The CDC now recommends Americans wear cloth face masks or some other face covering out in public. A video shared by Lex Fridman demonstrates just how vital it is to wear something over our faces — not to protect the wearer but those the wearer interacts with. If everyone had a mask, we would all be safer.
Louisiana still needs ventilators, and even though the federal government is sending us 150 of them, it is still not enough. To be honest, I am outraged. I really want to go on a cursing spree and tell you all how I really feel, but I’ll keep it polite and professional. Anger isn’t going to help. While our president rants on Twitter about buying cars, people in Louisiana are dying.
This isn’t related to cleantech, but at the same time, it kind of is. If we treated our planet better, if we, as a species, did things differently, if we chose to put the health and livelihoods of our people first instead of putting profits first, perhaps I may not be facing something that was mistaken for strep last week.
As I am sure you know, Louisiana is a massive hotspot for the coronavirus. Currently, New Orleans is experiencing one of the highest per-capita rates of COVID-19 infections in the country.
In Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards has issued a statewide stay-at-home order to help combat the spread of the coronavirus, but auto dealerships are allowed to stay open. The order currently ends on April 12 and requires Louisiana residents to shelter in place unless going out for essential errands, such as to the grocery store.
Pollution — especially stuff dropped into rivers, lakes, and streams — has to go somewhere. Littering in rivers is a common thing in many countries. In many areas of the world, basic refuse management systems are lacking or people are just too lazy to walk over a trash can to properly dispose of their water bottle, plastic bags, or papers. As a consequence, rubbish often ends up in rivers and streams which naturally carry the waste out to sea.
Elon Musk’s ventilators and N95 masks can’t come quickly enough. The other day, I woke up to two news stories, one from The Advocate and one from CleanTechnica. The Advocate reported harrowing news, while CleanTechnica gave us a bit of hope. Here in Louisiana, our doctors and nurses are out of protective gear and fear they are infecting patients. Not to mention themselves. This is why the good news that CleanTechnica reported — Elon’s plans to deliver thousands of ventilators and hundreds of thousands of masks — brings a touch of relief. Hopefully, some of our hospitals can get some of those masks.
The series is part of the Pulitzer Center’s Connected Coastlines reporting initiative.
There are ongoing concerns about the health of our ecosystems, our air, and the future our children face due to a legacy of industrialization and burning of fossil fuels. Those who work to reverse this do not stop either. Thankfully, there are also who have great endurance seeking to alert and protect the public.
Louisiana Clean Fuels is hosting the Clean Fuels Classics, and one lucky golfer will win a Jaguar I-PACE on Friday, March 13th, donated by Baton Rouge’s Paretti Family of Dealerships. The brand new, all-electric Jaguar I-PACE will be given to a lucky golfer who gets a hole-in-one at their sponsored hole at the Clean Fuels Classic Golf Tournament.
