The Trump administration A cartoon lump of coal has become an unusual weapon in the effort to revive the coal mines Coalcomplete with big eyes and a yellow mining garb called a “collie”.
The administration’s new mascot, kitted out with a helmet, boots and gloves, was introduced in an artificial intelligence-generated image posted online by Doug Burgum. Donald TrumpHome Secretary of “Mine, baby, mine!” Burgum wrote in Xadding that Coley will act as a “representative” for Trump’s “American Energy Dominance Agenda.”
Climate activists have criticized the administration’s latest attempt to boost the image of the dirty fossil fuel despite its impact on the planet and public health, with one critic describing it as “one of the most damning ways to produce energy our world has ever seen.”
Collie, who has the Japanese-style cuteness used in toys and animated characters with big eyes and a smile, is supposed to be an ambassador for the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), the US government agency responsible for regulating coal mines.
More pictures of Collie Appears on the OSMRE websitewhere an anthropomorphic hunk of carbon is depicted happily posing with an AI-generated family, standing on an office table with a cheeky wink during a meeting, and pointing to an abandoned coal mine that’s happily turned into a vacation spot.
Koli’s image was first created in 2018 when a social media manager at OSMRE drew Google’s attention to an image of Coal, According to to the grist. Coalie’s new public use to promote Trump’s agenda is the latest effort by the administration to revive the US coal industry, which has declined sharply over the past decade Despite the President’s promises To reverse the fortunes of the industry’s dwindling workforce.
“I have a little standing order in the White House,” Trump said during a speech at the United Nations last year. “Never use the word ‘coal’. Only use the words ‘clean, beautiful coal’. Sounds great, doesn’t it?”
Despite this branding, and attempts to make lump coal look good, coal is the dirtiest of fossil fuels, a staple. Driver Climate crisis and a source Toxic, deadly air pollution to nearby communities when cremated. Coal miners have long struggled with adverse health effects Black lung diseaseafter inhaling coal dust.
“I think it’s sickening … and that this administration and the US government is using AI to put a smiley face on one of the most damning ways our world has ever seen to generate energy,” said activist Junior Walk. Coal River Mountain Watch documented the effect of Coal mining in his West Virginia community.
“As climate change plunges us deeper into the mass extinction event we are all living with, and as many of my friends and neighbors are sickened and dying because of the coal industry’s activities, I continue to be haunted by the collie’s twisted laugh and extraordinary eyes.”
Trump signed an executive order to revive coal, put it on the national critical minerals list, halt planned closings of coal plants and scrap environmental regulations he blamed for the industry’s woes. However, coal The pain continues From market forces — renewables like gas and wind and solar are often cheaper and more attractive sources of power for utilities — and workers. lost to automation.
Minors with black lung disease, meanwhile, had to war The Trump administration’s move to roll back safety protections for the coal industry in the Republican-controlled Congress Ready to strip $500m from the budget for a fund to clean up old coal mines long after they’ve been abandoned, damaging the environment.
A spokesperson for OSMRE defended the use of the cartoon, saying it was an educational tool and “not a promotional symbol” and said it helped spread awareness of its projects, such as “turning abandoned mine lands into recreational parks and trails.”
“His cartoon format allows us to illustrate complex issues in ways that traditional graphics often can’t,” the spokesperson said.
“Coal Baseload Sec “Fire remains a critical resource that turns on the lights for homes, hospitals, military installations and essential infrastructure,” the spokesperson said.[Coalie] It draws attention to solutions by showing how regulation, renewables, and responsible stewardship are actively improving real-world conditions, while supporting a reliable and secure energy future for the nation.
The Department of Home Affairs has also been contacted for comment about the mascot.
