HISTORY This Week A Toxic Turkey Day
Nov 28, 2024
Frank Uekotter, author of "The Age of Smoke," discusses the infamous Thanksgiving smog of 1966 that enveloped New York City during the Macy’s Day Parade. He reveals how this environmental crisis killed nearly 200 people and sparked significant changes in U.S. environmental policy, culminating in the Clean Air Act. Uekotter critiques the oversimplification of reacting to dramatic disasters, urging deeper consideration of chronic pollution issues. He dives into the historical roots of air pollution, linking industrial practices to modern environmental challenges.
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NYC Smog
- The 1966 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC occurred under a noxious gray sky.
- This smog would kill nearly 200 people over the holiday weekend.
Chronic vs. Apocalyptic Threats
- Humans struggle to address chronic threats effectively, preferring to focus on large-scale disasters.
- This tendency hinders proper response to daily environmental damage.
Early 20th Century Smog
- Early 20th-century cities were incredibly dirty due to industrial smoke, impacting homes and visibility.
- Concerns focused mainly on cleanliness, property values, and aesthetics, not health.