Ecology and health ch 13 Flashcards
Describe how the natural environment contributes directly and indirectly to health.
Human ecology studies the interaction of ppl with their environment. We are dependent on living in the global ecosystem and ensuring sustainability.
Directly: heatwaves, floods
Indirectly: changes overtime eg patterns of respiratory illness and infectious diseases.
E.g Indig health linked to land
Explore the effects of climate change
The world is now leaving a stable health period and entering one of fast- changes and unpredictability. Human activity is increasing green house gas concentrations and causing global warming. This started with the industrial period that has seen excess fossil fuel burning, changing of topography, deforestation, pollution of waterways.The effects are being experienced differently in different regions. In Aust we are likely to see prolonged drought and more El Niño. We have already seen the devastating effects to the Great Barrier Reef.
Show understanding of the principles of ecological public health and show how they build on the new public health.
An ecological approach would ‘consider what changes we need to make to social and ecological determinants to bring about, at the population level, health, well-being, social justice and a sustainable ecosystem’.
Public health has transitioned from sanitary-environment models to ecological public health model that sees health as dependent on ‘ on the successful coexistence of the natural world and social relationships’.
- sustainable resources
- includes global frameworks that integrate health and ecology
- intersectorial action is crucial
- focus on health of the ecosystem rather than disease prevention and basic health promotion
- concerned with sustainability and viability of the physical environment and human impact as well as practical solutions to complex problems
- sees equity and justice as social and environmental concerns
UNESCO offers four principles as a starting point to develop and ecological public health model. What are they?
- respect and care for the community of life
- ecological integrity
- social and economic justice
- democracy, nonviolence and peace.
These offer a starting point for developing an ecological public health model that describes the relationship between the theoretical perspectives of ecology and public health practice.
Reflect on indigenous understandings of the social and natural worlds.
Aboriginal people see the correlation between a society at peace with itself where all our values are recognised and accepted, and a physical environment where our lands, seas and rivers are seen as central to our being.
Central to ATSI is the recognition of core responsibilities- including caring and maintenance of harmony and balance with ins and between physical and spiritual realms.
Our environment becomes part of us e.g a garden that has had a lot of effort put into it- and as such deserves respect
Traditional ATSI plan was don’t be greedy, take what you need and respect everything around you. Simple in theory yet apart lets hard to carry out.
Discuss skills to communicate about the rship between ecological theories and public health practice.
When faced with complex issues, public health often reverts to social marketing campaigns, or ‘lifestyle drift’.
An ecological approach would ‘consider what changes we need to make to social and ecological determinants to bring about, at the propulsion level, health, well being, social justice and a sustainable ecosystem.
Few government prioritise health over big business- big tobacco, big alcohol, big soft drinks, big food etc.
Concentration of power must be challenged because it affects the daily living conditions of the poor whose health can only be improved by encouraging social change and knowledge.
To get issues on the agenda- 3 streams must be brought together by
Policy entrepreneurs, to open policy Windows- problems, policy and politics.
Politics is the hardest because of vested interests in denying climate change. Must work with civil society, policy networks, media and professional associations to bring the problems and policies with the political forces.
Must correct incorrect claims made by ppl in power.
Power groups often change and reframe ideas which become ambiguous from their actual intention eg sustainable has become a buzzword to hide political agendas.
Must use clear language, make issue tangible, use exhaustive facts to prove, prime audience, be conversational, be focused.
