Coal ship grounded on the Great Barrier Reef

I had hoped to use the 'Two for one' label in this blog for tips on sustainable living.

Now we have a 'two for one' environmental disaster.

A coal carrying ship, containing 60,000 tons of coal, bound from Australia to China to fuel coal fired power stations or steel mills (1), has gone aground (2).

Oil is leaking and threatens the reef. The Chinese captain was traveling through the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, and should not have been. The Queensland Government failed to provide a pilot to take the ship safely away from the Marine Park, and safely through the dangerous waters of the reef.

Ethical Dilemma: I have heard that more coal miners die in China than anywhere else, seven per week on average. Should Australia export coal to China on humanitarian grounds, or ban exports (fat chance) because coal burning contributes to Global Warming?

If China mined all it's own coal, the death rate would rise. The quality of its coal is probably lower, containing more other pollutants. As against that, thousands of people throughout the world are already dying because of atmospheric pollution, and especially as a result of Global Warming.

My verdict: close down coal mining everywhere. Renewable energy is available in many forms and locations. What is lacking is public awareness, public outrage and activism, public engagement in politics, political courage, corporate responsibility, research and development, investment.