William K. Wolfrum's picture

    CoalCares.org's clever hoax

    Head on over to CoalCares.org and take a look at the work they’ve done creating a spoof Web site for the purpose of creating discussion on the harm of coal plants as well as rising asthma rates.

    A snippet from the site:

    Another way Peabody is showing we care is by making it easier for families to purchase the medication that goes into each free inhaler actuator. Sign up now for the chance to obtain a $10 coupon off your child’s next prescription for asthma medication. Also, for every 1,000 inhaler actuators donated via Coal Cares™, Peabody will make a $500 donation towards the cost of one lung-replacement therapy. Order your Puff-Puff™ today!

    It seems some are taking the site seriously, which I imagine doesn’t much matter to the CleanCoal.org folks. Obviously the hope is that the wacky site will go viral. FastCompany.com is looking into who’s behind it and has a quote from Peabody Energy (who is supposedly “sponsoring” the site):

    Beth Sutton, from Peabody, who sounds like she’s not having a great day, sent us a statement extolling the benefits of coal use and energy production and confirming the site is fake:

    Earlier today, an activist group released a “spoof” website claiming to be sponsored by Peabody Energy. The site is in fact a hoax, making inaccurate claims about Peabody and coal.

    –WKW

    Crossposted at William K. Wolfrum Chronicles

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