Blog 6

 

This week's topic focused on climate change and air pollution. It made me think a lot about how normal it feels growing up and seeing pollution when it really shouldn't. In California, hazy skies and bad air days are incredibly common due to wildfires, and this has been something that I only now realize should not be the default in our state. This is something that many Californians are exposed to regularly, and one thing that stood out to me is just how much air pollution is linked with serious health issues like asthma and heart disease. It made me think of all the times where I've had headaches or felt tired outside and didn't question it. Living near big, busy roads and in the middle of the city also increases exposure more than I realized.

Culturally, I feel like people just accept it as part of modern life, especially in big cities. We focus more on the convenience of things such as driving our cars, and we don't think about the long-term effects that they can cause. This topic made me reflect on how small choices, like public transportation or just being aware of air quality indexes, can matter and make a change. Overall, this week changed how I see my environment and how environmental issues are still incredibly common in my general surroundings.

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