Blog note. Jesus indicated that ‘fearful sights’ (various natural disasters) would occur leading up to the time known as the Tribulation and Great Tribulation (a combined seven year period of great destruction on earth). Although these types of things have occurred in the past for centuries and thousands of years, they could be identified as the ‘season of the times’ due to the ferociousness of these events. They would be occurring in greater intensity, severity, frequency, size, duration, scope … just like the pains that a woman experiences in labor the farther along she is in the labor process. We are in the ‘season of the times’ that comes just before the seven (7) year Tribulation/Great Tribulation period

… And great earthquakes shall be in diverse places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. (Luke 21:11).

… And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; (Luke 21:25)

… Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken; (Luke 21:26)

… This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2 Timothy 3:1)

Jesus is giving a series of prophecies about what to look for as the age of grace comes to a close. These verses are several of many such prophecies from throughout the Bible. 2017 was the worst year in recorded history for the intensity, frequency, severity, duration and occurrence of a large number of severe natural disasters worldwide. Earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones, torrential flooding, unprecedented wildfires in unusual places, devastating droughts, excessive/scorching heat setting records everywhere, record snowfalls in Europe and Russia. Snow in the Arabia. This list can go on. Most studied Eschatologists believe these ‘fearful sights’ and massive natural disasters are all part of the ‘CONVERGENCE’ of signs that this Biblical and prophetic age is closing. Most people who study prophecy are familiar with the routine reference(s) made that these things will be like a woman having labor pains, growing in intensity, frequency, size, duration and scope.

Delhi’s toxic smog: the mix of pollutants that is killing millions every year. Every single person in India lives in an area where air pollution exceeds WHO safe limits. “60% (6) of the population (800 million) uses ‘outdated cooking stoves.”

The Telegraph. November 4, 2019

India’s cities have long been choked by toxic air but even by the country’s own standards the smog that is currently enveloping the capital, Delhi, is particularly noxious.

The amount of dangerous particulates – known as PM2.5 – in the air are at levels deemed hazardous by the World Health Organization (WHO), with residents complaining of stinging eyes and throats, and admissions to hospital soaring. 

Every winter dirty air chokes the city but in the last few days the fug has been particularly bad, caused by a perfect storm of fireworks let off during Diwali celebrations, the burning of stubble by farmers in surrounding areas and calm weather. 

“Every year, more or less at the same time, there is a critical peak in pollution,” said Dr Maria Neira, director of the department of public health and environment at the World Health Organization. “The situation is of great concern,” she added.

The sludge-coloured toxic smog has prompted the government to close schools, divert flights and limit the number of vehicles allowed on the city’s roads. 

But Daniel Kass, senior vice president at Vital Strategies, a public health organisation, questioned the effectiveness of such a short-term approach.

“A policy that only focuses on one source, or one geographic area, will not be effective in solving the current air pollution crisis,” he said. 

The area surrounding the city, the National Capital Region (NCR), actually contributes much greater levels of pollution, he said. 

One 2018 study found PM2.5 emissions were 15 times higher in the NCR compared to Delhi 

“The biggest emissions sources across the wider area are residential solid fuel use, agricultural burning, road dust and industry. Vehicles represent a much lower proportion of emissions in the Delhi and NCR region than people might expect, given the media’s current emphasis on vehicle emissions and influence on public perceptions.

“Industry and agriculture account for a far greater share of the relevant emissions,” he said.  

Ruchi Soni, senior energy specialist at the not-for-profit organisation Sustainable Energy for All, said that reducing traffic would help in the short term but added: “It really needs a long-term strategy for this to not happen every year. Given the urgency of the situation, this needs both short-term and long-term action with a multi-sectoral approach. This also needs to be declared a national emergency to give it the attention it deserves.”

India’s air is the worst in the world by many measures. According to the annual State of Global Air report every single person in India lives in an area where air pollution exceeds WHO safe limits. 

And an index released by Greenpeace earlier this year showed that seven of the 10 most polluted cities in the world are on the subcontinent. 

Gurugram, to the south west of Delhi, was the world’s most polluted city in 2018, according to the index. Delhi was number 11 on the list, with other Indian cities dominating the top 30.

India’s dirty air is caused by a host of factors: coal-fired energy and industry emissions, agricultural and rubbish burning, road dust and vehicle emissions. 

And pollution from households adds to the toxic mix – India’s population is overwhelmingly reliant on dirty sources of cooking fuel, using wood, coal and even dung to light their stoves. 

The State of Global Air report showed that around 60 per cent of India’s population – more than 800 million people – are still using these outdated cooking stoves, risking not only their own health inside the home, but adding to the pollution outside.  

The government has launched an initiative to persuade people to switch to liquefied petroleum gas but while many households can afford the subsidised fuel, the cost of installing an LPG hook-up can be prohibitive. The government aims to provide 80 million connections by next year. 

Dr Neira says that the sources of India’s air pollution are well understood – it is tackling them that is the hard part.

“India is very heavily dependent on coal for generating electricity. And in cities like Delhi there is no public transport system,” she said.

“Cities have to reduce traffic, there should be subsidies for better management of waste, particularly for farmers. All these measures are well recognised but it requires political will to commit to it,” she says. 

India launched a Clean Air Action Plan earlier this year, with the aim of reducing levels of PM2.5 by up to 30 per cent by 2024. Cities are now required to draw up their own clean air measures.