TOI correspondent from Washington: Nearly two centuries after Tipu Sultan’s Mysore projectiles, which the British used in Congreve rockets, prompted Francis Scott Key to note the “red glow of the rocket” in the Star-Spangled Banner, now the United States’ capital is about to discover that fireworks, no matter their source, are no fun on a sweltering summer night.With temperatures across much of the United States expected to reach record levels on the Fourth of July, the Trump administration is moving forward with what it promises will be the largest fireworks show in history to mark America’s 250th birthday, an extravagant event aimed at setting a Guinness World Record while simultaneously testing the atmosphere’s ability to absorb smoke.Washingtonians are accustomed to the spectacular Independence Day parades atop the National Mall.
But this year, “amazing” has been transformed into “oversized.” Organizers say more than 860,000 fireworks impacts will light up the sky during the 40-minute finale, nearly 50 times the number used in a typical Fourth of July celebration, which typically includes 17,000 to 20,000 projectiles over less than 20 minutes.Pennsylvania-based fireworks company Pyrotecnico, one of the nation’s largest in the industry, brought out more than 50 truckloads of fireworks, with coordinated launches from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Basin, West Potomac Park and eight barges moored on the Potomac River.
About 60 technicians will synchronize the display in what organizers hope will become the largest fireworks display in the world.But environmentalists did not like this. Fireworks are essentially colorful chemical explosions, launching clouds of fine particles, sulfur compounds, heavy metals and greenhouse gases into the air. Studies have consistently shown that air pollution rises dramatically during major fireworks displays, sometimes reaching levels considered unhealthy, especially for children, the elderly and people with respiratory conditions.
Not to mention what it does to terrifying pets.Meteorologists expect afternoon highs to reach 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius), with the index of stagnant air already causing local pulmonologists to hyperventilate. In Washington, a city built on an actual swamp, high heat traps fine particles near the ground, creating a toxic dome of ozone and smog. Adding tens of thousands of chemical explosions to the mix is like throwing a gasoline party inside a greenhouse.The Environmental Protection Agency, which currently operates under leadership that views carbon emissions as a minor nuisance, has remained predictably upbeat. Activists warn that the massive release of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), barium, copper and strontium will cause air toxicity levels to rise to “dangerous” within minutes of the grand finale, but no one in the administration is particularly concerned about this.
In Trump’s world, if the air gets a little smoky, or the thermometers threaten to melt, it’s simply proof that America produces more energy than anyone else.The irony is particularly striking because Trump has made no secret of his disdain for global warming. Since returning to office, his administration has continued to dismantle climate initiatives, encouraged expansion of fossil fuel production, rolled back emissions rules, and claimed that regulations unnecessarily burden economic growth.
For supporters, who accuse critics of “pissing on the show,” the Fourth of July spectacle represents unvarnished American confidence.
For progressives, it’s like celebrating environmentalism by setting a fire in a national park.Adding to the controversy is the cost. According to internal documents first reported by The Washington Post, the federal government is spending about $1.6 million on the fireworks display this year, more than five times the amount typically spent on Independence Day fireworks in Washington of about $270,000.
While the money is chump change compared to what is spent to beautify Washington, D.C., the celebration was designated a special national security event, bringing thousands of National Guard troops, federal agents, widespread road closures and elaborate screening procedures to downtown Washington.
For many residents, the biggest challenge may not be finding a good viewing spot, but simply surviving the mix of traffic jams, heat warnings, and airport-style security queues before the first rocket leaves Earth.Then comes another interesting global development. If Washington succeeds in setting a world record for the largest fireworks display ever — under a president who has spent years imposing tariffs on Chinese imports while urging Americans to “buy American” — there’s a good chance that many of those thundering red, white and blue explosions celebrating American independence will begin their journey in Chinese factories.
On one glorious evening, the loudest sound in Washington may be a clear surge of patriotism, fueled, at least in part, by imports from the country that America now regards as its chief strategic rival.
