Needless Dominican Deaths

[Keith R]

Originally Posted by Nal0whs

I heard of a metro, but you know how that was taken care of by the media...

And, Keith, next time a massive sand storm blows off the African coast heading our way, track it. You will notice the difference.

And, yes, ok, Mexico City was not the best example, but perhaps our American friends can show us the way. Let's use Los Angeles as an example?

Or perhaps northeastern American cities in the middle of July?

Or maybe, just maybe Atlanta in August?

Nope. Still comparing apples and oranges, Nals, and I suspect you know it. As much as I love SD, I cannot put its socioeconomic and environmental profile an a par with Atlanta, NYC, or Boston. And comparing it to LA, the city with the worst air quality in the US, is a no-go, as I am sure you knew the moment you suggested it.

And I know all about the Saharan sand clouds, Nals. Probably heard of it before you did. And have seen the tracks. That does not change their minor contribution to poor air quality in Santo Domingo or anywhere in the DR, much as you may like to put it on a par with vehicle pollution or other man-made sources in the DR. Yes, I know, it'd be easier if we could blame it on Saharan sand, then Leonel could throw up his hands and say there's nothing he could do about it. But if it's vehicle emissions, planta emissions, industrial emissions, uncontrolled open-air burning, etc., he might have to act instead of ignoring the problem, and we can't have that, now can we?

[Keith R]

Originally Posted by Nal0whs

I heard of a metro, but you know how that was taken care of by the media...

The metro proposal was killed by the weight of its own insanity. The proposal did not make sense on many levels (economic, environmental, public policy, energy) to most anyone outside of those whose pockets were going to be lined by the project (and I include its principal proponents in this government and the Congress), and the PLD partisans who cannot stand to admit when their leaders have a loco idea.

I believe Leonel was more on the right track in his first Administration when he tried to clean up and make organized, reliable, cheap and sensible the public transport system and to change traffic flow patterns in the major cities. Granted, Hippo destroyed much of this good work, but that does not mean it was not worth rebuilding and building upon, rather than the slower, expensive, and energy-intensive metro idea...

[Chirimoya]

There are countless medical studies with no environmentalist axe to grind that demonstrate that asthma rates have risen dramatically over the last couple of generations, and that one of the main factors, if not the main factor, is air pollution. Here is just one.

Anecdotally, when I was growing up, in the seventies, I knew just one child with asthma. These days it is much more common.

[NALs]

Originally Posted by Keith R

Nope. Still comparing apples and oranges, Nals, and I suspect you know it. As much as I love SD, I cannot put its socioeconomic and environmental profile an a par with Atlanta, NYC, or Boston. And comparing it to LA, the city with the worst air quality in the US, is a no-go, as I am sure you knew the moment you suggested it.

And I know all about the Saharan sand clouds, Nals. Probably heard of it before you did. And have seen the tracks. That does not change their minor contribution to poor air quality in Santo Domingo or anywhere in the DR, much as you may like to put it on a par with vehicle pollution or other man-made sources in the DR. Yes, I know, it'd be easier if we could blame it on Saharan sand, then Leonel could throw up his hands and say there's nothing he could do about it. But if it's vehicle emissions, planta emissions, industrial emissions, uncontrolled open-air burning, etc., he might have to act instead of ignoring the problem, and we can't have that, now can we?

The dust in this country is atrocious, you can see it lined along the road, its in the houses (which adds to the constant cleaning demands), it causes people to cough alot, etc.

Even in south Florida, the dust storms that blow off Africa, affects that region as well.

This is not to say that it's the only aspect of the pollution, because its not, but it is an aspect that was not being addressed in this thread until I brought it up.

As usual, there is always someone who likes to initiate a debate with me. All I was doing was balancing the thread, take another look so you can see it.

Never did I implied Leonel should not tackle this problem, in fact, I never even mentioned the government and it's attention towards this problem.

Not to mention that I did not DENIED the other more constant flow of pollution, but that does not makes the dust a welcomed addition.

The dust is clearl for everyone to see.

http://www.forester.net/ec_0109_some.html

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...9/ai_105370152

http://www.environmentaldefense.org/...=aiyc_50cities

http://www.citymayors.com/environmen..._uscities.html

http://www.cep.unep.org/who/amep.php#what

-NAL

[NALs]

Originally Posted by Keith R

The metro proposal was killed by the weight of its own insanity. The proposal did not make sense on many levels (economic, environmental, public policy, energy) to most anyone outside of those whose pockets were going to be lined by the project (and I include its principal proponents in this government and the Congress), and the PLD partisans who cannot stand to admit when their leaders have a loco idea.

I believe Leonel was more on the right track in his first Administration when he tried to clean up and make organized, reliable, cheap and sensible the public transport system and to change traffic flow patterns in the major cities. Granted, Hippo destroyed much of this good work, but that does not mean it was not worth rebuilding and building upon, rather than the slower, expensive, and energy-intensive metro idea...

You asked if the government was tackling this problem, and the metro idea (as sensical or nonsensical it might have been) surely would have been attempt.

Whether it was a good idea or not, it's beyond the scope of this thread and beyond your question that I answered.

-NAL

[bienamor]

Originally Posted by Nal0whs

The dust in this country is atrocious, you can see it lined along the road, its in the houses (which adds to the constant cleaning demands), it causes people to cough alot, etc.

Even in south Florida, the dust storms that blow off Africa, affects that region as well.

This is not to say that it's the only aspect of the pollution, because its not, but it is an aspect that was not being addressed in this thread until I brought it up.

If dust was a major contributior, I would not expect to see that much in my apt. in Santodomingo, colonial zone. but there is a heavy BLACK covering that gets on almost everything. Don't think this is dust, but unburned oil etc. Even the screens on my windows, need cleaned once a wk, or you get black on your fingers, let alone the ceiling fans.

Lived in Florida, and never had anything like this!!

[HOWMAR]

It's amazing how those dust stroms from Africa pick which country to pollute. They jump over pristine, unpolluted islands such as St. John, St. Lucia or Barbados to deposit the pollution on the DR. Yet, have no more pollution to deposit when the winds reach Grand Caymen. Go figure...

[Keith R]

Originally Posted by Nal0whs

You asked if the government was tackling this problem, and the metro idea (as sensical or nonsensical it might have been) surely would have been attempt.

Oh, my mistake! If you define "doing something" as proposing nonsensical projects, then in that sense, yes, the current Administration has attempted something regarding air pollution. My definition of "doing something" is a bit more demanding, however.

Whether it was a good idea or not, it's beyond the scope of this thread and beyond your question that I answered.

-NAL

Funny, you lecturing the Forum's moderator on what is and what is not "beyond the scope of this thread." I must have missed the memo from Dolores & Robert leaving you in charge...

[NALs]

Originally Posted by HOWMAR

It's amazing how those dust stroms from Africa pick which country to pollute. They jump over pristine, unpolluted islands such as St. John, St. Lucia or Barbados to deposit the pollution on the DR. Yet, have no more pollution to deposit when the winds reach Grand Caymen. Go figure...

Of course, compare to the tiny specs of land...

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/Dust/

[HOWMAR]

Originally Posted by Nal0whs

Of course, compare to the tiny specs of land...

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/Dust/

My lungs inspire the same amount of air no matter how large the island I am standing on....