Breathing Hope

Synopsis: The story centers around a man and his father, who reunite in Mexico City.
ALEJANDRO, who is a passionate environmentalist, talks about his line of work
involving research into the issue of air pollution in Mexico City. Meanwhile, his father
ROBERTO engages in a heated debate due to his perspective on the urgency of the
issue.

Characters:
ALEJANDRO (late 20s): A passionate environmentalist and advocate for clean air in
Mexico City.

ROBERTO (early 60s): ALEJANDRO's father, a traditional man who struggles to see
the urgency of addressing air pollution.

Scene sets in a restaurant in downtown metropolitan Mexico City.

ALEJANDRO: Papa. It’s great to see you again.

ROBERTO: It’s great to see you too son.

ALEJANDRO: I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve seen you. I want you to know
that I don’t take this for granted.

ROBERTO: What makes you say that?

ALEJANDRO: Well… (Pause). I don’t know, I just wanted to let you know that. I mean,
it’s always good to reaffirm. You never know what will happen in life.

ROBERTO: That is a fact. I think we need to toast. (Grabs drink) Salud! (Drinks with
son) Your mother would be so proud of you if she was still here. Reminds me of the
good old days. Back in the day, take a stroll down the metropolitan, go down to the local
food vendors, sometimes take a cruise. With your mama of course…

ALEJANDRO: Is that so?

ROBERTO: It hasn’t been the same. (Walks around) Not since we’ve changed our laws.
It feels different out here in the city. Now we’re constantly looking over our backs over
the amount of power we use? How much do we drive?
ALEJANDRO: There is a point…/

Robeto: /What point? Is this another one of those environmental speeches or whatever?

*ALEJANDRO gets up*

ALEJANDRO: (With concern) It’s not just an environmental issue. Dad, have you
noticed how bad the air pollution in Mexico City has become lately?

ROBERTO: (Nonchalant) Oh, ALEJANDRO, it's always been like this. It's just the way
things are in the city.

ALEJANDRO: (leaning forward) No, Dad, it's worse than ever. The smog is choking our
beautiful city, and it's not just a cosmetic issue. It's affecting our health and contributing
to climate change.

ROBERTO: (dismissively) Climate change? Those are just buzzwords. It's all part of
some global conspiracy, trying to control us.

ALEJANDRO: (patiently) Dad, this is not a conspiracy theory. It's a scientific fact. The
air pollution here is caused by various factors like vehicle emissions, industrial activity,
and deforestation. Ground-level ozone is formed through the interaction of nitrogen
oxides with volatile organic compounds, and ultraviolet radiation from the sun. In
Mexico, the weather during spring is particularly hot and dry, perfect conditions for
ozone to form. (Forms a circle hand). What i’m saying is that all these pollutants trap
heat in our atmosphere, leading to global warming and climate change.

ROBERTO: (Dismissively) Ah, hijo, it's been like this for years. It's just something we
have to live with. The city's always been a bit polluted. Air pollution in Mexico City
reached its peak in the 80s and 90s at record levels.

ALEJANDRO: You know why? The high population. Greater Mexico City, grew
substantially from 3.1 million in the 1950s to 14 million. By 1992, Mexico City was
labelled by the United Nations as the world’s most polluted city.

*ROBERTO gets up to leave*

ROBERTO: Son. I love your passion for your job but this isn’t the time. How could you
talk about your city, your home, the place you were born like that. Your mama… god
rest her soul, she’d feel the same. You’re getting worked over a minor issue.
*ALEJANDRO gets up and hands him the book he’s been working on.*

ALEJANDRO: (Passionately) But Dad, it's not just a minor issue. I wrote that book,
about our city. The air we breathe is making people sick, and it's contributing to climate
change, which affects the whole world.

ROBERTO: (Uncertain) Climate change? That's just a fancy term they use on TV. What
is even that? It's not something we need to worry about.

ALEJANDRO: (calmly) Dad, it's real, and it's happening now. The more we pollute the
air with carbon emissions from cars and factories, the more our planet warms up,
leading. Air pollution can alter local and regional weather patterns. For instance, the
urban heat island effect can lead to changes in precipitation patterns, cloud formation,
and local climate, affecting agricultural productivity and water availability.

ROBERTO: (Hesitant) Sure you say all that but what can we do about it? I mean i’m an
old man already. And It's not like we can change everything overnight.

ALEJANDRO: (Thinking) We might not be able to fix everything immediately, but there
are small steps we can take to make a difference. Using public transportation or biking
instead of driving, recycling, and supporting businesses that prioritize sustainability are
all ways to help.

ROBERTO: (Skeptical) I don't know, hijo. It just seems like a lot of effort for something
that might not even make a big impact. Think about it? Over 16 million Mexicans cook
primarily with firewood or charcoal and many households use them as secondary fuels.

ALEJANDRO: (Determined) Dad, even small changes can add up when everyone does
their part. If we don't act now, the air we breathe will only get worse, and future
generations will suffer the consequences. Part of that is education.

ROBERTO: Education?

ROBERTO: (Reflective) I guess I never really thought about it that way. I've always
been focused on providing for our family and didn't consider how our actions could
affect the environment.

ALEJANDRO: (Understanding) I know, Dad. But now we have an opportunity to be part

of the solution. Think about it like this: the total cost would be some 16 billion Pesos a
year, but annual benefits would rise to nearly 40 billion Pesos. All if we invested towards
better options. We can educate ourselves and others, advocate for cleaner policies, and
be mindful of our daily choices.

ROBERTO: What exactly would be the plan?

ALEJANDRO: Adaptation to increased rain and extreme events will consist of improved
flood management by developing flood gates and alert systems. Rural development
projects will promote soil and water conservation, reforestation and crop protection
projects. These will further include monitoring of genetically modified crops, promotion
of organic agriculture, planting of climate-change-resistant tree species and the
promotion of green roofs.

ROBERTO: (softly) You're right, mijo. Maybe it's time I start paying more attention to
these issues.

ALEJANDRO: (smiling) That means a lot to me, Dad. Together, we can make a
difference and leave a healthier planet for future generations.

ROBERTO: (grateful) I'm proud of you, ALEJANDRO. Your passion and dedication have
opened my eyes. Let's work together on this.