Milan, or Lombardy, is about to be fined by the EC over excessively high pollution levels. Now, I'm not sure, but I reckon levels are bordering on dangerously high. Why am I of this opinion? Well, for a number of weeks now, I've been waking up with no voice. I've had a cold which will not go away. The air smells foul. I have a nasty dry cough which will not go away either. However, it appears that I'm not alone. A colleague who lives in Milan has also had throat problems, our little one has catarhh permanently and even my other half who rarely gets a cold has got one at the moment. I am, in fact, very worried.
I wonder just how many people have died as a result of the excessive pollution or just how many will come down with asthma or worse over the next few years.
Stop reading, start speaking
Stop translating in your head and start speaking Italian for real with the only audio course that prompt you to speak.
What is being done? Not a lot. A few car free days here and there (but of course they leave special access lanes for those off to the football – after all, the game is much more important than something like the health of our children) . One or two insignificant bye laws are being passed. As I said, not a lot. Or rather, too little, too late.
Same all round the world – reactive not proactive, unless of course we're talking about some subject which will get someone or other more votes. A sad state.
