Why did students flash mob coal executives? Read the blog to find out the dirty energy truth behind Wash U.
This Monday, Washington University hosted a forum called "America's Energy Future", featuring:
- Richard A. Meserve, AEF committee member, president of the Carnegie Institution, and former chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission;
- Martha Schlicher, vice president, biofuels, Monsanto;
- Steven F. Leer, president and CEO, Arch Coal;
- Fred Palmer, senior vice president of government relations, Peabody Energy;
- Dan Cole, senior vice president, Ameren Corporation.
There was ZERO representation from solar, wind, and geothermal! This is not OUR REAL energy future. To go more in depth as to why this is happening at Wash U. Here is an excerpt from the press release:
"in particular, students wish to highlight the close relationship between the university administration and the coal industry. Students have already expressed unease that the University is "too cozy" with coal. The university announced in August that Gregory Boyce, the CEO of Peabody Coal, and Steve Leer, the CEO of ArchCoal, were named to Washington University's Board of Trustees. St. Louis-based Peabody Coal is the nation's largest coal company. The University has also dedicated $60 million in financial resources to the creation of a Consortium for Clean Coal Utilization. The name of this consortium has sparked controversy among many students and faculty, who have argued that the industry term "clean coal" has no place in scientific research. (See "Students and Faculty Critique 'Clean Coal'", Student Life, March 30, 2009 and "Concerned About The New Trustees," August 28, 2009.)
This event also comes in the wake of a report from the National Academy of Sciences that demonstrates the hidden costs of coal, totalling $62 billion per year in external damages. A report recently released from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance also demonstrated that 36 states including MO could meet their energy needs entirely through renewable energy."
In response, a collaborative effort stormed the campus to hold an afternoon protest and press conference followed by an evening flash mob during the reception of the "America's Energy Future" symposium. During the flash mob, the students invited symposium attendees to the REAL Energy Future symposium that displayed and discussed the work of two Wash U students who researched political and engineering capacities of wind and solar. Both of these students agreed that wind and solar were for the short and long-term!
For photos of the event, check out: www.flickr.com/photos/44307404@N04/
Also, what is Wash U really doing with the Clean Coal Consortium. Check it out at www.cleancoalwustl.org
Please forward and respond. University of Kentucky and Coal River
-Brett
One who dont know about it
All that is beautiful mens
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