Catalogue Number
NMLH.2025.5.2
Object Name
envelope
Title
'Coal. The Fuel of the Future'
Place
Kirklees, Yorkshire, England, UK
People
National Union of Mineworkers
Events
1984-85 Miners' Strike
Description
A white envelope with a red inked stamp which reads 'Coal. The Fuel of the Future'.
This envelope was donated by Mr Jones, a coal miner who was active during the 1984-85 Miners' Strike. The envelope includes a message describing coal as 'the fuel of the future'. This messaging was important as the government was in the process of closing a significant number of UK coal mines. By drawing attention to the importance of coal, miners hoped to gain public support by encouraging those who saw this message to consider how coal use impacted their daily lives.
The pro-coal message takes on a new meaning when viewed from the perspective of the 2020s as society becomes increasingly aware of the urgent need to reduce or stop fossil fuel use to counter-act man-made climate change.
