The Price of Air

The weather in London today was sunny and breezy. After a hard day’s work, I went into the garden to enjoy the fresh air, God’s abundant gift to humanity. The trees and leaves danced with glee, and I was mesmerised by the display and loved the spectacle. I allowed the waft to caress my face, breathed deeply, and enjoyed the fresh air.

Let’s take care of our world

Then a thought assailed my mind; imagine a world where governments sell air to citizens. It may sound like a dystopian novel, but the consequences of such a decision would be nothing short of disastrous. The world is so divided now, and if anything like that were to happen, the earth as we know it may implode. Now, brace yourself as we dive into the nightmarish situation where air becomes a commodity, a price tag attached to every breath.

A Life-Sustaining Necessity Transformed into a Profit Machine:

Air, the essence of life, would morph into a cash cow under the control of governments. The substance that nature provides freely, the one thing we cannot live without, would suddenly have a monetary value. Can you imagine the burden this would place on individuals? The cost of survival skyrockets with each breath draining our pockets.

Widening the Gap: The Haves and the Have-Nots:

Selling air would exacerbate the gaping chasm between the wealthy and the destitute. Only the privileged few, with deep pockets and overflowing bank accounts, could afford the luxury of breathing clean air. The less fortunate will suffer from polluted air.

Gasping for Health:

Air pollution is already a grave global crisis, causing countless health issues and premature deaths. Now, envision a future where governments prioritise profits over public well-being. The outcome of this situation might cause dire consequences. The inability to buy clean air would lead to respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses and poorer health. Our already overburdened healthcare systems would crumble under the weight of this catastrophe.

The Devastation of Our Environment:

In this dystopian reality, governments’ pursuit of profit would unleash untold environmental devastation. Industries, driven solely by monetary gains, would exploit natural resources with reckless abandon. Forests would be razed, accelerating deforestation. Pollution levels would soar as unregulated factories spew toxic fumes into the atmosphere. Climate change would worsen, and species would be endangered because of a crumbling balance of ecosystems.

Stripping Away Human Rights:

Access to clean air is an immutable human right enshrined in international agreements and conventions. Selling air would trample upon these rights, reducing citizens to mere pawns in profit-driven games. Governments would have power over a vital resource, disregarding our values of equality, justice, and dignity.

It’s a waking nightmare to envision governments selling air, and this should never be allowed to happen. Protecting citizens through environmental regulations is essential because the air we breathe should always be a shared resource, freely accessible to all, ensuring a healthier, fairer future for generations.

What do you think of this possibility? Are you pleased that at least we’re not paying for the price of the air we breathe? I am grateful for the fresh air, and I truly hope that thought may inspire us to care for our world and be kind to everyone we meet. 

NP: This article explores a hypothetical scenario and does not reflect actual events or government policies.