Fracking colouring books ain't fit for kids

Back in Grade 3, I remember reading a comic book called Mickey and Goofy Explore the Universe of Energy. The comic, put out by Exxon and given away at the Epcot Center at Walt Disney World in Florida, extolled the virtues of oil and explained the need to drill for petroleum anywhere we could find it, including Alaska.

I must have read that thing a hundred times. I'm pretty sure it's where I learned the word hydrocarbons.

Of course, back then, I had no idea that I was consuming energy-industry propaganda. And, as it turns out, this practice isn't a thing of the past.

This summer, Talisman Energy sparked controversy with its kids' colouring book, Talisman Terry’s Energy Adventure. Narrated by the titular "Fracosaurus", the book purports to "teach" readers about natural gas but says nothing about the company's many environmental violations. Terry, despite the kind of dinosaur he is, doesn't even bother to get into the controversial drilling technique known as fracking. Our "friendly" Fracosaurus states:

Natural Gas is a clean-burning fossil fuel. It is one of the cleanest, safest, and most useful of all energy sources.

Thankfully, the colouring book garnered unfavourable news coverage and got spoofed on The Colbert Report. Ultimately, Talisman was forced to withdraw its child-unfriendly propaganda.

Talisman Terry’s Energy Adventure

You can follow Stephen Hui on Facebook and Twitter.