Santiago residents faced this year’s first environmental “pre-emergency” situation last month, as air contamination reached its highest level since 1999. The Particle Quality Index (ICAP) hit 409, well above the 300 that is required for the government to declare a pre-emergency. While levels had returned to normal, environmentalists are concerned that the capital’s new public transport system is not living up to its promises of safer, cleaner air for its residents.
During pre-emergency situations, the elderly and the very young are advised to stay indoors because of their weak lungs.
The effects of smog include:
-Inflamed breathing passages
-Decrease of the lungs’ working capacity
-Shortness of breath
-Pain when inhaling deeply
-Wheezing and coughing
-Eye and nose irritation and drying out the protective membranes of the nose and throat
-Interference with the body's ability to fight infection, increasing susceptibility to illness
-Prolonged exposure to contaminated air can cause asthma and cancer.
What’s more, the
bad news came on the back of a visit by former U.S. presidential candidate and environmental poster boy Al Gore. His aim was to raise awareness about climate change and impending environmental disasters throughout Chile and Latin America.If the government declares an alert, it can restrict the use of vehicles without catalytic converters, which are main sources of contamination in the region. Last month, more than 100 people were fined for driving in spite of vehicle restrictions. However, many of them said they were unaware that any such restriction was in place.
One of the most recent measures taken to combat air contamination in the capital was the public transport overhaul, the Transantiago. Before the system’s inauguration, government officials promised that contamination would be reduced by 75 percent under the Transantiago, and that states of alert and pre-emergency would become a thing of the past. It seems, however, that this is not the case. Although this is the first pre-emergency this year, smog levels tend to rise during the coldest months of June and July, and more alerts are expected.
During the event held in Santiago, Gore gave the presentation on climate change that featured in his Oscar-winning documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth.”
“Chile is in the part of the world that is going to be experiencing a lot more heat waves,” said Gore after the presentation.
President Bachelet closed the event with a reference to Gore’s presentation and a promise to speed up action to prevent climate change in Chile.
“The implementation of solutions to this problem needs to go ahead more quickly,” said Bachelet. “The time to act has arrived.”
SOURCES: Cate Setterfield
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Ministry Implications:
This article about the blinding smog got me thinking about how Chile is also struggling with the effects of spiritual blindness.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 says, "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
Satan has blinded the eyes of Chileans to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Chile is in the part of the world that is going to be experiencing a lot more spiritual blindness (emphasis mine).
The implementation of the solution (Salvation) to this problem (the sin nature) needs to go ahead more quickly. The time to act is at hand.
Prayer & Praise Items:
-Thank the Lord for His Word, which is able to pierce this blindness and remove the "spiritual smog" from Chilean's hearts and lives and reveal the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.
-Pray for our family to maximize witnessing opportunities and be effective in sharing the Gospel and Biblical truth.
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