This story, written by Luisa Corporan for Barrio Alegría, is part of a series designed to empower the community to take action in mitigating the impact of pollution and the misuse of natural resources. Lea este artículo en español aquí.
We receive different types of messages every day; however, when Mother Nature speaks, we must listen carefully, as she sometimes manifests herself through powerful natural phenomena that can change our daily routines.
A clear example is the snowstorm we experienced in our area in recent days and the low temperatures that have characterized the month of January.
Bethany Ayers-Fisher is the sustainability manager for Reading Public Works and also a member of the city’s Environmental Council. She pointed to recent frustrations about parking during snowfall as a perfect example of how
“The loss of parking due to snow accumulation, and the loss of access to sidewalks due to inadequate snow and ice removal,” are among the main challenges the city faces in part due to climate change, Ayers-Fisher said. “If a lot of snow falls followed by warmer temperatures, we can end up with flooding in streets and rivers.”
These and other manifestations of nature are due to not only the change in the seasons but also climate change, a phenomenon that can have natural causes, but which, according to scientists, has been influenced by human activity since the 18th century, especially by the burning of fossil fuels and pollution.
Ayers-Fisher stated that “climate change is causing a disruption in flowering times, because if we have a mild winter, trees may bud earlier, and if there is then a frost, the buds can die. This can reduce the production of fruits and other crops.”
Another member of this council, William Vitale, urged that “each of us must reduce our carbon footprint and encourage our civic, business, and political leaders to take action as well. We need to own and drive the most fuel-efficient vehicles possible.”
Vitale called for reducing the environmental footprint by using public transportation and limiting air travel, as well as living close to amenities and public transport to decrease dependence.
The members of the Reading City Environmental Council, concerned about this situation, called on the public to help with cleanup efforts and work to reduce pollution in the city to prevent future environmental problems.
