Definitions

1. The air outside, especially when considered good for you because it does not contain dirt or dangerous substances - You should go outside and get some fresh air.

2. 'We all need some fresh air.' - I need some fresh air.

3. Take exercise, preferably in the fresh air.

But in a heavily polluted environment, from factories to vehicles, are humans "entitled" to fresh air, or is air that contains dangerous substances simply something people will have to adapt to with no drive towards sustainable transport and environmentally friendly living?

I am concerned one day, people will not even have a chance to breathe fresh air outside, with no chance to think and reflect, without having to consider the the impacts on their own life.

Dear Nathan,

What comes your way, to which you are entitled, including air and fresh air in particular, depends on your previous deeds, in both this and former lifetimes.

How have you been treating others? Have you helped others to breathe clean air or perchance you polluted their air instead, or some equivalent commodity?

You only reap what you sow.

//Am I entitled to fresh air?//

No, you'll just waste it.

Good news: yes, you are entitled to fresh air!
Bad news: you'll have to collect it yourself!

Good news: air quality in Australia is generally improving.
Bad news: that does not apply to Sydney.

Good news: it's being carefully monitored and a plan of action is being developed.
Bad news: it's going to take decades to fix the problem.

NathanJ,

Glass half full or glass half empty, it is your choice.

I reckon you should be giving thanks for the many engineers and other professionals who do so much to improve our quality of life. For instance by removing the asbestos from brake linings and lead from fuels from the air.

Two things they cannot change though,

first, all of the negative flow-on effects from the rush towards a 'Big Australia'; and,

secondly, the stupidity and willfulness of decisionmakers and some ordinary people too, in effectively sabotaging engineering and other tech improvements.

Look around and you will see continuous improvement, for example, council buses being converted to gas. But just stopping people from burning lawn clippings and rubbish in home incinerators was a huge step forward.

If you want to worry about something, you could concern yourself with the use of antibiotics in meat production that results in resistant strains of pathogens. We have been very lucky so far.

You could move to the country and shoot some 'underground mutton'. If you grow some veggies without insecticides and get around a bit (gardening helps), you could have everything you want. How dependent are you on high skilled, high tech medical facilities though? That might be a restriction.

I have mate with a copra plantation north of Bougainville. He is always looking for workers.

How dextrous are you? Could you husk 2 coconuts a minute? If so he would probably give you a job. Believe me, the air is so fresh up there it almost makes your eyes water.

If you think you're good enough, let me know. Pay is good, 28 Kina a week, almost A$12, with all accommodation & keep thrown in. But do beware, you actually have to earn your money up there. Unlike our bureaucrats & academics, you don't get paid for mere attendance.