Because the solar dips under the horizon on the Fourth of July, the Southern California sky comes alive with dazzling bursts of fireworks. But beneath this spectacle lies a sobering actuality: We pay an environmental toll for this fleeting magnificence.
As a world scholar hailing from New Delhi — one of many world’s most polluted cities — I can’t assist however see parallels between the Fourth of July and my hometown’s personal celebrations throughout Diwali, the annual Hindu competition of lights and arguably India’s most widely-celebrated competition. Much like the Fourth of July, fireworks gentle up the evening sky on Diwali, marking the date of Lord Rama’s return to the dominion of Ayodhya after serving a 14-year exile.
And, just like the Fourth of July, the fireworks depart an enduring affect on the setting. The degradation of air high quality in New Delhi is way worse than in Los Angeles, however ought to function a warning in opposition to taking the environmental affect of fireworks — and air air pollution, generally — too frivolously.
New Delhi battles an air air pollution disaster year-round, and measured a median Air High quality Index of 209 final 12 months. An AQI of lower than 50 is taken into account “good,” and something above 200 is “very unhealthy.” Every year, Diwali causes the AQI to skyrocket, at instances reaching terrifying ranges. In 2016, the day after Diwali noticed an AQI of 999, the utmost degree that may be recorded.
Los Angeles has a a lot decrease common AQI than Delhi, however nonetheless over the previous few years has averaged an AQI thought-about “poor.” Most just lately, L.A. acquired a failing grade within the 2023 State of the Air report, signifying the harmful ranges of air air pollution within the space. On most days, the AQI in Los Angeles County is between 51 and 100 — nonetheless exterior of the extent thought-about “good.” I discover these ranges worrying, as a result of they characterize air air pollution that’s invisible sufficient to be simply ignored within the midst of the celebratory environment of, say, the Fourth of July, however positively not insignificant.
In New Delhi, for example, the air air pollution instantly after Diwali will get so unhealthy that colleges all around the metropolis shut down for “air pollution breaks.” As a child I didn’t know a lot concerning the large-scale affect of fireworks, and it was onerous to get me to care about air pollution. However the first time I bought a air pollution break — in all probability someday in Junior excessive — the environmental degradation that I had heard about all of a sudden turned connected to this tangible occasion. It was a second of reckoning for me, my friends and our dad and mom.
My goal for scripting this essay is to share my unhappiness at watching the air in lovely New Delhi deteriorate. I hope I might help forestall — in some small method — the identical from going down in my new dwelling. Whereas I miss New Delhi dearly, I’ve come to like the clear odor of California’s air, and I’m anxious about what we stand to lose because the air continues to worsen.
The time is ripe to start out advocating for a cleaner Fourth of July, in order that we will forestall California’s future generations from ever needing a air pollution break and feeling like they will’t go exterior as a result of respiration the air of their metropolis may significantly damage them.
With new technological developments, actually, we’ve got entry to insanely cool new options to fireworks — equivalent to drone gentle exhibits, and even digital fireworks in augmented actuality. In embracing these options, we will be part of a cleaner future, the place each youngster has the liberty to go exterior on daily basis. That’s a spectacle price celebrating.
