"Clean Coal" Power Advertisements: Meant to Mislead

The advertisement accompanying this article depicts a smiling man innocently inserting an electrical plug into an electrical socket on a map of the United States.

Put aside the unlikelihood of anyone ever inserting a power cord at eye level. Put aside the fact that the land is indeed being sucked dry of its natural resources. And cast aside the idea that you're not being shown where Mr. Smiley's power cord leads. It's clear this all sets the stage for further discussion of what other unrealistic pictures the power companies would like to paint for you.

It has never made any sense all along.

Outright deceit? Absolutely.

BASICALLY, THEY ASSUME YOU'RE STUPID

First of all, take their starting statement:

"Common sense says, to reduce our dependence on foreign energy, let's use what's under our feet."

There's no argument that we do wish to reduce our dependence on foreign energy. But this is where their logic ends and the insanity begins - all within the very same sentence.

First remember that the form of "foreign energy" they speak of is nothing less than crude oil.

Next, remember that in this country the bulk of electrical power is not derived from imported oil. It is derived from coal mined from the earth - right here in the United States!

Finally remember: this advertisement is from a power company. This mean electricalpower. Electrical power for your home or office. They're not an oil company. They're not a petrochemical company. They are an electricalpower company. What this certainly means is they don't make power for your car!

So for them to assume that you would equate home electrical power to the same chemical power derived from imported crude oil - they're already assuming you're stupid.

AND THEN...

Assuming that they've coerced you into making that ridiculous leap from ignorant to idiot above, they go on with the madness in their next statement:

"The United States has a 200 year supply of coal."

What this really says is, "Hey, you'll be dead long before we run out. So what's the rush. Let your grandchildren worry about it."

Ignore the climate changes taking place greatly due to the release of carbon in the atmosphere. Ignore the fact that combustion emissions attributed to coal has killed thousands of people and animals, and is bringing an end to countless wildlife habitats each year.

If you can live in disregard to all of this chaos and plunder, then by golly, they assume correctly you have no problem handing off an entire world in ruins to your grandchildren!

How dare they!

How dare they assume you are this stupid, and so lacking of care?

Assuming you do care, then...

FURTHER LEAPS OF ILL-LOGIC

They go on to say:

"There's been a lot of talk about coal being an unclean energy source. But the truth is, Southern Company is working towards building the world's first zero-emissions coal-fired generating plant."

If you look (no need to look all that closely) you'll find it's easy to see the logic leading from the first sentence to the next is broken - simply not there.

The responsible thing would be for this power company to admit that coal is a filthy form of fuel. Instead, they don't even hint at apology. Instead, they say they are "working towards" a zero-emissions coal power plant. So, assuming they have at least 200 hundred years worth of coal left, they very well may not be in any big rush in this "working towards" of which they speak so proudly.

Mere words. And a further leaping of illogic into an abyss of obfuscation.

And all assuming you would play the idiot they want you to be.

LEAVING YOU IN A SEA OF SEMANTICS

Even if these folks could devise a so-called zero-emissions coal-fired power plant, you have to look at what they mean by "zero-emissions".

Does it mean zero airborne particle emissions, but still plenty of gaseous carbon emissions? They are intentionally unclear.

But what if they could capture all the carbon and all the airborne pollutants, then where would they dispose of this captured waste?

It has to go somewhere. Read on to see where.

BUT WHAT IF...

The coal power industry has an imminently descriptive and appropriately disgusting name for their captured waste - "gob".

Gob is exactly that: large chunks of pure filth that can be collected and then thrown into the gigantic holding containers which in turn are railed back with an equally filthy share of deadly coal ash to where the coal was originally mined: dumped deep within the earth and right next to the drinking water table.

That's right. The dumping grounds of the coal power companies' is the same place from which you would get your drinking water.

The same earth in which you grow your food.

The same contaminated soil on which your children play.

So, given the fact that coal ash, gob and airborne emissions could be captured completely, and then be thrown irresponsibly back into the ground, does this power company's claim to the cleanliness implied in a "zero-emissions" power plant make any sense?

MADNESS

Sorry, folks. It's madness that coal and coal-power companies assume you are as stupid as they want you to be.

It's also madness that they assume you would knowingly give contaminated drinking water to your children.

And yet they continue dumping... To the rate of 1.05 billion tons of coal ash per year in the U.S. alone.

FACE IT: COAL IS FILTHY

Face it, folks. Coal is filthy, no matter how you paint it. Whether you paint its grime on your face, when you mine it, and dump its ash and gob back into the ground, and then drink it in your own home's tap water - coal is filthy, and it's a deadly serious problem.

Not convinced? Then read more about how coal has already entered into your life:

Coal-Fired Power Needs to Step Down

Environment: Coal Ash Dumping is Poisoning Our Water & Making Us Sick

Coal Waste: Death for You & Your Children?

Also, read about how conventional water filters do not get rid of the problem:

Why You Should Make Your Own Home Water Distiller

ENOUGH ALREADY!

Had enough? Sick of deep-earth dumping, filthy water, airborne pollution, and high carbon emissions? Write your senator. Join a conservancy group. Share these coal waste articles.

Do something. Do anything. But heaven forbid you would play the idiot the coal mining and coal-fired power companies want you to be.

- John

*****

To subscribe to these articles, email me by clicking here

To read other cool articles: click here

For RSS feed:http://www.associatedcontent.com/rss/user_76423.xml

Legal stuff: Disclaimer & Safety Notice: Author does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, safety, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed or referred to. Information is provided for informational purposes only. Any actions or assumptions taken on the reader's part as a result of any information disclosed by Author are taken entirely at the reader's own risk. Author shall not be liable for any errors in the content, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Furthermore, Author shall not be liable for any loss of profits, contracts, opportunities or any direct, indirect, consequential loss of any kind (including death and/or injury), business interruption or loss of property arising out of or in connection with the use of the information herein. News items, opinions, and/or statements posed by author may be unsubstantiated and should be considered also as such. Unless where expressly stated, Author claims no express or understood association with any person, entity, or third party mentioned. "Cibola International" is a service mark (SM) and trade mark (™ ®) belonging expressly to John Melendez with all rights reserved worldwide.

© 2009 John Melendez / Cibola International - All rights reserved worldwide. Duplication in part or in full is prohibited. Violators will be prosecuted.