Coal Week Summary

Well folks, I hope you enjoyed "Coal Week". What has it taught us?

Well first, we have learned that the process of coal extraction is devastating to the local environment and can have deleterious effects on those folk living in proximity to the mines. We have also learned that the coal companies and their money go to support a don't ask, don't tell mentality on the political leadership charged with regulating the mining processes and protecting the citizenry.

Second we learned that the processes of burning coal is devastating to the global environment and that unlike the mining process these effects are insidious and far reaching yet hidden from view. We have also learned that the utility companies and their money go to support greenwashing and national energy policy arguments that keep the political leadership charged with regulating the pollutants and protecting the citizenry from strong regulation.

I hope that the take away from this for you is that the problem is with our political leaders, and that is where we need to apply pressure. Good luck, I know I try every chance I get to talk about such things with political leadership, but compared to the coal and utility lobbies I feel that I am no more than a fly not even worth swatting. My hope is that we will take this seriously enough to work together to get our voices heard.