Regarding The Herald article (“Two simultaneous health crises: Wildfire smoke, coronavirus,” The Herald, Sept. 17) this is not coincidence. Both crises are worsened by misinformation and politicization.
Polarization has divided us by creating doubt about science, and we base our opinions on our own “facts”
A major cause of our differing versions of facts is that social media algorithms give us more of what we search, so that we will spend more time and attention on what we already believe. The Netflix show “Social Dilemma” is about the resulting polarization.
Advice on what to do for the pandemic is clear, and we can also take action to prevent future wildfires. Stopping global warming is possible, with solutions that exist today:
There are many organizations to join. The Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a national organization is working to pass H.R. 763, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, and there is a Snohomish chapter.
Project Drawdown is an organization that has over 100 scientists analyzing possible solutions to help the world reach “Drawdown,” the point when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline. All the solutions will pay back with efficiency, effectiveness and the benefit of new jobs. For example, first on a list is preventing food waste. We waste 40 percent of our food, and rotting food generates methane and is 10 percnet of greenhouse gases. Programs to reclaim food are successful in feeding programs, creating new products and jobs, as well as preventing waste.
And we can donate and support The Herald’s climate reporter position.
Hans Dankers
Monroe
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