The True Cost of Coal
By Victor
Bivell
Eco Investor
December 2009
Australians
pay a lot for our political theatre, but we have certainly been getting
our money's worth recently. The Renewable Energy Target, the Emissions
Trading Scheme, a world conference in Copenhagen, and now a high stakes
change of leadership at the Liberal Party that is sure to prolong the
drama.
But the politicians
and the business people, if we can continue the theatrical metaphor a
little longer, are just supporting actors. The main character in this
play, around the world but especially in Australia, is Mr Coal.
So what sort
of character is Coal? A good guy or a villain?
As in any good
literature, his character has been developing. Coal first hit the big
time at the opening of the industrial revolution where he and his co-star
Mr Wood were the only characters able to perform the heavy, energetic
roles. But Wood was over committed with other roles in building and Coal
took the lead role.
From the very
start of his career, Coal was a three dimensional character with a strong
mixture of good and bad. He had the talent to move trains and other heavy
machinery, pump out enormous amounts of power, keep whole countries warm
at night, and he helped to create fabulous wealth.
So good was
he at this role that despite the many upstarts rehearsing backstage, 200
years later he is still the star in most theatres around the world.
But Mr Coal
came at a very high price. His gardening habits were always controversial
as he likes to digs up great chunks of the landscape, including verdant
paradises.
But it was
the way he treated his staff that got most attention. Whole towns have
spent their life times not enjoying nature's green land or yellow sun,
but underground in sweaty choking blackness, day in and day out until
they died.
And in Mr Coal's
mines around the world many of them died early - hundreds of thousands,
men and children. Has anyone ever added up the total number of people
who have died at the hands of Mr Coal? Is it in the millions? And these
dramatic deaths brought financial and emotional ruin to countless families.
How many other
characters have brought so much warmth and misery, wealth and poverty,
at the same time?
If that leaves
you gasping, well, Coal leaves many people gasping, and those gasps can
turn into serious respiratory problems. Just ask the health budget and
the economy.
And Coal needs
a massive supporting entourage. Expensive railway lines that crisscross
the country. Expensive power stations to burn coal by the train load.
Expensive transmission lines to carry electricity around the continent.
Expensive ports to send Coal on his endless overseas trips.
And now we
have a new phenomenon. Even though he is getting old and many people want
him to make room for up and coming actors, there are those who do not
want him to retire.
So big is Coal's
supporting cast, so big his fan club, that whole towns are threatening
to go into mourning and close up if he leaves the stage.
Coal turkey
is not for them! The only thing that will placate their expected misery
is money by the train load. If they can't have wagons full of coal, they
want wagons full of cash.
And in the
latest act, there is a group of new characters who say Coal is going to
help flood the world, not with power or cash or warmth, but water. Enough
water to drown their beach houses and shacks and maybe a few cities too.
Millions may have to find somewhere else to live. Who will take the moral
high ground and is there enough high ground for everyone?
Now the plot
may really thicken. Can Mr Coal clean up his act and how much will it
cost? Or will he go the way of Mr Tobacco and Mr Asbestos and move from
highly acclaimed appearances to court appearances? Is this another subplot
in the wings?
Mr Coal's
career has been a dense drama of good and evil. Fantastic wealth acquired
through the tragic death of maybe millions. He has exposed the best and
worst of man. And with the tide now changing the ending is still a mystery.
But the story
is not without humour. The funniest thing is that there are still people
who claim Coal is cheap! But then every piece of serious literature needs
a few laugh lines.
This article
also appeared in The
Business Australian
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