Coal

"Prized as "the best stone in Britain" by Roman invaders who carved jewelry out of it, coal has transformed societies, launched empires, and expanded frontiers. It made China a 12th-century superpower, inspired the writing of The Communist Manifesto, and helped the northern states win the American Civil War.". "Yet the mundane mineral that built our global economy - and even today powers our electrical plants - has also caused death, disease, and environmental destruction. As early as 1306 King Edward I tried to ban coal (unsuccessfully) because its smoke became so obnoxious. Its recent…