The WV Mine Disaster: Where Was the "Canary in the Coal Mine"?

These song birds were pleasant and faithful guardians of miner's until just a couple decades ago and people might be surprised to find out just why canaries were replaced by modern sensors, which apparently were little help at the recent mine disaster and explosion due to gas at Montcoal. One of the leading reasons for banishing these feathered friends of miners was this:

New electronic detectors will replace the bird because they are said to be cheaper in the long run and more effective

You read that right. Modern technology is "cheaper in the long run" than canaries. Cost-cutting is only justifiable if mine safety is not sacrificed. One wonders if the 29 who were killed would have suffered that fate if canaries were singing down there with them. Modern technology apparently gave no clear alarm for the miners to heed in time.

Should the use of the "canary in the coal mine" be restored?

clipped from www.msha.gov THE COAL MINER'S CANARY clipped from en.wikipedia.org Miner's canary Canaries were once regularly used in coal mining as an early warning system.[1] Toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and methane in the mine would kill the bird before affecting the miners. Because canaries tend to sing much of the time, they provided both a visual and audible cue in this respect. The use of so called miner's canaries in British mines was phased out in 1987.[2] clipped from www.wsaz.com BREAKING NEWS: Four Missing Miners Found Dead Inside Mine, 29 Killed During Monday's Blast During an early morning news conference, Governor Joe Manchin announced that the four missing miners were found dead inside the mine. A federal investigation into what caused Monday's explosion will begin next week. SATURDAY 12:30am Final Press Briefing clipped from news.bbc.co.uk 1986: Coal mine canaries made redundant New electronic detectors will replace the bird because they are said to be cheaper in the long run and more effective The canary is particularly sensitive to toxic gases such as carbon monoxide

Obama Comes Clean on Coal With Capito and Republicans: To Be "Put Out of Business...Not Right Away"

Here in this MSNBC video where President Obama met with Republicans to square off in some debate (where he proves to be extraordinarily skilled at both recitation and rhetorical presentation of facts for debate purposes, without a script or teleprompter) he finally comes clean on his policy for coal.  This clip shows Rep. Capito questioning Obama on this issue important to all West Virginians and his response.  This should remove any doubts that in the long term Obama's goal is to "put the old [i.e. energy source--coal] out of business", just not "right away".  These are his words addressed directly to Capito's forthright question below (after mentioning he has met and enjoyed working with Governor Manchin, a "divide and conquer" strategy).  Note Obama ducks for water and prepares himself as if he knows the question coming.

The ambiguity is now removed.  The Obama administration wants coal phased out "in the long run".  Governor Manchin should mark this whenever he deals or meets again with the President or his EPA administration.  Senator Byrd has already alluded to this long term policy by pushing back West Virginians from making harsh criticism.  Is this why Obama never campaigned in West Virginia?  Will West Virginia be "phased out" as a major energy supplier "in the long run"?  This is what "change" is all about in the energy policy front, and here in West Virginia.  Now everyone knows for certain which way the "powers that be" are pushing.

It appears that Rep. Capito formed her Coal Caucus just in time, which just added Rep. Mollahan (D) to its ranks to form a defense against this aggressive (and rather Statist) policy to control energy industries for a Utopian global agenda.

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