Amidst the haze that has blanketed Washington D.C. and other cities along the east coast, Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke (R) took to Twitter to call out Democrats who are complaining about the smoke from wildfires in Canada. In a video message that was posted on his Twitter account, Zinke pointed out that it is time for politicians to ensure that preventive measures are in place to mitigate the effects of such catastrophes.
I have zero empathy for D.C. politicians complaining about the smoke.
— Rep Ryan Zinke (@RepRyanZinke) June 8, 2023
If you won’t allow us to responsibly manage forests, you should have to deal with the consequences just like we do in the West. pic.twitter.com/mY7bDP19dy
While there are air advisories in place across the affected regions, Democrats have taken the opportunity to harp about climate change on social media. However, Zinke believes that instead of blaming climate change, we should ensure that forest fire prevention measures are in place to reduce the extent of damage caused by wildfires.
Zinke went on to say that politicians who fail to prioritize forest fire prevention measures should be ready to face the consequences. He reiterated that the same way the western states have had to deal with the consequences of such disasters, politicians on the east coast should deal with such situations as well. Therefore, he has zero empathy for those politicians who have so far failed to prioritize environmental management.
Zinke’s message comes at a time when cities like Washington D.C., New York City, and Philadelphia are covered by a thick layer of haze due to smoke from the recent Canadian wildfires. In fact, the smoke has become so dense that masks are once again becoming a common sight for people in these densely populated cities.
Zinke, who is a former Secretary of the Interior under the Trump administration, has always been an advocate for forest management practices that emphasize the importance of wildfire prevention measures. He believes that politicians who fail to address the issue are simply exacerbating the problem, and people in densely populated areas like Washington D.C. or the east coast end up paying the price.
Between NYC in wildfire smoke and this in PR, it bears repeating how unprepared we are for the climate crisis.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 7, 2023
We must adapt our food systems, energy grids, infrastructure, healthcare, etc ASAP to prepare for what’s to come and catch up to what is already here. #GreenNewDeal 🌱 https://t.co/GT7hY4Ffm3
BREAKING: @MWCOG has issued a CODE PURPLE for DC area. "The D.C. region has not previously recorded a Code Purple day for fine particle pollution." Code purple means air is unhealthy for all people. Limit time outside and/or wear mask. pic.twitter.com/OYW8FVxEdE
— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) June 8, 2023
I can barely breath outside here in DC because the air quality is so bad. We’ve been advised that it will be like this for two straight days.
— Maxwell Alejandro Frost (@MaxwellFrostFL) June 7, 2023
The climate crisis is here. We can and must prevent the worse effects of it. https://t.co/L8GAEnQi5S pic.twitter.com/uksf9wGMRk
Therefore, it is crucial for policymakers to make forest fire prevention measures a priority, especially in regions where wildfires are a common occurrence. While climate change may play a slight role in increasing the likelihood of such disasters, it is equally important to ensure that preventive measures are in place to mitigate the effects of such catastrophes.
In conclusion, Zinke’s message serves as a timely reminder of the need for responsible environmental management practices that prioritize preventive measures. As the smoke from the Canadian wildfires continues to cover cities along the east coast, it’s time for policymakers to take action and address the root cause of the problem.