Earth Day, Every Day
Though a few days late, let us ponder again the far reaching implications of our actions on the health of the earth body and human body… After all, Earth day is every day! Our current era of post-industrial-post-modern living (in many “developed” nations) is defined by a certain standard of living that is accompanied by serious costs and consequences that wander far beyond geographic and political borders. For a list of health conditions please see John’s excellent Earth Day post).
Two great studies sponsored by NASA explore the relationship between atmospheric conditions and human health. NASA has teamed up with researchers from Emory to measure particulate matter concentrations (PM 2.5) in smoke and haze via satellite in order to better document the link between environmental hazards and disease. The second study combines the technological resources of NASA with health researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to analyze the effect of the environment on cardiovascular disease in African Americans living in the “Stroke Belt.” Results from this six year NIH-funded investigation, called Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS), have been integrated into the CDC WONDER database.
A few days ago, Senator John Kerry urged the public and congress to move forward with legislation to tackle climate change. Today’s proposed unveiling of the new senate bill was delayed largely in part due to a shift in priorities from energy reform to immigration reform. Though this announcement sent Senator Graham packing, let us hope that the reality of the situation remains impetus enough for swift action.
Oren Lyons, a member of the Seneca Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy and indigenous rights activist, imparts the Haudenosaunee thought that decision-making should be guided by the welfare of the seventh generation to come. The below quotation from Lyons eloquently captures wisdom of indigenous inhabitants of North America:
We say that the faces of coming generations are looking up from the earth. So when you put your feet down, you put them down very carefully – because there are generations coming one after the other. If you think in these terms, then you’ll walk a lot more carefully, be more respectful of this earth (Lyons 1995).
Corporate machines, government and individuals should take this advice, and think long term. If respect for our home doesn’t change policy or opinion, the gathering scientific evidence linking environmental conditions and health should: it is in everyone’s best interest to preserve our home for our health.
About The Author
Susan Lewis
Susan Lewis is a second year medical student at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago Medical School. She has been president of her school PHR chapter for two years. Susan has participated in AMSA's PharmFree Conference, Global Health Leadership Institute and Integrative Medicine Conference. She plans to pursue a career in community/primary care medicine, focusing on eliminating health disparities, especially among the marginalized and indigenous population, within the context of integrative medicine. Her lifetime goal is to become an informed and compassionate contributing member of the global society and local community, in which she may continually gain and give passion for healthy, harmonious and whole living, within all facets of life. Susan is also a writer for her university newspaper and is a regular contributer of FM Mag, an independent culture magazine from Denver, Colorado. She joined Global Pulse in 2009.
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Well written, interesting article. I liked the quote by Oren Lyons
Great post, Susan. You know if the NASA/REGARDS study had anything to do with the EPA’s modeled particulate matter? (available here: http://www.epa.gov/esd/land-sci/lcb/lcb_sfads.html ) It is some excellent data for sure.