Introducing the Clean Coal Smackdown [2]
Here on DeSmog we've been writing a lot about so-called "clean coal," a word that would fit well under Stephen Colbert's definition of truthiness: [7]
what you want the facts to be, as opposed to what the facts are. What feels like the right answer as opposed to what reality will support."
Coal is far from clean, [8] but a $40 million advertising and public relations campaign by a coal industry front group calling itself the "American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity" [9] is doing its darndest to try and convince us otherwise.
The DeSmog team has been doing its part to counter the "clean coal" PR spin in its own way, as have many other online media outlets. [10] But it is isn't enough, what we need is an online clean coal smackdown.
And here it is.
In partnership with Greenpeace USA and Rainforest Action Network we have launched a powerful new website called, simply enough, Coal is Dirty. [11]
We have pulled together some of the best and most outspoken leaders on the environmental, public health and economic effects of America's addiction to coal, including:
Jeff Goodell, [12] contributing editor at Rolling Stone [13] and author of Big Coal: The Dirty Secret Behind America's Energy Future. [14]Jeff Biggers, [15] author of In the Sierra Madre [16] and The United States of Appalachia [17] and a regular contributor on Huffington Post. [18]
Page van der Linden, [19] contributing editor on Daily Kos [20] and longtime campaigner on nuclear and coal issues.
Kert Davies, [21] Research Director for Greenpeace in the United States and the architect for the well-known ExxonSecrets.org [22] campaign and the recently launched StopGreenWash.org [23]
JW Randolph, [24] staff Legislative Associate for the powerful Appalachian Voices [25] organization and manager of the Appalachian Voices blog. [26]
Ted Nace, [27] the director of Coal Swarm, [28]a group that works to support the grassroots movement opposing coal.
David Novack, [29] producer and director of the great new documentary, Burning the Future: Coal in America, [30] which chronicles the environmental devastation of the coal industry in West Virginia.
Kate Rooth, [31] who works for Greenpeace in the United States promoting climate, forests and oceans issues. She works with the Research Unit to support campaign and action work and is also a non-violence trainer.
Mark Fiore, [32] who the Wall Street Journal recently called “the undisputed guru of the form,” creates animated political cartoons from an undisclosed location somewhere in San Francisco.
Richard Littlemore, [33] Senior Writer for the award-winning site, DeSmogBlog.com. [34]
And we'll be adding more talented writers, researchers, online mavens and investigative journalists over the coming months.
Click around and let us know what you think. [35] And, of course, to all our fellow bloggers out there, links are always appreciated and reciprocated! [36]
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