According to World Health Organization, Tbilisi is one of the most polluted cities in the world.
- Pollution level in Tbilisi exceeds 2.9 times the WHO safe level.
- Pollution level in Georgia is 90% more than WHO safe level.
- In Georgia, the top illness caused by air pollution is Ischemic heart disease.
For comparison: pollution in Washington (US) is 10% lower than normal; In Madrid (Spain) is equal to the norm; Riga (Latvia) exceeds the norm by 70%; In Brussels (Belgium) is 80% more than the norm. In Tbilisi, that norm is almost 300%.
- Vake Park – Photo by Rusudan Tavelishvili
UNICEF published a new report on December 6 , according to which children under the age of one year are at risk of mental development. Their number reaches 17 million.
The dirty air is a major and often invisible killer who is linked to every 9th death in the world. Including:
36% of lung cancer deaths;
34% -med-stokes;
27% of the chronic lung diseases;
35% – chronic illnesses in the stomach.
As she explains it is her voice on canvas to awake the human beings that nature is the happiness “There is Escapade from everything material, ambitious and getting stuck in the loneliness, staying just with yourself.” says Maka Batiashvhili.
Pieces from Maka Batiashvili’s diary
“There was a small puddle near the ladder where a little bird was drinking a water tastily. The pool was full of cigarette-butts and the bird was drinking so tastily, my heart was broken.”
“A lot of people have moved around or planning to move to the countryside for some reason. Escape is a way out of a situation, but I want to live in the city, I do not want to plant flowers, or even a vegetable cultivation. I want to walk in the overcrowd streets and my friends come with me easily.
“I’m looking hopefully fir-trees grown near my windows, They will still defend me, a little bit from heavy metals.”
Air pollution is the number one challenge for the whole world. The States fight against it but sometimes governed people force governments to act and do the their best to avoid fatal results.
In 2014, Mr Leonardo DiCaprio, UN Messenger of Peace talked about potential disasters at the opening of the climate summit.
“Now must be our moment for action, clean air and a livable climate are inalienable human rights and solving this crisis is not a question of politics, it is a question of our own survival.” says Leonardo DiCaprio.
When Leonardo DiCaprio and Barack Obama were discussing about impacts of climate change, US former President said ” we can stop it before it becomes catastrophic”
These short videos reflects the large scale of this problem, but what is happening in Georgia and in its capital city right here, right now? The audio describes feelings of citizens when they can not feel the fresh air in the streets.
Also, this brief podcast tells the story about painting, which is related to solitude, escapade from everything material, its author describes what does it mean, when you are the part of an undamaged nature and fresh air is not your “pain”.
GIPA Media School 