I'll start believing that people in Jordan are the most precious resources in the country when I see an end to the use of leaded gasoline. As long as we still allow the import of new cars unsuitable for unleaded fuel, all the rhetoric about the value of human life in Jordan remains seriously suspect.
At a time when unleaded fuel has been in use by countries which really value human life and health for many decades, we in Jordan have yet to develop a clear policy on the urgent need to switch to unleaded fuel at least in stages.
Western countries which put a high prime on the human health and the environment have gone beyond the use of unleaded gasoline and are now trying to develop a more environmentally friendly fuel for motorists.
We in Jordan appear quite callous about health and human value as videnced by the lack of a clear policy on at least the need to phase out leaded fuel. Suffice it to remember that fumes from vehicles using leaded fuel enter our lungs, blood and brain cells not to mention the food we eat and the water we drink.
Why, till this late hour, this grave danger looming in the horizon for generations have yet to catch the attention of our authorities, is beyond me? What does it take to make our consecutive governments more concerned about human health?
True, to shift to unleaded fuel overnight could cause disruptions both at the refinery level as well as the user level. The shift would certainly entail cost. But so does human life. All that is suggested is the introduction of a policy and practice for phasing out the deployment of unclean fuel on a gradual basis. This could be done by insisting that all vehicle imports be equipped with catalytic converters. As a matter of fact, car manufacturers build in catalytic converters in all new models as a matter of routine.
We in Jordan have a relatively high rate of cancer. Surely our authorities have begun the search for the causes. Surely they must have stumbled on pollution, contamination and lead as among the principle culprits. Yet we see no action! Not even a policy statement recognising the crisis.
Among His Majesty King Hussein's last words to the nation were reminders about environment, clean air and a life free of contaminants. It seems that those words were all but forgotten. What better tribute can we make in memory of the late King than to start paying more attention to the environment, clean air and a more healthy lifestyle.
It is not too much to ask. Otherwise consecutive governments may be held criminally accountable by later generations just as cigarette companies were found guilty and accountable by smokers many years after the act.
( Jordan Times )
By Waleed M Sadi
© 2000 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
