Fireworks: The Friendly Pollutants

As everyone knows, the past weekend the United States celebrated their 237 Independence Anniversary. And in this important holiday, there are many fun activities that people do in order to celebrate this memorable day. During this celebration there is one thing that it is certain, fireworks are the main attraction for kids as well as elderly people. Masses of people gather together on the most important streets of every American state to spend good time with family and friends and to be delighted with parades, but most importantly to observe a colorful display of fireworks. Even the actual President of the United States of America—Mr. Barack Hussein Obama II— had the chance to be delighted with an amazing show of fireworks in Washington.

Fireworks play relevant role during every important festivity or celebration since their invention by the Chinese during the seventh century, but the wonderful displays of colors have a high cost. I am not talking about in terms of economy but in terms of environmental consequences. I wonder how country leaders have the courage to give speeches about pollution and its environmental impact. I wonder how people argue about the pollution that cars, and big factories produce— and I am not saying I support these types of pollution— when they are the ones that help their kids light up the wicks of the fireworks they buy.

Since the beginnings of history of the human race, the environment has experienced great changes. Starting with the burning of wood on the first years of the primitive men; the exploitation of coal by the Chinese, and later introduced to Europe by Marco Polo on the thirteen century; and ending with the exploitation of petroleum, natural gas, and the radioactive energy. Men have polluted the world in their attempt of finding ways to have a better life, but it is necessary to point out that these are justifiable reasons for the pollution of the environment.

Going back to the subject, I found out that men have been using fireworks for more than 1300 years. 1300 years of irresponsibly contamination of the air and not significant action has been taken in order to eradicate the widespread use of this colorful and attractive pollutant agent. So, are the environmental changes that the world is facing due to the men’s journey of finding sources of energy, or maybe because of an unnecessary pollution generated in order to satisfy men’s pleasure? What do you think?