Stanley 16, Reltonia 132 (Low Score Wins)
Pristine? Hardly! The AQI of 132 for Monmouth, Oregon is at an unhealthful level!
Low water levels in the ponds, high levels of particulates in the air : This is unacceptable.
Dear Fellow Earthlings,
Today the Air Quality Index (AQI) for my beloved Reltonia is 132, classified as "bad for the health". In contrast, the AQI reading for Stanley, the Falklands is 16...
Since so many people are interested in "scores" and "statistics", let's look at the competition for clean air today:
Stanley, the Falkland Islands: 16
Yokohama, Japan 53
Caseyville, Illinois 55
Al-Hofuf, Saudi Arabia 66
"Reltonia" (my land in Oregon) 132
Shanghai, China 155
Lima. Peru 371
Chandrapur, India 403
Durango, Mexico. 882
Is it any wonder why I would like to return to the Falklands! For the present, at least, people there can "breathe easy" (which -- to those of you who are not familiar with the term -- means: "There is no need to be alarmed.")
As for Yokohama, Caseyville, and Al-Hofuf, the levels are still in the "relatively safe" zone. I chose to mention these 3 places, for I have a home in Yokohama, grew up in Caseyville, and lived in Al-Hofuf for two years back in the 1970s.
I mention Shanghai, for I spent quite a lot of time there during the period 2005 to 2007. At that time I was taken aback at how polluted the air was...
And now I see that Reltonia, my "bastion from pollution", is experiencing AQI figures similar to those of Shanghai.
The main reasons why Reltonia's air quality is so poor is that gasoline and diesel powered vehicles clog the highways leading in and out of Portland, Oregon; commercial jets crisscross the skies over Oregon, leaving pollution in their wakes; and the population of Oregon continues to increase rapidly as people -- seeking to "escape" from places ravaged by crime, congestion, and pollution -- bring an increased likelihood of for crime, congestion, and pollution to Oregon with them.
According to the EPA (the United States Environmental Protection Agency):
"Ground-level ozone and airborne particles are the two pollutants that pose the greatest threat to human health in this country. (referring to the United States)."
When all is said and done, the only way to reverse the trends affecting the livability -- or -- in those cases where the AQI figures are 300 or above -- the survival support capacity [as for Lima. Peru (371), Chandrapur, India (403), Durango, Mexico. (882)] is to STOP BLEEDING EARTH OF HER UNDERGROUND CARBON-BASED FUEL SOURCES.
Steve Walker
Earthsaver and Jingles Creator
© 2013 Steve Walker, The Jingles-The Japan Foundation for English Pronunciation, Summit Enterprises.