By ohtadmin | on April 16, 2020

To the Editor:

While millions have been horribly affected by COVID-19, there is a silver lining to this pandemic. With the resulting global shutdown, the environments health is actually improving, and with that comes undeniable proof that humans are largely to blame for longstanding environmental degradation. In Indias Punjab region, the Himalayan Mountains are viewable with the naked eye for the first time in 30 years. In Venice, fish and dolphins are seen swimming in the canals, whose waters are now clear for the first time in decades. For now, Los Angeles is free of its perpetual smog blanket, and the Northeast corridors air is also clearer and cleaner.

Globally, 8.8 million people die prematurely due to air pollution. That happens mainly in areas near major highways and/or coal-burning facilities. Researchers are studying the probability that the higher number of COVID-19 deaths reported in industrial northern Italy stem from the added hazards of air pollution in that region. This is compared to fewer virus attributed deaths thanks to the less polluted skies in Italys more agricultural southern regions.

Humans arent alone in their suffering. All of natures creatures are plagued by the ecological devastation caused by complicit governments, together with corporate entities greedy desire to maximize profits at the ecosystems expense.

We must encourage and actively support the critical work of environmental and educational nonprofits with increasing pace. Individuals and governments must realize our newly emerging cleaner environment is a direct product of mankinds forced curtailment of polluting activities, due to COVID-19s heavy restrictions on transportation and industry. Proof that human behavior is guilty of degrading the worlds air, water, and soil is visible and undeniable now more than ever. That it took a pandemic to begin lifting the veil from skeptics eyes is discouraging and saddening, but truth is often more visible during a real, unexpected challenge.

Elizabeth Lisette PrinceNewport

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Pandemic has a Silver Lining - Newport This Week