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Keeping track of new coal - interactively
Posted by jossc on 5 November 2008.
The good folk at the Public Interest Research Centre (PIRC) recently made an inspired contribution to the anti-coal crusade that's springing up around the country - they've just launched an online map of all the places that the coal industry is planning to dig and build new opencast mines and new power stations. It's interactive, zoomable, and full of information about the sizes of the mines and power stations being planned. Worryingly, there are more than a few.
But that's not all - click another button and you can see all the existing mines and power stations which make up the UK coal industry and, should you so desire, you can zoom in to reveal them in all their grimy glory. The map is intended as as living document that wil be updated as new information is added. And this is where you can help, because PIRC is asking for people to send in information about their local power plants, mines and planning applications. So, if you’re campaigning against coal in your part of the world, drop them a line and become a contributor.
This is a welcome addition to the growing opposition to new coal projects in the UK, pulling all the data about each proposal into one easily accessible site, which is great news. The bad news is that there are an awful lot of proposed new sites for opencast mines, on top of the six places the government would like to see new power stations. And we know that if the coal is dug out of the ground it will get burnt, and we know that if it gets burnt, and if we go on burning coal instead of investing in clean, safe energy sources like renewables, then we’re all in a lot of trouble.
So go and have a look at the map, and see if there's a new coal-fired power station or opencast mine about to rear its ugly head in your neighbourhood in the near future. If there is, then look for a local group to join and start opposing the planning process (groups have already formed in Scotland, South Wales, Shopshire, Derbyshire, Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire). And if no local group has formed yet, maybe it's time you started one yourself?
Coal finger
Hi,
I'm liking the give coal the boot campaign it seems quite efective so far and I fully support your opposition to new coal.
But I found the coalfinger cartoon seemed to make greenpeace look a bit silly, others have also said the same to me. A clear quantatative comparison of coal and clean energy needs to be drawn up, this is more likely to persuade sceptics of the energy revolution.
JetG. rescue diver extraordinaire.
silly to some, but news to others
Hi Jethro,
Sorry to hear you don't like it, if only everyone was as clued up on coal as you. The truth is that most people in the UK don't know that the government is considering a new generation of coal-fired power stations or what we need to do about it.
With the animation we are trying to reach beyond our current friends, allies and supporters and nudge a part of the population that isn't aware of what is going on.
This means that we have to go outside our comfort zone, cut through all the other infotainment out there and make new coal in the UK and issue for everyone. Personally I am prepared to do whatever it takes to stop a new generation of inefficient, polluting coal power stations from being built, even if that means looking a little bit silly (wouldn't be the first time actually).
Tracy
gpuk