...watch this video, which is on the front page of the NY Times this morning. The gist: coal sludge and tailings are in the drinking water of families who live near mining operations in America. The video profiles Jennifer Hall-Massey of Prenter, West Virginia, who fears for her children's lives, but is unable to sell her home because of the contamination surrounding her.
So if any policymaker, lobbyist, or energy expert tells you clean coal is our nation's energy future, remember this quote from Hall-Massey:
Make no mistake -- this country runs on coal. If you turn on the lights, use the internet, or take electricity from the grid in any way, it is almost certainly coming from a coal-fired power plant. And coal is killing people -- something to consider as you read these words and realize that my laptop, your computer, and the server hosting these words all contributed to the death of a young person whose greatest crime was being born in coal country.
NOTE: this video is the tip of the iceberg in a massive report called "Toxic Waters" that the Times is running. If you're concerned about the quality of the water where you live, you should check out this online feature that charts violations to the Clean Water Act nationwide.
Tags: Chemistry, Conservation, Pollution
comments ( )