When the Australian Minerals Council launched their million-dollar pro-coal advertising campaign yesterday, Australians for Coal, they weren’t expecting this. They were trying to build a movement of people committed to supporting good ol’ fashioned coal to power Australia’s energy needs for the next 100 years and beyond. But the Internet had better ideas.
The public response to #AustraliansForCoal is not only incredibly funny to follow, it also demonstrates that people are acutely aware of the big risks that a dependency on coal poses for our climate, air quality, and beautiful natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef. People want viable alternatives like solar and wind power to be embraced by our political leaders.
Scroll down and see our round-up of responses to #AustraliansForCoal below. And if you have any gems you’d like to share with us, just post them in the comments section underneath.
I’ve always wanted beachfront property even though I live inland #australiansforcoal
— Kate Carruthers (@kcarruthers) April 14, 2014
Because it’s not like energy just falls from the sky or anything. Haha – wouldn’t that be something? #australiansforcoal
— Tristan (@blondgecko) April 14, 2014
#australiansforcoal because we love being number one pic.twitter.com/DEYvqLDRwl
— iris herself (@irisherself) April 14, 2014
Because of all the flow-on jobs: climate scientists, emergency services workers, health workers, corruption officials…#australiansforcoal
— Quit Coal (@QuitCoalOz) April 14, 2014
Coal pollution: because 10/10 mining billionaires CAN’T be wrong! #australiansforcoal pic.twitter.com/AXfbRQak9k
— ACF (@AusConservation) April 14, 2014
Because coal is helping turn Australian communities into Mordor, which helps tourism #AustraliansForCoal pic.twitter.com/On9IsXsfPn
— Captain Ketan Joshi (@KetanJ0) April 14, 2014
i am bored with the coastlines being where they are and wish there was more violent weather and thats why i’m supporting #australiansforcoal
— Scott Ludlam (@SenatorLudlam) April 14, 2014
I support #australiansforcoal because I’ve never witnessed a mass extinction event and it sounds kind of cool.
— DameHollyAndHerHat (@Lee_Tennant) April 14, 2014
Because you’d have to be pretty stupid to support renewable energy #australiansforcoal @Austs4Coal pic.twitter.com/L6vWfAJtvg
— Greenpeace Aus Pac (@GreenpeaceAustP) April 14, 2014
I support #australiansforcoal because heavy particulate pollution works like a soft filter for my selfies.
— Sir Glengyron (@glengyron) April 14, 2014
Because coal is the new black #australiansforcoal
— Elsa Evers (@elsa_la_guerita) April 14, 2014
Because nothing good could ever come from changing our energy habits #australiansforcoal @Austs4Coal pic.twitter.com/PL4YKN20FV
— Greenpeace Aus Pac (@GreenpeaceAustP) April 14, 2014
Have you hugged your coal today? #australiansforcoal
— ACF (@AusConservation) April 14, 2014
Find more like this by searching the #AustraliansForCoal hashtag on Twitter.
