we’re in an unexpected natural experiment. the opportunity in the crisis. a real reckoning moment. a picture is worth a thousand whatevers.
the before and after images on this post leave little room for debate: covid-19 successfully took us off the roads. add a little fortuitous rain plus the amping down of our fossil fuel use gave us clean air. and the world noticed.
this timely vivid graphic of clear skies perfectly aligned with the recent vivid graphic of a climate-induced world with catastrophic weather, fire, agriculture, and health problems.
the importance of this accidental moment can’t be understated or wasted. covid-19 has quickly put us in an ugly mood, a fighting mood, a uniting mood. many get the feeling that now is also the time to implore our leaders to ponder america’s long-term big picture handling of pandemics and climate initiatives.
it’s ironic, the covid-19 country lockdown should keep our skies blue but it also mutes our most vocal activists because they can’t congregate to protest. and if our leaders miss this opportunity and the economy cranks up, along with our return to our dirty ways, the blue skies will be just a memory.
[ what you can do ]
> will our clean air last after covid-19? ucla study says it’s possible
> ten simple ways to act on climate change
> top 10 things you can do about climate change
> 12 things you can do right now for climate change
[ what others are doing ]
> the guardian has renounced fossil fuel advertising
above/below > new delhi 1 november 2019 / 20 april 2020 | photo manish swarup / ap
above top/bottom > india gate war memorial new delhi 17 october 2019 / 8 april 2020
above/below > nitrogen dioxide (red) levels prior to and during stay at home lockdown. the los angeles graphic is a vivid glimpse of what an electrified world would look like.
above > a nearly empty interstate 280 in san francisco 22 march 2020
below > notice the nitrogen dioxide readings at height of chinese lockdown in mid-january and march when stay-at-home was relaxed.
a dystopia is a community or society that is undesirable or frightening. It is translated as bad place and is an antonym of utopia,
