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Saturday 23 April 2016

"Over 40,000* people die each year in the UK directly because of air pollution and it is simply unacceptable."

Air pollution is the big unseen peril in our midst:
Futures Forum: Carbon Visuals: visualising air pollution
Futures Forum: Air pollution and over-development: Exeter and East Devon "recording high readings" of nitrogen dioxide emissions

The car industry has been berated for its failures over pollution:
Futures Forum: VW... and making 'wholly opaque disposable vehicles' >>> rather than making vehicles which 'run for a long time and are easy to fix'

A new story is unfolding:
EVERY Diesel Tested By UK Transport Ministry Exceeds Lab Results In Real World
Revealed: nearly all new diesel cars exceed official pollution limits | Business | The Guardian
Eco engines are among the most polluting according to new emissions index
Prime Minister defends car industry over diesel emissions - Air Quality News

You could get on your bike:

Manchester Children Get On Their Bikes To Cut Air Pollution


School kids from across the region take part in the Big Pedal
Written by The Confidentials | Follow @mcrconfidential | Friday, 22 April 2016 13:19



CHILDREN from 22 schools across Greater Manchester are pedalling and scooting their school run over the next two weeks as part of Sustrans’ national Big Pedal challenge to cut air pollution.

Over 1500 schools, containing over half a million children in the UK, are taking part in the Big Pedal

The kid’s mass pedal aims to reduce 4.8 million balloons worth of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere throughout the North West.

Children will cycle and scoot over 230,000 miles during the Big Pedal, a two-week cycling and scooting challenge organised by Sustrans, the charity behind the National Cycle Network.

The challenge will cut an estimated 145,000 car journeys for school runs in the North West, saving over three tonnes of Nitrogen Oxide and over 1,000 tonnes of CO2 from being emitted into the environment.

Reports show that children who travel actively could reduce their exposure to Nitrogen Oxides by up to 60% as concentrations are higher inside the vehicle than outside.

Rosslyn Colderley, Sustrans’ England Director for the North said: “Over 40,000* people die each year in the UK directly because of air pollution and it is simply unacceptable.

“The Big Pedal demonstrates the difference that can be made if people are encouraged to leave their cars at home. Not only will they get fitter and healthier by cycling and scooting, dangerous emissions are reduced which benefits everyone.

“To make this happen on a large scale the government must transform our towns and cities into places where cycling and walking is the natural choice for journeys to school and work. Only by doing this can we hope to prevent the thousands of deaths caused by air pollution and at the same time make the nation healthier.”

Over 1500 schools, containing over half a million children in the UK, are taking part in the Big Pedal which is running between 18 and 29 April. The Big Pedal is organised by Sustrans and funded by Bike Hub.


Manchester Children Get On Their Bikes To Cut Air Pollution | Manchester Confidential

Or you could climb Nelson's column to make a point:

Greenpeace protesters climb Nelson's Column and put gas masks on statues of Oliver Cromwell and Winston Churchill in Westminster

Danny Boyle 18 APRIL 2016 • 3:14PM

Two protesters from Greenpeace have scaled Nelson's Column in central London to attach a gas mask to the famous statue to highlight air pollution in Britain.

Alison Garrigan, 29, and 30-year-old Luke Jones began climbing the171ft (52m) landmark at 4am on Monday as part of a morning of stunts in protest at "dangerous" air quality levels that saw eight people arrested.

Other environmental activists attached gas masks to a total of 17 statues across the capital, including those of Oliver Cromwell and Winston Churchill outside Parliament.


Luke Jones places a mask on the statue of Lord Nelson in London's Trafalgar Square after he and another Greenpeace activist climbed the landmark CREDIT: YUI MOK/PA

Other statues that were "masked" included Queen Victoria opposite Buckingham Palace, Eros at Piccadilly Circus and Thierry Henry outside Arsenal FC's Emirates Stadium in north London.

Ambulance crews and police officers stood at the bottom of Nelson's Column, which was roped off as the activists stood at the top of the statue.

Around five hours after the Nelson's Column protest began, the pair came down from the statue at about 9am and were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.


Greenpeace protesters climb Nelson's Column and put gas masks on statues of Oliver Cromwell and Winston Churchill in Westminster
Eight arrests after Greenpeace protesters scale London monuments - BBC News
The area where London is a world-leader: its polluted air
Greenpeace climb Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Sqaure to protest London’s air pollution | Metro News

Of course, it's not just cars which are to blame:
Futures Forum: Climate change: and our heavy dependence on burning coal
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