Our Poisoned World
Local View: 6 team members of the Philadelphia Phillies died of the same type of cancer which was determined to be linked to PFAs (“forever chemicals”) that were in the turf that was previously in use.
Global View: The Washington Post has reported that “nearly everyone is exposed to unhealthy levels of tiny pollutants.”
“99% of the global population breathes in potentially dangerous amounts of these pollutants, known as PM 2.5” according to new findings. These nasty particles have direct consequences for you and your family including increased likelihood of “heart disease or lung cancer.”
Here’s Mother Jones fact checking the climate science from an episode of Aaron Sorkin’s The Newsroom back in 2014.
It’s about 10 years later… and, well, we’ve been talking about global warming and climate change for a while…
A hopeful outshot. There are scientists out there who still believe we can roll back damage we’ve done to the planet and not all is lost. Yes, future generations are likely stuck dealing with tragic climate devastation as the result of terrible practices used by major corporations over the last hundred years. No, that does not mean that Gen Z and Gen Alpha and those just being born now are going to live in a barren hellscape.
The bar keeps moving with regards to how much time we have left (in any at all) to avoid some of the most catastrophic effects of climate change. A common number floating around for a few years has been 2030.
These changes we need to make by 2030 are to prevent a “Really Bad” life for humans in 2050. The rest of the planet is not likely thrilled about the impact either.
Focusing on limiting sea level rise as much as possible is necessary.
New methods of conservation will help us refocus our efforts on best practices. This involves a partial step away from humancentric thinking and consider how we can preserve ecosystems and natural spaces that will, in turn, benefit humanity after all.
As I often mention, the lion share of the burden falls on large corporations who are the worst climate criminals. Being mindful insofar as personality responsibility is reasonable though of limited concern by comparison. Individuals can do good work by engaging in shifting the dialogue and pushing local, state, and federal governmental changes that will help humanity somehow MacGyver our way out of this one.
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News out today, March 8, 2023, from The Guardian highlights the ten areas in the U.S. (one of which I lived in) that are “the 10 worst places to live in the US for air pollution.”
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