Coal to chemical production is in China where coal dependent provinces such as Shanxi are struggling to control its pollution. Refined coal is the product of a coal-upgrading technology that removes moisture and certain pollutants from lower-rank coals such as sub-bituminous and lignite (brown) coals. It is one form of several precombustion treatments and processes for coal that alter coal's characteristics before it is burned. Thermal efficiency improvements are achievable by improved pre-drying (especially relevant with high-moisture fuel such as lignite or biomass).The goals of precombustion coal technologies are to increase efficiency and reduce emissions when the coal is burned. Precombustion
Andrew Brown (writer) attacked Harris for what he has described as Harris' advocacy of torture in situations where we are willing to accept collateral damage (i.e.; from bombing, etc.), as it relates to fighting the war on terror. Brown has criticised Richard Dawkins for what he calls the cult of personality that has grown around him and his positions. He is also sceptical of the scientific concept of memes, as developed by Dawkins. Brown has described himself as someone for whom "Christianity is only true backwards." He has written that he is "constantly astonished by the way in which the Church of England