Going for Gold & Earth's Last Gasp for Clean Air
- Laura A. Weber
- 5 minutes ago
- 3 min read
While the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics spotlight unity, goodwill, and mutual respect among the world's premier athletes, the flame of justice is almost extinguished for the good of the whole planet. Inspiring images of athletes collapsing in the snow after gruelling cross-country marathons, short track speed skates, or downhill skiing and ice dancing are everywhere. On the global scale, we see the best of us, being congratulated or consoled by teammates and competitors alike, holding up and encouraging fellow athletes, and promoting human solidarity in the spirit of the games. IOC President and 7-time Olympic medallist, Kirsty Coventry reminded Olympians at the Opening Ceremonies, "This is why we all love the Games. Because through you, we see the very best of ourselves. You remind us that we can be brave, that we can be kind, that we can get back up no matter how hard we fall."
Drawing on her African heritage, Coventry drew on the concept of Ubuntu, which means, "I am because we are." She said, “Let these Games be a celebration of what unites us, and of everything that makes us human, inspiring us all to be the best that we can be – together.”
For Olympians and Paralympians alike, going for Gold, aspiring for excellence, means what we hold in common, what we hold most dear is symbolized by flame more than flag, fellow athletes united by strength, courage, excellence, mutual respect, and fair play. The good of the Whole. A planet united.
Juxtapose these images with the excruciating scenes at home in the U.S., where human rights are trampled, Nature's rights are abused, and the last hope for Earth's collective breath expires with the repeal of the Endangerment Finding. The erstwhile Environmental Protection (Perdition?) Agency under Director Lee Zeldin recently manoevered a full-scale recission of the Endangerment Finding from 2009 that required the EPA to limit emissions of any air pollutant that causes or contributes to "air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare."
The planet's air, our shared Breath, is under full-scale attack. It's like our very Spirit (>Gk. πνεῦμα - pneuma = breath, spirit) is being crushed. But there's cause for hope!
This past week, a coalition of environmental and health advocates stood up to the calamitous attack on Earth's last protection from toxic air pollution. Health advocacy groups, including the American Public Health Association, the American Lung Association, Alliance of Nurses for a Healthy Environment and Physicians for Social Responsibility, along with environmental groups such as the Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Law Foundation, Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council and Sierra Club all stood together in defense of our beleaguered planet. EPA's repeal of the Endangerment Finding, along with eliminating safeguards to curb vehicle emissions, "marks a complete dereliction of the agency's mission to protect people's health and its legal obligations under the Clean Air Act,'' said Gretchen Goldman, president and CEO at the Union of Concerned Scientists, one of the coalition members.
As we witness the lengthening of days in Spring, gold is aplenty. Gold medals adorning distinguished Olympians and gold foils glinting in the evening sky inspire us to awaken to growth and new beginnings, solidarity and hope. We are collectively holding our breath for what may be the last clean gasp of air for the planet. We can infuse the biosphere with renewed energy and hope if we protect what we love.
U.S. Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim embodies this sentiment in defending a fellow athlete from attacks. "In moments like these, it is really important for us to unite and kind of stand up for one another, for all that’s going on,” Kim said.
Kim said she is proud to represent the U.S., and added, “We are allowed to voice our opinions on what’s going on, and I think that we need to lead with love and compassion, and I would love to see some more of that.”
So would I, Chloe. So would I. Golden!