Are Big Oil Democrats Complicit In The Deaths Caused By The Oil And Gas Industry?
And how the Texas Congressional District 07 Democratic Primary race has turned into an ideological fight over which crime is worse.
https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/are-big-oil-democrats-complicit-in
Fossil fuel air pollution is responsible for 1 in 5 deaths worldwide yearly. Research from Harvard University found that more than 8 million people die each year from fossil fuel pollution as a result of breathing in air containing particles from burning fuels like coal, petrol, and diesel, which aggravate respiratory conditions like asthma and can lead to lung cancer, coronary heart disease, strokes, and early death.
On top of that, an estimated 400,000 people die each year due to hunger and diseases related to climate change. By 2030, the death toll is expected to rise to 700,000 per year and cost the global economy 2.5% of GDP annually.
The Houston area has some of the worst cancer clusters in the nation. And those cancer clusters lay primarily in Black and brown neighborhoods, killing people of color at higher rates and much quicker than in white Harris County neighborhoods.
In light of these staggering statistics, it is essential to examine the role of political actors, particularly those within the Democratic Party, in addressing the deadly consequences of the oil and gas industry.
While we all know that corrupt Republicans will kill our earth and millions of people in the process for the big money that they get from the oil and gas industry, the Democratic Party is often associated with environmental advocacy. The reality is more complex, especially in regions heavily reliant on fossil fuel extraction and production, such as Texas.