MNN - Mother Nature Network

Jan. 24, 1995: New agreements on limiting the spread of chemical and nuclear weapons are urged by U.S. President Bill Clinton in his annual State of the Union address.

 

Jan. 24, 2002: U.S. President George W. Bush brings a welcome message to the heart of American coal country. "In order to become less dependent on foreign sources of energy, we've got to find and produce more energy at home, including coal," said Bush in Charleston, W.Va. "I believe that we can have coal production and enhanced technologies in order to make sure the coal burns cleaner," he added. "I believe we can have both."

 

Jan. 24, 2006: What is called the worst oil spill in 30 years in Australia takes place on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (at right). A tugboat collides with the coal carrier Global Peace, piercing a fuel tank and spilling an estimated 25 metric tons (about 7,000 gallons) of heavy oil into mangrove swamps and along a bathing beach in the port of Gladstone, Queensland.

 

Jan. 24, 2012:  In his annual State of the Union address, President Obama pleases multiple energy lobbies with plugs for oil, clean coal, natural gas, and renewables.   He mentions “climate”  only once, citing deep disagreement between the two parties.