Muaawiyah enjoys spending time outdoors with his younger brother Zubayr. Together, they go to a nearby park or walk around downtown. However, living in Los Angeles near fossil fuel infrastructure, including 3 ½ miles from a fracked well, has put Muaawiyah and his younger brother at risk of air and water pollution. The increase in smoggy air from wildfires irritates Muaawiyah’s eyes, makes it hard for him to breathe and causes him to cough a lot. Due to the bad air quality he’s experienced, Muaawiyah has become accustomed to checking air quality on the Weather App several times a week before going outside.

The accelerating climate crisis isn’t only harming his health but his safety as well. In August 2023, winds from Tropical Storm Hilary were so strong that they blew off part of the roof of his home. For Muuawiyah, the climate crisis is devastating and thinking too deeply about it makes him feel despair.