'Sense of urgency'

By Victoria Wall
Fresno

(Updated Thursday, January 2, 2003, 4:45 PM)

I want to commend The Bee for the special report, "Last Gasp," which was a dramatic wake-up call for all residents. As depressing as the facts are, we must move forward.

Since each one of us contributes to the dirty air we breathe, the first step toward a solution might be to ask a simple question of ourselves: What am I personally willing to do in my life to help the situation? To come up with even one lifestyle change, however small, is a remedy. If each and every one of us did just one thing, it would make a huge difference.

For example, now that my children are grown and I don't have to transport them in the car, I ride my bicycle whenever I can. My husband and I ride our bicycles to work and on several trips to the store. Some might decide to give up using their fireplaces. Others might organize a carpool at work, even just one day a week.

We need to approach our pollution problem with a sense of urgency because everyone's health is in danger. No one else is going to do it for us.