Before you defend COAL, Learn about ASTROTURF!!

It is mindboggling to think about the sheer amount of common sense it takes to discover what "Astroturf marketing" is. When you discover what it truly means, and how it's being used to deceive you, it may come as a shock.

So what is Astroturf marketing?

Astroturf Marketing, also known as "Astroturfing," is the artificial creation of a grassroots buzz for a product, service or political viewpoint. Commercially-motivated astroturfing is called "Astroturf marketing." Astroturf marketing has a negative connotation, primarily because disreputable marketers have used deceptive tactics to build their buzz by taking advantage of the anonymity the internet provides.Source.

Astroturf Marketing is generally supported by lobbyists in Washington working alongside corporate interests (or vice versa.) Essentially, the corporations, eager to get rid of a "bad rap" they have received for a product or service, will hire Astroturf marketers to create misleading, sometimes deceitful ads and campaigns designed to put a company, product, or service in a more favorable position. It is also used by lobbyists to help support ill-intentioned legislation.

The overall design of an Astroturf campaign is to make it look as if it were organized entirely by grassroots organizations. This means hiring actors, creating front organizations, and even obtaining false or misleading scientific research to back up their claims. If you are an avid watcher of CNN, FOX, or any other major news networks, you may notice the sheer bombardment of Astroturf campaigns you may be exposed to on a regular basis.

The reason behind such exposure is due to the almost limitless influx of cash being routed into these fake grassroots organizations. This is because, unlike real, traditional grassroots movements, cash is not coming from people like you and me – they are instead being fed by large, multinational corporations. Once exposed, the interests of these organizations are obvious.
Take the "Clean Coal" movement. Aside from the fact that the ads themselves state that in "10 or 20 years" they will obtain the technology to burn "low emission" coal, the ads tend to give people the impression that we already have the technology to burn coal cleanly.

Now why would we get that impression?

Because that's exactly what they want you to believe. So even though coal is one of the most life threatening, heaviest pollutants on the planet, these advertisers want you to "deal with it" for now while the coal companies search for the "holy grail" of clean coal production, which may or may not happen.

What they are not telling us is about strip mining operations that are taking place in search of coal, or the dangers miners and their families are facing, or the cancer agents present in burning the coal (just look at china), or a myriad of other issues for that matter.

What they have you doing is defending an industry that yes – provides thousands of jobs for Americans, but is just as bad as the oil industry. Hundreds of thousands of people have fallen victim to this sort of marketing effort, and it's time to expose it for what it truly is – B.S.
We are so concerned over the lives and welfare of thousands of Americans whom are employed by the coal industry, when we should be concerned about the alternative energy sources that would likely provide not only more jobs than the coal industry, but would aid in saving the lives of millions of people throughout the world on a yearly basis.

So you see – many of you are supporting an oxymoronic industry. I hear you attacking Obama for saying that he'll bankrupt coal companies, not realizing that in truth this needs to be done if we are to do something about global warming – that is if you are a believer in global warming.
Don't be slaves to groupthink. Make up your own minds and do your own research. Don't think for a second that anyone who claims they would do it for you will be entirely honest.

For more research, click on the following links:

http://www. prwatch. org/taxonomy/term/105
http://www. sourcewatch. org/index. php?title=American_Coalition_for_Clean_Coal_Electricity
http://energysmart. wordpress. com/2007/12/19/astroturfing-the-political-discussion/more-423

Stay educated, and you will stay strong...

~One.