Coal Propaganda for Kids

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The coal industry seems to be taking an ever-greater interest in children—not their future, natch, but what they’re coloring. A few months ago we highlighted a “clean coal” coloring book aimed at developing youthful enthusiasm for coal-generated power. Today we find yet another coloring book homage to the industry featuring anthropomorphized lumps of coal.

This one comes from the West Virginia Coal Association, “a trade association representing more than 90 percent of the state’s underground and surface coal mine production” (see a list of members here.)

It explains that coal is a major source of electricity (without, however, noting that it’s not the only form of electricity). It also features lumps of coal bathing and being cleaned off by a dog—which I’m fairly certain is an entirely new definition of “clean” coal. Actually, it kind of undermines the idea that coal is clean if it has to be washed, no? 

 

Think Progress has more.

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So we’re going to try making this as un-annoying as possible. In “Let the Facts Speak for Themselves” we give it our best shot, answering three questions that most any fundraising should try to speak to: Why us, why now, why does it matter?

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