Reasons Why Mining Should Remain in History
Years ago, mining was an important (albeit dangerous) profession, where workers would travel underground to collect tin and coal, in order to provide fuel and construction materials.
However all climate change experts now say that likely one of the best ways to help make things better for our planet is to stop the use of fossil fuels.
The easiest way for us to do this is to simply switch to companies like Ecotricity for energy (this company does not burn abattoir waste to generate electricity, and makes gas from grass!) It also offers business and charity tariffs.
It also does not support fracking (making gas by drilling into the ground, which in some cases can cause cancer and taps even have fire coming out of them, instead of water).
Thankfully it looks like the previous government’s plans to build a new coal mine in Cumbria (which would have destroyed local nature and wildlife) has now been dropped. It was due to be built near Whitehaven, once one of England’s largest ports.
Friends of the Earth said that local land would have been contaminated and sea life impacted, especially since we don’t need coal anymore.
The claim that mining would provide jobs is debunked. By the fact that insulating all of England’s homes and investing in cleaner energy provides more jobs than that anyway.
The History of Coal Power Stations
Coal once powered nearly all of England, but now due to climate change, the mines have closed down. The planned one in Cumbria thankfully was never opened, due to local protests.
Coal has always carried a heavy environmental cost. From greenhouse gases to choking smog, the true price of coal is now plain to see. Countries have responded with strict laws and clean-up efforts.
Coal’s Role in Climate Emissions
Coal is one of the biggest sources of carbon dioxide on the planet, also releases methane and toxic ash. Around 40% of the world’s energy-related carbon emissions come from coal. It’s a main driver behind global warming, rising sea levels, and air pollution.
In 2008, the UK set clear carbon reduction goals with the Climate Change Act. Coal, the most polluting fossil fuel, became an obvious target. These strict rules forced power plants to rethink how they operate.
Yet in the USA, President Trump is now reviving old coal mines, in a bid to ‘make America great again’, which will have huge environmental consequences for the world.
The Guardian reports that the administration is now allocating 13.1 million acres of public land to coal mining, despite it having rapid decline in the last 30 years. Despite coal pollution being linked to thousands of deaths including asthma and cardiac events.
The Trump administration is hell-bent on supporting the oldest, dirtiest energy source. This is a colossal waste of money, when the federal government should be spurring along the new energy sources that could help bring down electricity bills for struggling families. National Resources Defense Council.
The History of Battersea Power Station
Battersea Power Station is almost as well known as Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. One of the world’s largest brick buildings, this coal-fired power station on the River Thames has long since been converted into shops.
Built in the late 1920s (the second station was added in the late 1930s), the building remained empty for years, before being converted. Today it’s owned by Malaysian investors.
When coal was the main power in England, the power station was providing around a fifth of energy needs (a fire on the night that BBC2 was due to launch, caused the station to have to delay and launch the next morning).
When first proposed in 1927, people didn’t want it (one Conservative MP warned that the power station would ‘kill every green thing within 2 miles, rot the buildings and bleach all the babies). Many people were concerned about soot and even King George V protested.
Some local residents who did love the power station’s heat were around 200 feral cats, but tragically, not-very-nice people killed all bar six of them.
One person who wasn’t a fan was straight-talking Prince Philip. He was reported to have asked one owner of the newly renovated building: ‘Why don’t you just knock the bloody thing down?’
