Week 6 - Ecological Determinants of Health, Human Ecology and Sustainability

Question 1

define/explain: sustainable development

Answer 1

• meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
• keeping our ecosystems healthy
• interacting with ecosystems in ways that allow them to continue providing all creatures with the resources that they need

Question 2

how can public health in the 21st century address ecological determinants of health?

Answer 2

• address the natural world
• encompass concepts such as One Health and Ecohealth
• specifically target the health challenges of human-induced global climate change, resource depletion, ecotoxicity and loss of biodiversity

Question 3

Key factors are driving ecosystem changes

Answer 3

• population growth and urbanization
• economic growth and development
• technological changes and advances
• social changes and movements
• societal and cultural values, which for the past 200 to 300 years have emphasized ‘progress’/modernization

Question 4

define: GDP (gross domestic product)

Answer 4

• gross tally of products and services bought and sold
• important indicator of national economies
• assumed to correlate with standard of living
• fails to distinguish between economic activities that are beneficial and those that are harmful

Question 5

define/explain: fast fashion

Answer 5

• rapid production/short lead time
• increased number of fashion seasons
• low cost materials/fabrics and labour
• poor garment construction
• product lifespans are deliberately shortened to increase consumption & early disposal

Question 6

define/explain: 4 dimensions of slow fashion

Answer 6

1. Equity and Localism, caring for producers and local communities for sustainable life
2. Authenticity, traditional techniques, with more time on pieces of clothes
3. Exclusivity, small quantities of unique, high-quality products
4. Functionality, maximizing product lifespan and efficiency for a sustainable environment

Question 7

define/explain: slow fashion

Answer 7

-slows down the fashion cycle through slow production and consumption
-does not exploit natural/human resources to expedite manufacturing speed
-entails a longer product lifespan from manufacturing to discarding
Shifts consumers’ mindsets from quantity to quality

Question 8

define/explain: slow fashion solutions for consumers

Answer 8

• buy high quality items less often
• choose clothing made from one type of fabric, as blends cannot be recycled
• choose designs that are long lasting in terms of style
• consider versatility (ex. clothes worn in different ways with different accessories)