The whole of last week was spent deliberating about climate change, the deep environmental crisis that was staring down at us and the impact of crackers on air pollution. Sales of masks and Air purifiers spiraled to about 65% in the metros.
However, more than 58% in Delhi are unaware what 'smog' really is. 24% in Chennai think it is actually fog caused due to the setting of winters. 15% in Hyderabad think that the haze around your home is a sign that the winters are going to be severe.
Although Gen Z is mostly aware of the difference between fog and smog caused by pollutants in the air, the older generation are yet to come to terms with this uncanny new terminology.
Environmentalists Confirm The Problem
Nature and environment is given least importance in school. There is no subject that talks about impact of air pollutants and what it does to human body. So, how can you expect people to know the difference between fog and smog. For most semi-educated people, haze around November just means the winters have arrived and how! Many people have set up their seating arrangements outdoors to enjoy the "sardi". When they should be guarding against the bad air, they are rejoicing in it. It calls for emergency measures.
Deepak Dhir, senior scientist, TERI, New Delhi.
When Delhi NCR was engulfed in smog last week and the air quality was bad enough to cause long term damage, some people were blissfully unaware as to what it can do to their bodies. Lots of people, especially from the older generation, couldn't understand what the hullabaloo was all about. For them, it is just the onset of winters. "It's November and that's fog", was a typical reaction. The reason for this is complete unawareness. Environmental studies should we made a compulsory subject in school.
Prakash Samantha, analyst and professor Environmental Studies, JNU.
Youth Reporters Say There Needs To Be More Awareness
My mother insisted that I wear a jacket the moment she saw the smog outdoors. For her, it was simply bad weather. In actuality she had no idea that this was the result of pollution and nothing else. There is an urgent need to educate people about climate and what impacts it.
Rohit Bassi, class X, Modern School
Not everyone who has seen smog would relate to it. My cousins in South India thought it was just thick fog. They enquired why such a ruckus about something that was Nature's phenomena? Even we realised how bad the condition was when it literally came down to us last week. I think there needs to be door-to-door awareness spreading activities. At least in danger zones like Delhi and Noida.
Aditi Sarkar, class XI, Delhi Public SCHOOL
Last week was just terrible. But it took that much of smog to make us aware how bad the situation has already become. Imagine the plight of poor people who are blissfully enjoying the "weather" as they feel the winters are here to give them some relief. Little do they know that this air is more harmful than severest of winters. My maid said she let her kids play outdoor for a longer time so that they enjoyed the "sardi". Can we do something to drive some sense into them?
Priyanka Banerjee, class VIII, Blossom International School.
Do You Think Environmental Studies Should Be Made Compulsory In School? Do You Agree That Many Among Us Are Blissfully Unaware Of What Smog Really Is? Let Us Know.