Making Our Clean Air Dreams Come True
MARC MY WORDS: Thoughts from Breathe SoCal's President & CEO
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Greetings!
Los Angeles, the City of Angels, has an air quality dilemma far from heavenly. While the city's beauty and fame often take center stage, the invisible struggle of air quality inequality persists.
Where You Live Matters: In Southern California, there's an unfortunate correlation between Zip Codes and unhealthy lungs. Specific neighborhoods find themselves in the sad embrace of pollution hotspots, where a breath of fresh air is as elusive as finding parking on the Sunset Strip. It's no coincidence that these hotspots are often home to low-income communities.
If Hollywood had another name that was more on point, it might be “Smoggywood." Our sprawling traffic, industrial activity, and urban density make it a challenging setting for clean air. As the sun rises on smoggy skylines, the communities near congested freeways, power plants, refineries, and factories are not the pampered movie stars but are in the background with a less glamorous role: that of breathing in the city's toxic haze.
Traffic in L.A. is as infamous as the Lakers and the Dodgers. The constant stream of cars spewing emissions creates a blanket of pollution over the region that, unless we focus outward, we do not see. Yet pollution is ever present. The neighborhoods situated alongside bustling highways are the unwitting recipients of the diesel exhaust and the lung disease, heart disease, and cancers that come with it.
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Forget about wearing the latest fashion trends; in polluted pockets of L.A., residents face higher rates of respiratory ailments, and some must wear oxygen tanks as an unfortunate fashion accessory.
In a region known for dreams and aspirations, it's time to dream of a future where every Southern Californian can inhale clean air for all. It's time for our region to shine brighter, from the Hollywood Hills to the ocean and from Santa Barbara to San Diego breeze, and give everyone of us a chance to Breathe Easier™.
In Health,
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Marc Carrel
President & CEO
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Beware of the Fiery Spectacle: Fourth of July Air Quality Woes! |
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Fourth of July! The day when we gather to celebrate the birth of our nation, don our patriotic apparel, and ignite as many fireworks as possible. amid the excitement and dazzling displays, a hidden danger turns our patriotic euphoria into a smoky nightmare. The days following the 4th of July are often the worst air days in Los Angeles County.
Ah, the sweet smell of freedom mixed with sulfur and burnt grass! As fireworks erupt across the land, they release an array of pollutants, turning our skies into a canvas of colorful smoke. It's like being caught in a living tie-dye experiment with the bonus of toxic fumes.
Fireworks are like mini thunderstorms but with more sparkles and way less rain. Unfortunately, these magnificent explosions also release a cocktail of harmful chemicals, including sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, into the atmosphere.
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For those with respiratory issues, the Fourth of July air quality can become an unwanted, wheezing rollercoaster ride. Remember, it's not the time to play with fireworks if it means a trip to the emergency room.
While the Fourth of July is a time for celebration, let us not forget the hazardous consequences it can have on our air quality. We must balance our desire for pyrotechnic spectacles with consideration for our environment and health. Remember to don a gas mask, keep an inhaler handy, and turn on those air filters at home.
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Join Us For A Conversation with the Chair of the California Energy Commission |
We invite you to join us on July 31st in Santa Monica for the last session of our inaugural speaker series, Breathe SoCal's Conversations with the Chair. On July 3st, following a networking reception, Breathe SoCal President and CEO Marc Carrel will talk with David Hoichschild, Chair of the California Energy Commission. They will discuss the State’s efforts to transition to a zero-emission future, then take audience questions.
Go to www.BreatheSoCal.org/CwC
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A Tips From Our Friends at LADWP |
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Planting trees around your home helps clean the air and provides cooling shade from the hot sun, so you can potentially spend less on-air conditioning. |
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Recycle an old model and receive a new, energy-efficient refrigerator free from LADWP. Call 1-800-342-5397 to speak with a representative. |
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Your Support is Vital to Help Southern California Breathe Cleaner Air. |
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We love when our supporters join us for a community event to make a difference. You can volunteer by planting trees or improving a community garden.
Making a contribution to support our work is also appreciated. It helps Breathe Southern California focus on our work to help Southern Californians Breathe Easier™.
Your support is critical in our work to fight lung disease and promote clean air. Please volunteer or make a generous gift today.
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Don't be a stranger, stay in touch. Here's how: |
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