North Korean Nuclear BBQ

The Cross of Coal

Over one hundred protesters from the Appalachian coalfields were arrested in front of the White House today, defiantly calling on the Obama administration to abolish mountaintop removal mining. As part of the Appalachia Rising events, the coalfield residents took part in a multi-day series of events to bring the escalating human rights, environmental and health care crisis to the nation's capitol.

Kentuckians for the Commonwealth were joined by allies from around the country, including NASA climatologist James Hansen. Meanwhile, protesters staged a nearby sit-in at the office of the PNC bank, which remains one of the last major financiers of coal companies engaged in this extreme form of strip-mining in Appalachia.

In a stark reminder of the national connection to the coalfields, the Obama administration officials looked on from their White House offices, as their electricity came from a coal-fired plant generated partly with coal stripmined from Appalachia.

As a litmus test of the administration's commitment to science and the rule of law, Appalachian residents are calling on the EPA to halt any new permit on the upcoming decision over the massive Spruce mountaintop removal mine.

Mountaintop removal coal only provides, in fact, less than 10 percent of all coal production.

Fed up with the regulatory crisis and circumventions by outside coal companies, coalfield residents have been rising up against reckless strip-mining practices against the country, from Alaska to Alabama to Arizona.

In southern Illinois, scores of black crosses were found at coal mines, strip mines, coal-fired plants, coal ash piles, and at the Southern Illinois University Coal Research Center.

Citing Illinois as the birthplace of the coal industry, and "ground zero in the Obama administration's plan to dangerously experiment with carbon capture and storage technologies for coal-fired plants," a new Black Cross Alliance campaign announced plans to construct symbolic black crosses at coal mining and coal-burning landmarks in the state and across the nation to serve as a public warning: It is no longer acceptable for the Obama administration--and state and regional government officials---to be complicit in maintaining deadly coal mining and coal-burning communities as shameful national sacrifice areas in 2010.

Invoking William Jennings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" speech, the Black Cross Alliance called on the Obama administration and the state of Illinois to halt billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies for multinational coal corporations, and bring an end to the scandalous coal wars in Illinois by re-investing in a sustainable clean energy policy for the future for the coalfield regions.

The Black Cross Alliance declared: You shall not crucify us any longer upon a cross of coal.

"While the rest of the nation--and world--launches into the exploding new global market of clean energy development and green jobs," the Black Cross Alliance asked, "why have the coalfield regions in the country been left out of the renewnable energy movement and slated for a new generation of increased coal production?"

For more updates on Appalachia Rising, see: www.appalachiarising.org

I whole heartedly support these folks - but, as they noted in the article I've cut'n'pasted here, Mr. Obama is from Illinois. It is akin to asking George Bush to not invade Iraq for the oil. Both of them. Maybe if they made a film or even an advertisement - maybe even a powerpoint presentation on what, exactly, mountaintop strip mining is, and how - exactly it ruins their drinking water (bring a jug of it), maybe that would sway the public to use less electricity, and therefore less coal?

It's a hell of an uphill battle they have there - as Americans are expected to double their electrical habit with every new iPad and iPhone purchase.

Sunday Comics: Week In Review

There's a little volcano in Iceland farting all over Europe. "And so, Theodore Donald Eyjafjallajökull, in accordance with what we think your dying wishes might well have been, we commit your final mortal remains to the Air of the Atlantic Ocean which you loved so well. Good night, sweet prince." If you're also in tune with exactly how badly Iceland was screwed over by Europe in the banking failure and mortgage crisis of the Great Recession, there's extra humor in all this.
And if you can catch a flight, Spirit Airlines is leading the way to nickel and dime you some more on that flight. Other airlines will be quick to jump on this trend. Expect to see more passengers in cargo pants next time you fly.
Meanwhile... in Rome....Catholics circled the pews as they claimed foul from all the external attacks. Never once wondering how or why they're in the mess they're in? Yes, very Christ-like.

Mr. Obama eliminated 50% of the nuclear arsenal with a pen stroke, and has limited the engagement of the US arsenal against it's enemies - while thinly pointing out to Iran that it reserves the right to bomb it to hell if they continue on their path. Iran was offended by the bad joke and continues on their mission to develop their own arsenal. Unlike the Soviets, Iran only has to get one into Israel to make their point. MAD doesn't work when you're already across the threshold.

Alan Greenspan threw dirt back at Congress for making him make bad fiscal decisions... but when it was all over and the dirty laundry was on the line - he made a comment that "he was right 70% of the time" Where I went to school, that's still an F. Sorry Mr. Greenspan, you blew it.... again.

There was an extremely brief discussion this week that reminded us of the human cost of powering all those iPads.

There was a brief discussion of Blue Dog Democrats running off the Hill as soon as they saw the polling data.
And it was tax week for some, not so much for others. A few other people had a Tea Party in the streets.while everyone else made fun of them.

See you next week, folks.

Coen Bros. clean coal parody ad

Coen Bros. clean coal parody ad

Coal power plants emit carbon dioxide (CO₂), the pollutant that Al Gore says is causing the climate crisis. A third of the America's carbon pollution now comes from about 600 coal-fired power plants. And of the more than 70 proposed new coal power plants, barely a handful have plans to capture and store their CO₂ emissions. If these dirty plants are allowed to be built, this will mean an additional 200 million tons of global warming pollution will be emitted in America each year. Until coal power plants no longer release CO₂ to the atmosphere, coal will remain a major contributor to the climate crisis.

I would have rather watched Steve Buscemi in a woodchipper.