic substances that include mercury, arsenic and lead, according to a federal study.

Greenpeace is calling today for there to be a criminal investigation into the matter. “Every facility like this is supposed to have a spill contingency plan to prevent this kind of disaster,” said Rick Hind, Greenpeace Legislative
Director. “The authorities need to get to the bottom of what went wrong and hold the responsible parties accountable.”

“This spill shows that coal can never be ‘clean,’” said Kate Smolski, Senior Legislative Coordinator for Greenpeace. “If the Exxon Valdez was a symbol of pollution 20 years ago, the Tennessee Coal Spill of 2008 is the symbol of it today.”

 

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#702790
climate criminal. +1; Wed, 2008-12-24 03:19; Clean Coal Irony!

So that's what clean coal looks like. Obviously this gives a new meaning to the word 'clean'. Except it's not clean as normally understood and meant by normal usage of the word.

Must be meant ironically.

#705414
GarryWert. +1; Sat, 2009-06-06 08:41; Perhaps, clean here means

Perhaps, clean here means without dust, or polished, or anything like that. college football picks

#706267
cosminanton. +1; Sun, 2009-08-02 13:27; Clean Coal Does Not Exist

There is just no such thing as "clean coal", by it's very nature it has the potential to contaminate. It's a bit like saying, an "honest crook".

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#706058
claudiapth. +1; Fri, 2009-07-17 22:12; Its our duty to put all clean

Its our duty to put all clean and good for all.

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#702791
Ian Forrester. +1; Wed, 2008-12-24 08:56; Aberfan, 1966

As bad as this was it is nothing compared to the disaster in 1966 in the village of Aberfan, Wales.

A coal tip liquified and poured downhill right over a school killing 144 people including 116 children and 5 teachers.

Even though problems had been identified nothing was done and no-one was found culpable.

#702793
John Lefebvre. +1; Sat, 2008-12-27 13:07; I hate it when

I hate it when people say "That's nothing...." but.... wait 'till we see what the tar sands tailing ponds (yes, and SAGD) are doing.

#702821
climate criminal. +1; Tue, 2009-01-06 22:20; Earth Observatory - There's Nothing Like Clean Coal

There's Nothing Like Clean Coal - That's for sure! Just read the description and see the satellite photos at:

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=36352

The sooner the epithet 'clean' when applied to coal is killed-off, the better. If it's so clean and safe, perhaps the proponents of 'clean' coal should eat a spoonful of fly ash, every time they mention clean coal. 

#705307
emil300. +1; Sun, 2009-05-31 08:24; This disaster proves that

This disaster proves that regulations around coal slurry impoundments need to be tightened, and not loosened," says Kimmons. Only time will tell if verbal commitments from Washington materialize into help on the ground. interesting facts

#705756
GarryWert. +1; Tue, 2009-06-23 03:53; You're right to the word. car
You're right to the word. car jacks and lifts
#705124
markweee. +1; Wed, 2009-05-20 22:55; In a January 28, 2007 article

In a January 28, 2007 article in the Toronto Star, the President of the Friends of Science admitted that about one-third of the funding for the FOS is provided by the oil industry. In an August 2006 Globe and Mail feature, FOS was exposed as being funded in part by the oil and gas sector and hiding this fact. According to the Globe and Mail, the oil industry money was funnelled through the Calgary Foundation charity to the University of Calgary and then put into an education trust for the FOS.
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#705490
emil300. +1; Tue, 2009-06-09 21:28; As bad as this was it is

As bad as this was it is nothing compared to the disaster in 1966 in the village of Aberfan, Wales.

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#706730
myrna004. +1; Mon, 2009-08-31 04:59; As bad as this was it is

Interesting, I have not read about the disaster in Aberfan, do you have a link to where I could read more about it?

#705937
KeithGene. +1; Thu, 2009-07-09 10:12; Clean Coal is Dirty

There is nothing like "Clean Coal." Politicians and other wonks that advocate clean coal are fully aware of its "dirty" nature, but still chose to advocate using it.

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#706094
GarryWert. +1; Tue, 2009-07-21 07:22; So that's what clean coal

So that's what clean coal looks like. Obviously this gives a new meaning to the word 'clean'. Except it's not clean as normally understood and meant by normal usage of the word. Commission Ritual

#706812
victor. +1; Mon, 2009-09-07 02:06; Lifes at stake

Oh my god this can create a mess and take many lives, should be cleaned immediately.

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#708265
Christne Baldwin. +1; Wed, 2009-10-28 02:17; This indeed is a horrific site

This is really horrific to see what the greed of some people can spill havoc on life of people due to careless attitude of certain people.

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About the climate cover-up

About the climate cover-up

Democracy is utterly dependent upon an electorate that is accurately informed. In promoting climate change denial (and often denying their responsibility for doing so) industry has done more than endanger the environment. It has undermined democracy.

There is a vast difference between putting forth a point of view, honestly held, and intentionally sowing the seeds of confusion. Free speech does not include the right to deceive. Deception is not a point of view. And the right to disagree does not include a right to intentionally subvert the public awareness.

Although all public relations professionals are bound by a duty to not knowingly mislead the public, some have executed comprehensive campaigns of misinformation on behalf of industry clients on issues ranging from tobacco and asbestos to seat belts.

Lately, these fringe players have turned their efforts to creating confusion about climate change. This PR campaign could not be accomplished without the compliance of media as well as the assent and participation of leaders in government and business.

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