Photography and Text by Hassan Smith, Copyright 2016
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The Race Against Pollution
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After the industrial revolution, pollution has gradually become a major concern not only in the United States, but in the world. The toxins created from factories, such as oil refineries or nuclear power plants, and the pollution produced from vehicles have both contaminated the air we breath and water we drink. Every year, as the number of factories and vehicles increases, the level of pollution rises exponentially. According to business insider, air pollution kills about 3.3 million people a year and effects over 100 million, making it comparable to global diseases such as AIDS and Malaria. If no actions are taken to reduce the amount of pollution, then by 2050 the number of pollution related deaths could potentially double.
Pollution related disasters, including the Flint, Michigan Water Crisis, have been the topic of discussion for both the Republican and Democratic candidates. Approximately 10,000 children in Flint, Michigan have been exposed to high levels of lead through their drinking water, while thousands of others try to sustain their everyday life without clean water to drink. During the Michigan primary battle on March 6, 2016, candidates Hilary Clinton and Bernie Sanders debated over possible measures to reduce the amount of toxins in the water and to further aid the residents of Flint, Michigan. While both democratic candidates recognized that these people have lacked a common necessity for the majority of Americans, only one devised a sensible plan to oppose the crisis. That person was Senator Bernie Sanders. He truly understands the effects pollution has on the human population and environment and what needs to be done to reduce the amount of pollution in the United States.
About The Author: Hassan Smith is a freshman enrolled in the College of the University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2019. To read additional articles by Hassan Smith, go here: https://tonywardstudio.com/blog/hassan-smith-lies-beneath/