US tech billionaire Bryan Johnson recently made headlines after abruptly walking out of Nikhil Kamath's podcast, citing poor air quality in the room as his reason. The room's AQI was 130¡ªrelatively low compared to most Indian cities¡ªyet his exit sparked a heated debate. Now, Johnson has addressed the controversy, urging Indians to "organize themselves," a remark that serves as a much-needed wake-up call.
Addressing the controversy, he urged Indians to take action, stating, "A firestorm of debate has ignited in India since I walked off a podcast due to the poor air quality. Indians, organize yourselves and take action."?
He further emphasised the urgency of the issue, claiming, "You will do more to improve India's health by cleaning up the air than by curing cancer."
Bryan Johnson had recently shared his experience of leaving Nikhil Kamath's podcast midway due to poor air quality.?
While appreciating Kamath as a "gracious host," he explained that the room was circulating outdoor air, making his air purifier ineffective.?
By the time he left, the indoor AQI had risen to 130, with PM2.5 levels at 75 micrograms per cubic meter¡ªcomparable to smoking 3.4 cigarettes in a day.
Spending just three days in India, Johnson claimed the pollution triggered a rash, along with irritation in his eyes and throat.?
He was struck by how normalised the issue seemed, noting, "People would be outside running. Babies and small children exposed from birth. No one wore a mask, which can significantly decrease exposure. It was so confusing."
Expressing concern over the lack of urgency, he questioned why India's leadership had not declared air pollution a "national emergency."
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