Smoke from the Canadian wildfires, having drifted south through the Midwest over the past few days, has now reached the Southeastern States. More than reducing visibility, the smoke has produced poor air quality which is of special concern to those who work outdoors or who have chronic lung disease.
While there is nothing positive about this invasion of smoke from a health point of view, it does call attention to the distant devastation in Canada, an environmental catastrophe that might otherwise go unnoticed in the U.S. Furthermore, it is a clear signal that ecosystems across the globe, including man-made habitats, are interconnected. We cannot ignore the health of any environment (marine or terrestrial) without suffering the consequences.
Those who deny climate change need to personally experience its effects, whether it be via floods, hurricanes, drought or wildfires to give them pause. Hopefully, this invasion of smoke will send a clear message and serve to change their misguided attitude.
