UPDATED ON:
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
11:03 Mecca time, 08:03 GMT
Watch Now
FRONT PAGE
Africa  
Americas  
Asia-Pacific  
CENTRAL/S. ASIA  
Europe  
Middle East  
Focus  
Business  
Sport  
Programmes  
Weather  
Your Views  
Search 
Arabic 
About us  
 
 
INSIDE USA
America's real black gold

The coal industry has launched a massive PR campaign to promote "clean coal" [GALLO/GETTY]
This week, Inside USA travels to the coal mines of Illinois to look at America's dependence on coal, and the politics behind the fossil fuel.
 
Just below the surface of this election campaign runs a deep seam of coal. Half of America's electricity is generated by coal, producing 40 per cent of the country's greenhouse gases. 

Leading climate scientists have called for a moratorium on new coal-fired power plants, saying that addressing global warming means addressing America's dependence on coal.

The coal industry has fired back, launching a massive public relations campaign to re-brand this historically dirty fuel as "clean coal".

And the presidential candidates? On paper, both have ambitious plans to confront climate change, while on the campaign trail, both profess their loyalty to the coal industry – especially in key swing states.

Watch part one of this episode

Watch part two of this episode

This episode of Inside USA aired from Friday, August 08, 2008

To contact us click on 'Send your feedback' at the top of the page

Watch Al Jazeera English programmes on YouTube

Join our Your Views debates
 Source: Al Jazeera
Feedback Number of comments : 3
 
Ebrahim Al Mulla
United Arab Emirates		 10/08/2008
Americas real black gold
When the world is moving into the direction of Nuclear based power generation the US is still bent on using the age old fossil fuel. This maybe one of the reason for not signing the Koyto Agreement on greehouse issue. well developed nations need to put a piece of advise to admant nation. Enviornment is the first priority of today for survival.

Carl
Czech Republic 		17/08/2008
Americas Real Black Gold
To the previous poster. Do not forget nuclear power is not "clean". The world has yet to find a way to dispose of nuclear waste. Also do not forget the potential dangers posed by nuclear power. Search the internet for Chernobyl. How soon we forget? To say nuclear power is the sole solution is folly.

Sean C.
United Kingdom 		17/08/2008
Nuclear power? When the world cannot even properly dispose of the spent nuclear materials, increasing our reliance on this material, which is one of the most toxic materials known to man, would be the height of stupidity.

 
ARTICLE TOOLS
 Email Article  Email article
 Print Article  Print article
 Send Feedback  Send feedback
 Share article  Share article