By now, most of you have probably heard of the ridiculous "clean coal carolers".
Rachel Maddow has covered this as the awful joke that it is. We all need a laugh at times, especially while watching the Bush administration trying to destroy everything good which could possibly cut into the profits of their benefactors. But this joke is shallow, barely hiding the gruesome reality beneath it's thin shell of holiday cheer.
This greenwashing campaign by the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity trivializes the conditions which bring suffering upon the victims of both the mining and burning operations in this cycle of cultural and corporate excess, and it needs to be opposed.
Let's help spread the reality that there is no such thing as clean coal, while keeping our holiday spirit intact.
A couple months back, I attended an open hearing conducted by Wisconsin's Public Service Commission on approval for a new Alliant Energy "flex-fuel" electricity generating plant. Alliant's deception for this coal-fired plant was to entice local wildlife and environmental organizations with the promise that the "hybrid" plant would also burn "up to 20%" biomass, the growth of which would create both green spaces for wildlife and economic opportunities for those who planted, gathered and delivered this "green" material.
Because concerned Wisconsinites were not fooled by this ruse, they spoke out at hearings and submitted comments to the PSC overwhelmingly opposing this horrible plan which would turn back decades of environmental progress. Not only was Alliant's plan unanimously turned down by the Commission, but they decided to offer no appeal to the decision.
So, these are battles which we can win, and in the interest of fighting the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity's fire with fire, or in this case, soot with soot, lets put our creative heads together and have fun crafting some "dirty coal" holiday carol parodies which are reality based, rather than ridiculous based, to set the record straight.
So turn off those lights which demand more coal be burned, pour a beverage of your choice, warm up your voices, and let me get us started by bringing some truth to what, for many Americans, is actually a silent and coaly nightmare.
Silent night, Coaly night
Acid rain near the site
Round yon power plant Mother and Child
Breathing in the sulphur dioxide
Breast milk with mercury
Breast milk with mercury
Silent night, Coaly night
Mountaintops lost from sight
Slurried streams of runoff reach far
Dust and soot bringing emphysema
Wildlife habitat gone
Wildlife habitat gone
Silent night, Coaly night
Lungs so clogged, asthma tight
T.B. victims behind pallid face
Pulmonary disease in this place
Power, what is it worth?
Power, what is it worth?
After you correct the "clean coal" parodies for Adeste Fideles, Oh Christmas Tree, Deck the Halls, Jingle Bells, or whatever carol you like, send them to National Media Senior Communications Director Steve Gates, American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity. SGates@cleancoalusa.org
Get to work, and spread the word.
And have a nice "clean" holiday celebration, with no coal in your stocking.