COVID-19 has been a life-changing event for humankind. It has been a challenge to our health and economy, and it has exposed weaknesses in our society. The coronavirus has been especially hard on certain regions of the world.
Data is showing that our most polluted regions have populations that are suffering the most from COVID-19. New York City, New Jersey, Detroit, Northern Italy, and Wuhan are regions with the worst air in the world. Their citizens, especially the elderly, are having the most difficulty with this terrible virus.
One positive effect to come from this tragedy has been the dramatically improved quality of the air we breathe. The worldwide shutdown has given us fresh air from New Delhi to Los Angeles. The photos of long-polluted places are today magical and brilliant and already are paying off dividends in their citizen’s health and fitness.
As the virus reaches rural northern Michigan, one of our population’s best natural defenses is the quality of the air we breathe. This clean air hasn’t come without many important political battles. Our citizens have fought against leaded gasoline-burning cars and dirty coal-burning electric plants.
We have voted again and again for clean air in the past, and if COVID-19 has shown us anything, those votes have saved lives and continue to save lives today. Yet as the coronavirus shutdown clearly illustrates how important clean air is, at this very moment some of our politicians are rescinding important environmental protection laws.
Let’s not forget that 2020 is an election year. I hope you join with me in voting for those representatives who best protect our fresh air.
