( BLACK PR WIRE) ( February 1, 2008) The Amazon rainforest has been described as the lungs of our planet, producing more clean, pristine, breathable oxygen than anywhere else on earth. Rainforests around the world are said to produce around 40% of the world’s oxygen, are home to half of the world’s plant and animal species and supply ingredients for a quarter of all our prescription drugs including plants used to make 70% of our cancer treatment drugs.

As a person suffering from asthma, oxygen becomes more and more important to me all of the time. Anyone with asthma will tell you that breathing with difficulty is extremely stressful and often frightening. According to the American Lung Association, African Americans have the highest asthma prevalence of any racial/ethic group. Furthermore according to statistics from the non-profit initiative Clear the Air and the Environmental Protection Agency 71% of African Americans lived in counties that violated federal air pollution standards in 2002 compared to 58% of the Anglo population.

So what do these statistics have to do with anything? The fact is that a great deal of our health woes are directly linked to our natural environment and its destruction over time. Living “green” means being aware of the national and international initiatives set in place to restore our natural environment and its health and to support these initiatives. Global warming negatively affects everyone living on this planet just as much as losing the rainforests.

Scientists and politicians alike are concerned with environmental issues for a reason; our welfare as human beings living on this planet revolves around a healthy ecosystem. The African American voice must be heard in the coming years, supporting clean air and a healthy life for everyone. Advocacy initiatives are available in the national and local arenas. Living “green” affects everything from our air and water quality to the nutrients in our foods to the futures of our children and grandchildren yet to come.