Chapotraphouse

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‘It’s sick’: Trump administration uses mascot called ‘Coalie’ to push dirtiest fossil fuel (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 2 weeks ago by thelastaxolotl@hexbear.net to c/chapotraphouse@hexbear.net

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The Trump administration has turned to an unusual weapon in its attempt to resurrect coal mining – a cartoon lump of coal, complete with giant eyes and yellow mining garb, called “Coalie”.

The administration’s new mascot, kitted out with a helmet, boots and gloves, was introduced in a seemingly artificial intelligence-generated picture posted online by Doug Burgum, Donald Trump’s interior secretary.

“Mine, Baby, Mine!” Burgum wrote on X, adding that Coalie will act as a “spokesperson” for Trump’s “American Energy Dominance Agenda”.

Climate activists criticized the latest attempt by the administration to boost the image of the dirtiest fossil fuel despite its effects on the planet and public health, with one critic describing it as “one of the most heinous ways to produce energy that our world has ever seen”.

Coalie, whose large eyes and grin appears to invoke a Japanese style of cuteness used in toys and animated characters, is to be an ambassador for the office of surface mining reclamation and enforcement (OSMRE), the US government agency responsible for regulating coalmines.

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[–] KuroXppi@hexbear.net 12 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Coalie, whose large eyes and grin appears to invoke a Japanese style of cuteness used in toys and animated characters

:thing-japanese:

[–] bobs_guns@lemmygrad.ml 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I've gotta say that does not look particularly Japanese to me. Animated characters from America also have big eyes, and the eyes on this strike me as drawn in a more American style. Just because a character doesn't have the Calarts smile doesn't mean it's a Japanese-style character. To be honest, it's more of a PragerU style.

[–] KuroXppi@hexbear.net 7 points 2 weeks ago

Yep, the attribution of anything cute as originating in Japanese kawaii aesthetic is a very frustrating trend and simplistic understanding of mascot culture and comic design.