All I Want For Christmas Is Clean Air

By Abbie Walston, Moms Clean Air Force

Dear Santa,

Last weekend, after our journey up to the North Pole on the Polar Express, I forgot to ask you for what I really want for Christmas. Perhaps it was the excitement of traveling on a train through the frigid wilderness, the warmth of the gingerbread cookie and hot chocolate in my tummy, or the look of delight on my child’s face as he listened to the little silver bell ringing that distracted me from telling you the gift I would like most.

Santa, won’t you give me the gift of clean air this Christmas? I want my son Joshua to be able to breathe easily. I want your help to protect him from:

1. Asthma! Winter is an especially tough time for children with asthma. Emergency room visits due to asthma increase in the winter months, so instead of bundling up to build Frosty the Snowman, some children spend frigid winter days in the hospital. The best way to minimize asthma attacks in the winter is to control triggers, and limiting air pollution is a great step toward healthier children.

2. Allergies! I suffer from seasonal allergies, but I’m fortunate that it is an annoyance, not a serious health problem. However, as climate changes due to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, seasonal allergies are on the rise. Plants produce more pollen and allergy sufferers feel the effects. Children who live in areas with air that have higher levels of a variety of pollutants also have more allergies.

3. Mercury! According to 23 of our nation’s leading scientific experts on mercury: “the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) will protect the health of thousands of Americans each year.” I want halibut, tuna, and my own breast milk to be as low in mercury as possible, and I want coal-fired power plants to stop spewing mercury into our air and our food. Did you know that air pollution is even linked to obesity and diabetes?

Clean air is a gift that everyone can enjoy. Rudolph’s nose may guide you through heavy fog and snow storms, but let’s clear the air and get rid of the smog so he can breathe easy. Please Santa, won’t you join the Moms Clean Air Force in our mission to give children clean air? I know you have magic, but we don’t need that for clean air. We just need our representatives to tell polluters to clean up their act. And while you’re at it, could you please stop giving out coal to those on the naughty list? Even naughty people don’t deserve dirty coal!

Sincerely,
Abbie Walston

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Eternal G.

5:09PM PST on Jan 17, 2012

Well in not too long a time that may be just too much to ask!

send a green star

Crystal C.

1:29AM PST on Dec 31, 2011

I want fresh air too! I might be a little bit late for asking for it for Christmas, though. I hope someone will actually stand up for the air that we use to breathe and live off of everyday, instead of SAYING they will. Actions speak louder than words. Thanks for this!

Nina A.

6:07AM PST on Dec 28, 2011

thanks.

Vicky P.

2:19PM PST on Dec 25, 2011

thanks

Craig Z.

8:36AM PST on Dec 25, 2011

Even with all of our clean air regulations, city air is filthy.

Jamie C.

8:17AM PST on Dec 25, 2011

ALL I want for xmas is someone I can stand to vote for without throwing up a little.

Mandi A.

7:00AM PST on Dec 25, 2011

Thank you

Winn A.

11:56PM PST on Dec 24, 2011

Thanks!

Claudette C.

11:04PM PST on Dec 24, 2011

Cheers.

heather g.

10:26PM PST on Dec 24, 2011

I have a long list of things I hope to buy one day - but fresh air would be near the top of my list if Santa had that on his list of gifts available. I arrived in Canada with healthy lungs but developed asthma, allergies and after 16 years have been gifted with COPD !
Here in the Wild West the people driving huge trucks run their engines for 15 minutes in the mornings thinking they are 'warming it up'. It is also thought quite reasonable to run the polluting engines for 15-20 minutes while they go inside a store.
It is a special type of adult brain that doesn't understand the consequences of their actions....