Dear EarthTalk: Who are the “Clean Air Ambassadors” and what are they trying to accomplish? - Brenda Coughlin, Pittsburgh, PA
Clean Air Ambassadors are everyday folks from across the U.S. who have committed to speaking up for everyone’s right to breathe clean, healthy air.
Credit: Thinkstock
Clean Air Ambassadors are everyday folks from across the U.S. who have committed to speaking up for everyone’s right to breathe clean, healthy air. The effort is part of the “50 States United for Healthy Air” campaign, a joint endeavor of Earthjustice, the American Nurses Association, the Hip Hop Caucus, the National Council of Churches and Physicians for Social Responsibility. In the spring of 2011 these Ambassadors—people from all 50 states and every walk of life—convened in Washington, D.C. to ask members of Congress, leaders at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and high-ranking officials in the Obama administration for stronger protections against air pollution.
Earthjustice, which specializes in litigating on behalf of environmental causes, initiated the effort as part of its larger “Right to Breathe” campaign.“Every year, many people young and old get sick because of air pollution,” reports Earthjustice. “Clean air should be a fundamental right.”
According to the American Lung Association (ALA), the most widespread kinds of air pollution are ozone (smog) and particle pollution (soot). “When inhaled, ozone irritates the lungs, resulting in something like a bad sunburn within the lungs,” reports the group. “Breathing in particle pollution can increase the risk of early death, heart attacks, strokes and emergency room visits for people with asthma, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.” In its 2012 “State of the Air” report, ALA reports that 127 million Americans—some 40 percent of our population—live in counties where either ground-level ozone or particle pollution is frequently at dangerous levels, despite significant progress in cleaning up the nation’s air since 1970.
While there are many sources of air pollution, dirty power plants are among the biggest culprits. The ALA reports that over 400 coal-fired power plants across the country “are among the largest contributors to particulate pollution, ozone, mercury, and global warming.” In 2011, the EPA issued the final rules that will cut the emissions that create ozone and particle pollution and, for the first time, set national limits on the toxic pollutants they can emit. While Earthjustice and other groups have challenged the EPA for not going far enough, the ALA is defending the plan as significant enough to warrant implementation.
Of course, everyone can play a part in cleaning up air pollution. The ALA recommends driving less, using less electricity, refraining from burning wood or trash, and making sure local school systems require cleaner school buses. Even better, get involved: “Participate in your community’s review of its air pollution plans and support state and local efforts to clean up air pollution.” Finding a local air pollution control agency is now as easy as steering a web browser to the National Association of Clean Air Agencies’ 4cleanair.org website.
While there are no plans for another visit to Washington, D.C. by Clean Air Ambassadors in the near future, concerned citizens can do their part and join thousands of others in signing on to Earthjustice’s “Right to Breathe Declaration” that calls on the federal government to require major air polluters to utilize existing technologies to significantly reduce the amount of air pollution coming out of their smokestacks.
CONTACTS: Earthjustice, www.earthjustice.org; ALA, www.lung.org; 4cleaair, www.4cleanair.org.Earthjustice, which specializes in litigating on behalf of environmental causes, initiated the effort as part of its larger “Right to Breathe” campaign.“Every year, many people young and old get sick because of air pollution,” reports Earthjustice. “Clean air should be a fundamental right.”
According to the American Lung Association (ALA), the most widespread kinds of air pollution are ozone (smog) and particle pollution (soot). “When inhaled, ozone irritates the lungs, resulting in something like a bad sunburn within the lungs,” reports the group. “Breathing in particle pollution can increase the risk of early death, heart attacks, strokes and emergency room visits for people with asthma, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.” In its 2012 “State of the Air” report, ALA reports that 127 million Americans—some 40 percent of our population—live in counties where either ground-level ozone or particle pollution is frequently at dangerous levels, despite significant progress in cleaning up the nation’s air since 1970.
While there are many sources of air pollution, dirty power plants are among the biggest culprits. The ALA reports that over 400 coal-fired power plants across the country “are among the largest contributors to particulate pollution, ozone, mercury, and global warming.” In 2011, the EPA issued the final rules that will cut the emissions that create ozone and particle pollution and, for the first time, set national limits on the toxic pollutants they can emit. While Earthjustice and other groups have challenged the EPA for not going far enough, the ALA is defending the plan as significant enough to warrant implementation.
Of course, everyone can play a part in cleaning up air pollution. The ALA recommends driving less, using less electricity, refraining from burning wood or trash, and making sure local school systems require cleaner school buses. Even better, get involved: “Participate in your community’s review of its air pollution plans and support state and local efforts to clean up air pollution.” Finding a local air pollution control agency is now as easy as steering a web browser to the National Association of Clean Air Agencies’ 4cleanair.org website.
While there are no plans for another visit to Washington, D.C. by Clean Air Ambassadors in the near future, concerned citizens can do their part and join thousands of others in signing on to Earthjustice’s “Right to Breathe Declaration” that calls on the federal government to require major air polluters to utilize existing technologies to significantly reduce the amount of air pollution coming out of their smokestacks.
In Spanish:
Querido DiálogoEcológico: ¿Quiénes son los "Embajadores del Aire Limpio" y qué están tratando de lograr? - Brenda Coughlin, Pittsburgh, PA
Los Embajadores del Aire Limpio son gente ordinaria través de EEUU que se han comprometido a defender en nombre de todo el mundo el derecho de respirar aire limpio y sano
Los Embajadores del Aire Limpio son ciudadanos ordinarios a través de EEUU que se han comprometido a defender en nombre de todos el derecho de respirar aire limpio y sano. El esfuerzo forma parte de la campaña “50 Estados Unidos Para el Aire Sano", una iniciativa conjunta de Earthjustice, la Asociación de Enfermeras Norteamericanas, el Comité Hip Hop, el Consejo Nacional de Iglesias y Physicians for Social Responsibility [Médicos En favor de Responsabilidad Social]. En la primavera de 2011 estos Embajadores—personas de 50 estados y de diverso origen—se reunieron en Washington, D.C. para pedir a los miembros del congreso, los líderes de la Agencia de Protección del Medio Ambiente de EEUU (EPA) y funcionarios de alto rango en la administración de Obama, protecciones más fuertes contra la contaminación atmosférica.
Earthjustice, que se especializa en litigar en favor de causas ambientales, inició el esfuerzo como parte de su más grande campaña de "Derecho a Respirar". "Todos los años, mucha gente, joven y anciana, se enferma a causa de la contaminación atmosférica," indica Earthjustice. "El aire limpio debería ser un derecho fundamental".
Según la Asociación Pulmonar de EEUU (ALA), las clases más esparcidas de contaminación atmosférica son ozonos (smog) y contaminación de partícula (hollín). "Cuando se inhala, el ozono irrita los pulmones, teniendo como resultado algo como una mala quemadura de sol dentro de los pulmones," reporta el grupo. "El aspirar contaminación de partícula puede aumentar el riesgo de muerte temprana, los infartos, derrames cerebrales, y visitas a la sala de urgencias por personas con asma, enfermedades cardiovasculares y diabetes". En su informe "Estado del Aire", de 2012, ALA indica que 127 millones de norteamericanos—40 por ciento de nuestra población—vive en condados donde el ozono a nivel de suelo o la contaminación de partícula se ven frecuentemente a niveles peligrosos, a pesar del progreso impresionante que se ha hecho para limpiar el aire de la nación desde 1970.
Aunque hay muchas fuentes de contaminación atmosférica, las centrales eléctricas sucias están entre los culpables más grandes. ALA señala que más de 400 centrales eléctricas a través del país que queman carbón "están entre los contribuyentes más grandes a la contaminación particulada, el ozono, el mercurio, y el calentamiento climático". En 2011, la EPA publicó las reglas finales que [se espera] reducirán las emisiones que crean contaminación de ozono y partícula, y los límites nacionales que por primera vez se aplicarán a los contaminantes tóxicos que pueden emitir. Aunque Earthjustice y otros grupos han desafiado la EPA por no ir suficientemente lejos, ALA defiende el plan considerándolo importante como para justificar implementación.
Por supuesto, cada persona puede jugar un rol en la limpieza de la contaminación atmosférica. ALA recomienda hacer menos viajes en auto, utilizar menos electricidad, abstenerse de quemar madera o basura, y asegurarse que los sistemas escolares locales requieran autobuses escolares más limpios. Aún mejor, involúcrate: "Participe en el estudio de los planes de su comunidad sobre contaminación atmosférica y apoye los esfuerzos locales y estatales para limpiar tal contaminación". Encontrar una agencia local de control de contaminación atmosférica es ahora tan fácil como dirigir un navegador Internet a la página web 4cleanair.org de la Asociación Nacional de Agencias de Aire Limpio.
Aunque no hay planes en el futuro próximo de otra visita a Washington, D.C. por parte de los Embajadores del Aire Limpio, los ciudadanos concernidos pueden hacer su parte y unirse a miles de otros apoyando la "Declaración de Derecho a Respirar" propuesta por Earthjustice, que demanda del gobierno federal que obligue a los más grandes contaminadores del aire a utilizar las tecnologías existentes para reducir apreciablemente la cantidad de contaminación atmosférica que sale de sus chimeneas.
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