Last week Climate Rush scrubbed a message into the filthy Rotherhithe Tunnel. The walls of the tunnel were so dirty that the solid black soot fell off in clumps as we wrote a message saying ‘Let’s talk dirty (air) # Springclean2012
The tunnel wall was much more difficult to scrub on the lower parts of the letters because it’s closer to the exhaust pipes but it’s also closer to the lungs of children and babies in pushchairs. No wonder children are more susceptible to suffering preventable ill effects as a result of air pollution. You can read more about how air pollution is harming our health here. Most car journeys in London are unnecessary, and cycling or walking or using public transport are easier, cheaper and far less stressful means of transport.
For the past 50 years we have been told that a car makes our lives easier when in reality the consequences of excessive carbon emissions from cars are causing climate change and driving makes our lives more difficult. Research shows that driving in a car is significantly more stressful than catching a bus. Studies by Dr David Lewis shows that traveling by bus is on average 33% less stressful than the same journey in a car. We think we all have enough to worry about and that it’s time that our health, our wellbeing and our planet is made a priority by declaring London’s first true traffic-free, clean air zone.
Join us on Thursday 19th of April at Springclean2012 for a car-free party and to remind the mayoral candidates to clean up our dirty air. We’ll meet at 6pm outside DEFRA in Smith Square where we will listen to inspiring speeches before walking or cycling to find an area of our dirty city and declaring a clean air zone.
