Keynote talk IEICD conference, Sitges, Spain, March 2015
http://www.iecid2015.com/
Abstract
Generations of slash and burn neoliberal, almost laissez faire development policies, with only rhetorical nods to global conservation and equity, continue to erode not only many environmental determinants of health, but also many factors that underpin social and health development. Here are three warnings to all who will listen that we live in One World with One Health.
First, the hellish and tragic Ebola catastrophe in West Africa is rooted in abysmal heath care, poverty, health illiteracy, high fertility, low education, deforestation and, perhaps, a lack of cultural memory for it. Ebola and other exotic infections risk magnification and intrusion even to the well-being of affluent populations in wealthy countries, not only by the density of international air travel, but by increasing poverty, inequality and overloaded, often sub-optimal heath care systems in those countries.
Second, the extent of open defaecation in India has been linked to undernutrition even in middle-class Indian children with access to toilets. If so, improved sanitation in India will bring obvious co-benefits. Well-off Indians must overcome their fear of educating their oppressed.
Finally, we are experiencing Planetary Overload, manifest not only as climate change, but the depletion of many other ecological and environmental underpinnings of human affluence. Adverse consequences to global nutrition are already evident (e.g. implied by persistently elevated global food prices). Large-scale population immunity is at risk.
The Black Death has been speculatively linked to the Great European Famine. We should not be complacent about this century. We should not be deluded that “walls and moats” are our best defence, nor be obsessed with avian influenza. Instead, health workers must lobby to reverse many trends; a fairer world is the only safe and sustainable escape from our peril. Re-thinking and deeper thinking is also required by many related disciplines that also underpin population health.
This document summarizes the speaker's work in public health over almost 3 decades and their vision for the future. It touches on emerging issues like new diseases, climate change impacts on food and the environment, and growing inequalities. It advocates for a large global civil society movement to promote health for all and combat the political and economic drivers of worsening health inequities worldwide. The speaker dreams of societies working together on sustainable energy solutions and respect for life to ensure civilization does not fail due to impending health, environmental and social challenges.
Talk presented at 1st conference of Doctors for the Environment Australia, University of Melbourne, 2009. "Tertiary health effects of climate change, policy obstacles, and the medical response."
Tony McMichael public health, ecology & environment award, 2018, lecture delivered in Cairns, Australia September 2018. Public Health Association of Australia
This document provides a summary of a lecture on tertiary health effects of climate change and environmental degradation. It discusses how climate change can lead to conflict, migration, and other tertiary effects through multiple pathways. Droughts and reduced crop yields in places like Darfur and Syria are examined as case studies of how environmental changes may have contributed to conflict by exacerbating food insecurity and forcing migration. The document warns that continued warming may lead to regions becoming uninhabitable, tipping points being crossed, and civilization being threatened by severe tertiary impacts of climate change like widespread conflict and migration. Hope is expressed that crisis can spur innovation and progress toward solutions.
This paper argues that, despite considerable rhetoric to the contrary, privileged populations have long undermined “development”, in several ways and scales. The degree of this erosion of development has arguably increased in recent decades, although there are countering trends, especially the spread and declining cost of communication technologies including mobile phones, the internet and more recently social media.
Aid from high to low-income countries, in an attempt to reduce international inequality, has become unfashionable, and many attempts to increase fairness have instead been denigrated, with language such as the “politics of envy”.
Arguments that it is in the rational self-interest of societies and indeed of the whole world to become more equal have also had little effect, despite phenomena such as the September 11 attacks and the rise of the Islamic State, which now attracts violent idealists from many countries. Instead, high-income populations favour attempts to suppress dissidents and practice increasingly intensive and pervasive surveillance.
Finally, this paper argues that anthropogenic climate change is a manifestation of global inequality, which, unless addressed, is likely to not only make other forms of inequality worse, but even to threaten the fabric of global civilization, in combination with other stresses that reflect aspects of “planetary overload”.
References
Butler C.D. (forthcoming) Revised method makes the MDG hunger reduction goal within reach Global Food Security
Butler C.D., editor. 2014, Climate Change and Global Health. CABI, Wallingford, UK
Campbell, M., Cleland, J., Ezeh, A. and Prata, N., 2007. Return of the population growth factor. Science 315, 1501-1502.
Kelley, A.C., 2001. The population debate in historical perspective : revisionism revised. In: N. Birdsall, A.C. Kelley and S.W. Sinding (eds.), Population Matters : Demographic Change, Economic Growth, and Poverty in the Developing World. Oxford University Press, Oxford ; New York, pp. 24-54.
McMichael, A.J. 1993, Planetary Overload, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge UK
Freire, P. 2006, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, 30th Anniversary edition, Continuum, New York, USA.
Climate change poses limits to global food supply and nutritional security through impacts on agriculture. Rising temperatures and weather extremes are reducing crop yields, while land clearing exacerbates warming. Nutrient levels in crops may decline as carbon dioxide rises. Combined with other stresses like declining soil quality and fossil fuel depletion, the global food system faces challenges in sustainingably feeding a growing population. Nutrition science can help address these issues through solutions like climate change mitigation and adaptation, more sustainable agriculture and diets, and new partnerships across sectors.
Keynote talk IEICD conference, Sitges, Spain, March 2015
http://www.iecid2015.com/
Abstract
Generations of slash and burn neoliberal, almost laissez faire development policies, with only rhetorical nods to global conservation and equity, continue to erode not only many environmental determinants of health, but also many factors that underpin social and health development. Here are three warnings to all who will listen that we live in One World with One Health.
First, the hellish and tragic Ebola catastrophe in West Africa is rooted in abysmal heath care, poverty, health illiteracy, high fertility, low education, deforestation and, perhaps, a lack of cultural memory for it. Ebola and other exotic infections risk magnification and intrusion even to the well-being of affluent populations in wealthy countries, not only by the density of international air travel, but by increasing poverty, inequality and overloaded, often sub-optimal heath care systems in those countries.
Second, the extent of open defaecation in India has been linked to undernutrition even in middle-class Indian children with access to toilets. If so, improved sanitation in India will bring obvious co-benefits. Well-off Indians must overcome their fear of educating their oppressed.
Finally, we are experiencing Planetary Overload, manifest not only as climate change, but the depletion of many other ecological and environmental underpinnings of human affluence. Adverse consequences to global nutrition are already evident (e.g. implied by persistently elevated global food prices). Large-scale population immunity is at risk.
The Black Death has been speculatively linked to the Great European Famine. We should not be complacent about this century. We should not be deluded that “walls and moats” are our best defence, nor be obsessed with avian influenza. Instead, health workers must lobby to reverse many trends; a fairer world is the only safe and sustainable escape from our peril. Re-thinking and deeper thinking is also required by many related disciplines that also underpin population health.
This document summarizes the speaker's work in public health over almost 3 decades and their vision for the future. It touches on emerging issues like new diseases, climate change impacts on food and the environment, and growing inequalities. It advocates for a large global civil society movement to promote health for all and combat the political and economic drivers of worsening health inequities worldwide. The speaker dreams of societies working together on sustainable energy solutions and respect for life to ensure civilization does not fail due to impending health, environmental and social challenges.
Talk presented at 1st conference of Doctors for the Environment Australia, University of Melbourne, 2009. "Tertiary health effects of climate change, policy obstacles, and the medical response."
Tony McMichael public health, ecology & environment award, 2018, lecture delivered in Cairns, Australia September 2018. Public Health Association of Australia
This document provides a summary of a lecture on tertiary health effects of climate change and environmental degradation. It discusses how climate change can lead to conflict, migration, and other tertiary effects through multiple pathways. Droughts and reduced crop yields in places like Darfur and Syria are examined as case studies of how environmental changes may have contributed to conflict by exacerbating food insecurity and forcing migration. The document warns that continued warming may lead to regions becoming uninhabitable, tipping points being crossed, and civilization being threatened by severe tertiary impacts of climate change like widespread conflict and migration. Hope is expressed that crisis can spur innovation and progress toward solutions.
This paper argues that, despite considerable rhetoric to the contrary, privileged populations have long undermined “development”, in several ways and scales. The degree of this erosion of development has arguably increased in recent decades, although there are countering trends, especially the spread and declining cost of communication technologies including mobile phones, the internet and more recently social media.
Aid from high to low-income countries, in an attempt to reduce international inequality, has become unfashionable, and many attempts to increase fairness have instead been denigrated, with language such as the “politics of envy”.
Arguments that it is in the rational self-interest of societies and indeed of the whole world to become more equal have also had little effect, despite phenomena such as the September 11 attacks and the rise of the Islamic State, which now attracts violent idealists from many countries. Instead, high-income populations favour attempts to suppress dissidents and practice increasingly intensive and pervasive surveillance.
Finally, this paper argues that anthropogenic climate change is a manifestation of global inequality, which, unless addressed, is likely to not only make other forms of inequality worse, but even to threaten the fabric of global civilization, in combination with other stresses that reflect aspects of “planetary overload”.
References
Butler C.D. (forthcoming) Revised method makes the MDG hunger reduction goal within reach Global Food Security
Butler C.D., editor. 2014, Climate Change and Global Health. CABI, Wallingford, UK
Campbell, M., Cleland, J., Ezeh, A. and Prata, N., 2007. Return of the population growth factor. Science 315, 1501-1502.
Kelley, A.C., 2001. The population debate in historical perspective : revisionism revised. In: N. Birdsall, A.C. Kelley and S.W. Sinding (eds.), Population Matters : Demographic Change, Economic Growth, and Poverty in the Developing World. Oxford University Press, Oxford ; New York, pp. 24-54.
McMichael, A.J. 1993, Planetary Overload, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge UK
Freire, P. 2006, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, 30th Anniversary edition, Continuum, New York, USA.
Climate change poses limits to global food supply and nutritional security through impacts on agriculture. Rising temperatures and weather extremes are reducing crop yields, while land clearing exacerbates warming. Nutrient levels in crops may decline as carbon dioxide rises. Combined with other stresses like declining soil quality and fossil fuel depletion, the global food system faces challenges in sustainingably feeding a growing population. Nutrition science can help address these issues through solutions like climate change mitigation and adaptation, more sustainable agriculture and diets, and new partnerships across sectors.
This document summarizes the relationships between three frameworks: Limits to Growth published in 1972, Planetary Boundaries published in 2009, and Planetary Health published in 2015. It discusses how they each build on previous work limiting population growth and resource use, beginning with Malthus' writings in the 18th century. The document also reviews key findings and limitations of Limits to Growth modeling of global economic and environmental trends, and how Planetary Boundaries and Planetary Health frameworks extend this work to establish planetary-scale boundaries for human activity.
This document provides an overview of reasons to be hopeful about addressing humanity's impact on the planet despite various challenges. It notes that while evolutionary forces have rewarded both aggression towards the planet and cooperation, the challenge is to reach a threshold of global cooperation before resource depletion leads to a "fortress world." It highlights pioneers working on ecological economics and planetary health as reasons for optimism. The document argues that increasing global cooperation, technology, lifestyle changes and shifts in consciousness can help solve environmental problems.
These frameworks (Limits to Growth, Planetary Boundaries and Planetary Health) constitute three generations of an intellectual family “born” in 1972, 2009 and 2015 respectively. Their older antecedents include the work of Malthus. These slides are based on a forthcoming article called Limits to growth, planetary boundaries and planetary health. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability Vol 25. Butler, C. D. (2017 in press).
The document discusses the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which replaced the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015. It notes the MDG 7 target was to integrate sustainable development principles into policies and programs to reverse environmental loss. It then references a New York Times article about the threat of multiple famines in Somalia, Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen due to drought and war. The rest of the document debates whether the SDGs are aspirational but give hope, or are neoliberal and provide an illusion of progress. It concludes there is little chance of significant SDG progress due to inert global forces and taboos within the UN system.
This document summarizes Colin Butler's career working on environmental and climate change issues as a medical doctor. It discusses how environmental change affects human health through impacts on energy, heat, water, food, and causes migration and conflict. Climate change worsens existing public health problems and introduces new risks. Urgent global cooperation is needed to transition to renewable energy and more sustainable systems to avoid catastrophic consequences for health and civilization.
Speakers:
Lhakpa Tshoko (Office of Tibet, Canberra);
Sen Bob Brown (anniversary message);
Em Prof Bob Douglas: "BODHI in a rapidly changing world"
A/Prof Shanti Raman: "Violence against women and girls in South Asia"
Dh Karunadeepa: "My story and my work: the Bahujan Hitay Pune Project"
Dr Ajay Niranjane: "Ambedkarism in Australia - and his concept of social democracy"
Dr Devin Bowles: "A change orientation for Buddhism?"
Prof Colin Butler: "Reflections"
Lecture at the University of Oulu, Finland October 30, 2018, in short course on climate change, weather and health. The University is a WHO Collaborating Centre for Global Change, Environment and Public Health.
This document provides an outline and summary of a presentation on climate change, weather, and human health given by Professor Colin Butler at the University of Oulu, Finland on November 1, 2018. The presentation covers several key topics:
1) Theories on how competition over finite resources can lead to conflict, dating back to Malthus, Darwin, and Wallace.
2) Case studies examining potential links between climate/weather factors like drought and conflict, including the conflicts in Darfur, Sudan, the Arab Spring, and Syria.
3) Components that must be present for climate change to potentially contribute to conflict, including an extreme weather event, scarcity of resources, and a population psychologically willing to engage
Climate Change And Environmental SecurityJosh Gellers
This document discusses reconciling realism with environmental security by expanding the causal linkages between climate change and security issues. It argues that realism can accommodate environmental security by treating climate change as a threat multiplier that increases risks like civil unrest, economic downturns, and reduced crop yields. The document also analyzes existing typologies of direct versus indirect threats and territorial versus extraterritorial risks from climate change impacts. Finally, it proposes a comprehensive policy approach to conceptualizing the environment-security relationship and provides an example of how drought in West Africa caused by climate change could indirectly and extraterritorially impact U.S. security through foreign destabilization.
Environmental Security - National Defense & The Environmentjgordes
The document discusses connecting climate change to national security in order to garner more support for addressing it. It argues that climate change endangers security by increasing risks of conflicts over issues like food and water scarcity. Linking climate change and security policies could help enlist more support and motivate large-scale progress in renewable energy, which benefits both climate change mitigation and security.
Environmental and natural resources economicsMWAIZAVUZYA
This document discusses the relationship between population, poverty, and the environment. It defines key terms like poverty, environment, and population. It then discusses environmental degradation, noting it affects developing countries more and can be caused by both natural disasters and human activities. The document argues there is a two-way relationship between poverty and environmental degradation, where each can cause or exacerbate the other through mechanisms like poor farming practices, overgrazing, deforestation, and more.
The document summarizes key recommendations for strengthening community resilience in the face of climate change impacts. It outlines 9 tips for planners, policymakers, and other organizations to use in preparing for and responding to climate change. The tips include strengthening social networks and community involvement, incorporating mental health into disaster preparation, developing trusted warning systems, paying attention to vulnerable groups, fostering optimism and a sense of safety, and being sensitive to displaced peoples' needs.
This document discusses a presentation given by Prof Colin Butler at Visva Bharati University in India on thinking systemically about disease emergence, global change, and human carrying capacity. The presentation addresses how global environmental change is weakening global health determinants and discusses emerging infectious diseases from a systems perspective. It also examines challenges related to resources, climate, nutrition, and governance in a shrinking world and calls for deeper thought on what causes major epidemics.
This document provides an overview of climate change and global warming for the American public. It explains that climate is measured over centuries rather than days or years, and that human activity is largely responsible for unprecedented warming. Even a few degrees of temperature rise could have major negative consequences like more frequent heat waves, droughts, wildfires, spread of diseases, violent storms, and rising sea levels that inundate coastal areas. The document discusses debates around these issues and seeks to provide factual information to address public confusion around the science of climate change.
Rapid population growth increases pressure on limited resources like water, forests, land, and the atmosphere. Providing access to family planning can help slow population growth and ease environmental pressures. Achieving universal access to contraception and reproductive health services would improve health outcomes for women and families while also helping address environmental challenges. Family planning is an opportunity to boost resilience to environmental issues by enabling smaller, healthier families.
1) The document discusses guidelines for communicating about climate change effectively.
2) It emphasizes focusing on simple, clear messages repeated by trusted sources, knowing the audience, and framing messages around public health, energy security, local impacts, and solutions.
3) Effective communication involves social learning, dialogue, and making the issues local and relevant while offering adaptive solutions.
Commission13 workshop 2015 05 solidarity greetings_science for the people usailpscommission13
Science for the People expresses solidarity with a workshop organized by the International League of Peoples' Struggle Commission 13 around the increasing vulnerability of the world's peoples to ecological crisis due to plunder and war. While unable to attend, Science for the People wishes to collaborate in building a better world where science serves the people. The document argues that science has been used to maximize profits, expand empire, and perpetuate racism and sexism, resulting in human suffering and environmental degradation. Science workers are directed to develop technologies used by imperial forces to maintain corporate and financial control globally. Science for the People stands in solidarity with efforts to struggle against destructive capitalist practices and imperialist plunder in the Philippines and worldwide.
The document discusses major global challenges related to sustainability, including climate change, sustainable development, poverty, inequality, food and water scarcity, and more. It provides details on the impacts of climate change on human health and the challenges of ensuring sustainable water and food/agriculture. The speaker argues that with accelerating issues threatening the planet, there is a growing need for sustainable alternatives to address these interconnected problems facing humanity.
Slides for my public talk Flinders University, South Australia, environment colloquium May, 2006. Millennium Development Goals, rediscovering the virtuous circles of lower fertility in low income settings
Health Earth, Health in the Anthropocene, environmental epidemiology, International Society for Environmental Epidemiology, Planetary Health, sustainability and health
This document summarizes the relationships between three frameworks: Limits to Growth published in 1972, Planetary Boundaries published in 2009, and Planetary Health published in 2015. It discusses how they each build on previous work limiting population growth and resource use, beginning with Malthus' writings in the 18th century. The document also reviews key findings and limitations of Limits to Growth modeling of global economic and environmental trends, and how Planetary Boundaries and Planetary Health frameworks extend this work to establish planetary-scale boundaries for human activity.
This document provides an overview of reasons to be hopeful about addressing humanity's impact on the planet despite various challenges. It notes that while evolutionary forces have rewarded both aggression towards the planet and cooperation, the challenge is to reach a threshold of global cooperation before resource depletion leads to a "fortress world." It highlights pioneers working on ecological economics and planetary health as reasons for optimism. The document argues that increasing global cooperation, technology, lifestyle changes and shifts in consciousness can help solve environmental problems.
These frameworks (Limits to Growth, Planetary Boundaries and Planetary Health) constitute three generations of an intellectual family “born” in 1972, 2009 and 2015 respectively. Their older antecedents include the work of Malthus. These slides are based on a forthcoming article called Limits to growth, planetary boundaries and planetary health. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability Vol 25. Butler, C. D. (2017 in press).
The document discusses the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which replaced the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015. It notes the MDG 7 target was to integrate sustainable development principles into policies and programs to reverse environmental loss. It then references a New York Times article about the threat of multiple famines in Somalia, Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen due to drought and war. The rest of the document debates whether the SDGs are aspirational but give hope, or are neoliberal and provide an illusion of progress. It concludes there is little chance of significant SDG progress due to inert global forces and taboos within the UN system.
This document summarizes Colin Butler's career working on environmental and climate change issues as a medical doctor. It discusses how environmental change affects human health through impacts on energy, heat, water, food, and causes migration and conflict. Climate change worsens existing public health problems and introduces new risks. Urgent global cooperation is needed to transition to renewable energy and more sustainable systems to avoid catastrophic consequences for health and civilization.
Speakers:
Lhakpa Tshoko (Office of Tibet, Canberra);
Sen Bob Brown (anniversary message);
Em Prof Bob Douglas: "BODHI in a rapidly changing world"
A/Prof Shanti Raman: "Violence against women and girls in South Asia"
Dh Karunadeepa: "My story and my work: the Bahujan Hitay Pune Project"
Dr Ajay Niranjane: "Ambedkarism in Australia - and his concept of social democracy"
Dr Devin Bowles: "A change orientation for Buddhism?"
Prof Colin Butler: "Reflections"
Lecture at the University of Oulu, Finland October 30, 2018, in short course on climate change, weather and health. The University is a WHO Collaborating Centre for Global Change, Environment and Public Health.
This document provides an outline and summary of a presentation on climate change, weather, and human health given by Professor Colin Butler at the University of Oulu, Finland on November 1, 2018. The presentation covers several key topics:
1) Theories on how competition over finite resources can lead to conflict, dating back to Malthus, Darwin, and Wallace.
2) Case studies examining potential links between climate/weather factors like drought and conflict, including the conflicts in Darfur, Sudan, the Arab Spring, and Syria.
3) Components that must be present for climate change to potentially contribute to conflict, including an extreme weather event, scarcity of resources, and a population psychologically willing to engage
Climate Change And Environmental SecurityJosh Gellers
This document discusses reconciling realism with environmental security by expanding the causal linkages between climate change and security issues. It argues that realism can accommodate environmental security by treating climate change as a threat multiplier that increases risks like civil unrest, economic downturns, and reduced crop yields. The document also analyzes existing typologies of direct versus indirect threats and territorial versus extraterritorial risks from climate change impacts. Finally, it proposes a comprehensive policy approach to conceptualizing the environment-security relationship and provides an example of how drought in West Africa caused by climate change could indirectly and extraterritorially impact U.S. security through foreign destabilization.
Environmental Security - National Defense & The Environmentjgordes
The document discusses connecting climate change to national security in order to garner more support for addressing it. It argues that climate change endangers security by increasing risks of conflicts over issues like food and water scarcity. Linking climate change and security policies could help enlist more support and motivate large-scale progress in renewable energy, which benefits both climate change mitigation and security.
Environmental and natural resources economicsMWAIZAVUZYA
This document discusses the relationship between population, poverty, and the environment. It defines key terms like poverty, environment, and population. It then discusses environmental degradation, noting it affects developing countries more and can be caused by both natural disasters and human activities. The document argues there is a two-way relationship between poverty and environmental degradation, where each can cause or exacerbate the other through mechanisms like poor farming practices, overgrazing, deforestation, and more.
The document summarizes key recommendations for strengthening community resilience in the face of climate change impacts. It outlines 9 tips for planners, policymakers, and other organizations to use in preparing for and responding to climate change. The tips include strengthening social networks and community involvement, incorporating mental health into disaster preparation, developing trusted warning systems, paying attention to vulnerable groups, fostering optimism and a sense of safety, and being sensitive to displaced peoples' needs.
This document discusses a presentation given by Prof Colin Butler at Visva Bharati University in India on thinking systemically about disease emergence, global change, and human carrying capacity. The presentation addresses how global environmental change is weakening global health determinants and discusses emerging infectious diseases from a systems perspective. It also examines challenges related to resources, climate, nutrition, and governance in a shrinking world and calls for deeper thought on what causes major epidemics.
This document provides an overview of climate change and global warming for the American public. It explains that climate is measured over centuries rather than days or years, and that human activity is largely responsible for unprecedented warming. Even a few degrees of temperature rise could have major negative consequences like more frequent heat waves, droughts, wildfires, spread of diseases, violent storms, and rising sea levels that inundate coastal areas. The document discusses debates around these issues and seeks to provide factual information to address public confusion around the science of climate change.
Rapid population growth increases pressure on limited resources like water, forests, land, and the atmosphere. Providing access to family planning can help slow population growth and ease environmental pressures. Achieving universal access to contraception and reproductive health services would improve health outcomes for women and families while also helping address environmental challenges. Family planning is an opportunity to boost resilience to environmental issues by enabling smaller, healthier families.
1) The document discusses guidelines for communicating about climate change effectively.
2) It emphasizes focusing on simple, clear messages repeated by trusted sources, knowing the audience, and framing messages around public health, energy security, local impacts, and solutions.
3) Effective communication involves social learning, dialogue, and making the issues local and relevant while offering adaptive solutions.
Commission13 workshop 2015 05 solidarity greetings_science for the people usailpscommission13
Science for the People expresses solidarity with a workshop organized by the International League of Peoples' Struggle Commission 13 around the increasing vulnerability of the world's peoples to ecological crisis due to plunder and war. While unable to attend, Science for the People wishes to collaborate in building a better world where science serves the people. The document argues that science has been used to maximize profits, expand empire, and perpetuate racism and sexism, resulting in human suffering and environmental degradation. Science workers are directed to develop technologies used by imperial forces to maintain corporate and financial control globally. Science for the People stands in solidarity with efforts to struggle against destructive capitalist practices and imperialist plunder in the Philippines and worldwide.
The document discusses major global challenges related to sustainability, including climate change, sustainable development, poverty, inequality, food and water scarcity, and more. It provides details on the impacts of climate change on human health and the challenges of ensuring sustainable water and food/agriculture. The speaker argues that with accelerating issues threatening the planet, there is a growing need for sustainable alternatives to address these interconnected problems facing humanity.
Slides for my public talk Flinders University, South Australia, environment colloquium May, 2006. Millennium Development Goals, rediscovering the virtuous circles of lower fertility in low income settings
Health Earth, Health in the Anthropocene, environmental epidemiology, International Society for Environmental Epidemiology, Planetary Health, sustainability and health
My keynote talk at the Royal Society of Medicine, London, co-hosted by Public Health England, May 16, 2014 (Almost 80 megabytes, if you want to listen). I have a blog post on this, at http://globalchangemusings.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/energy-transition-royal-society-of.html
Introduction to Health-Earth, "health for all on a single planet"
The modern time, since approximately the start of the Industrial Revolution, is increasingly called the “Anthropocene” the human dominated era. Humans have not only become the dominant mammal on the planet (claimed as eight times the mass of all wild terrestrial mammals) but in so doing our species has changed the atmosphere, the climate, many ecosystems and the location, distribution and composition of part of the Earth’s crust, from gold to oil and other fossil fuels. Humans are now a geological force, for good or ill. What does this all mean for human health, both now and in the future?
“Health-Earth” (H-earth) is a global network (nine research groups, six countries and one UN University) of interdisciplinary public health scientists, established in 2014, that seeks to advance the understanding of these complex and interlinked issues in the context of global health. A symposium on this topic, with five speakers from four countries, has been accepted for the 27th conference of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE), to be held in Sao Paulo, Brazil in September.
The symposium seeks to position the interaction between the changing Earth system and human health within the legitimate scope of environmental epidemiology and public health more broadly. The problems of the Anthropocene, created by our species, are potentially solvable. This is an important, conceptual and scientific challenge for public health, the whole scientific community, and, for all of society. These challenges include but extend beyond that of global anthropogenic climate change, beyond our generation, and even this century.
Bio
Prof Colin D Butler graduated in medicine in 1987 from the University of Newcastle and has three postgraduate qualifications relevant to public health, including a PhD from the ANU (2002). In 1989 he co-founded the NGO BODHI. He is a former ARC Future Fellow (2011-2015) and is sole editor of Climate Change and Global Health (CABI 2014) and lead editor of Health of People, Places and Planet. Reflections based on Tony McMichael’s four decades of contribution to epidemiological understanding (ANU Press, forthcoming). He contributed to the health chapter of the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and was a co-ordinating lead author for the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, including its conceptual framework. He has to date given 67 invited talks overseas, in 16 countries. In 2009 he was named “one of a hundred doctors for the planet”, by the French Environmental Health Association, in the lead up to the Copenhagen climate conference. In 2014 Colin was arrested in NSW for protesting what he calls “Australia’s coal frenzy”. In the same year he co-founded Health-Earth. He has worked at UC since 2012.
From Limits to Growth to the Growth of Limits: responsibilities of highly and...Global Risk Forum GRFDavos
GRF One Health Summit 2012, Davos: Presentation by Bron Raymond TAYLOR, University of Florida (USA) & Rachel Carson Center (Munich), United States of America
The best job in the world: practising public health, past, present and future. John Middleton
The document discusses the role of public health in addressing various global challenges including climate change, conflict, violence, corporate influence on health, and health inequities. It also reflects on the COVID-19 pandemic and calls for strengthened global governance and cooperation to tackle worldwide public health issues. The author advocates for public health to expand its partnerships and take on leadership roles in preventing disease and promoting health and wellbeing.
The best job in the world: practicing public health, past present and futureJohn Middleton
Practicing public health, past present and future. annual lecture to the Maastricht Global Public Health Leadership students course. with an extended additional section on the year 2020 in pandemic and lessons 201211 middletonj maaastricht
Opening talk, Canberra nurses conference 2016, The case for change.
Abstract available at: http://globalchangemusings.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/the-case-for-change-health-in-act.html
Donald Elliott and Ian Elliott "US Response" - Second GPN Global Webinar "COV...GLOBAL PANDEMIC NETWORK
Second GPN Global Webinar "COVID-19. SUPERNATIONAL, NATIONAL AND REGIONAL RESPONSES. BUILDING RESILIENCE THROUGH COMPARISON OF EXPERIENCES" - March 5th 2021
Professor Donald Elliott and Doctor Ian Elliott "US Response"
GPN: https://www.globalpandemicnetwork.org/
Official GPN webinar web page:https://www.globalpandemicnetwork.org/news_events/webinar-5th-march-2021/
This document discusses several converging trends that will transform the world, including rapid technological development, population growth and aging, climate change, and increased transparency. It argues that these trends could lead to conflicts over natural resources but also new solutions. The mobile internet of things will connect not just people but objects, potentially creating global networks of citizens and information. New tools may empower "prosumers" to direct development in a way that promotes diversity and creative networks. Overall, a new world is emerging through connectivity and new interfaces need to encourage participation from all.
Media and the general public (ESPM 3241 / 5241)Eli Sagor
This document discusses how media can influence public opinion on environmental issues. It provides definitions of media as both tools for transmitting information and as a process that can shape thinking. Media are described as having the ability to focus or scatter attention. The document also lists several factors that can influence public opinion, such as the salience of issues and how issues are framed. Examples of media types for different purposes like news, education, and advertising are given.
LEC 406_Sarah Phillipson_FULL_Essay_ Growth and Climate Change_ 18 April 2016...Sarah Phillipson
1) The document discusses the relationship between economic growth and climate change, debating whether continual growth is compatible with addressing climate change.
2) It provides graphs showing the close correlation between growth in energy consumption, carbon emissions, and GDP since the industrial revolution.
3) The post-1950 period saw a dramatic acceleration in economic and earth system trends, potentially linked to the global economic system established at the 1944 Bretton Woods conference emphasizing continual growth.
This document summarizes the key points from a presentation by Dipak K. Roy at the ECCSSA Conference 2013. It discusses several challenges facing the global economy, including the rise of China, economic instability, resource depletion, and demographic shifts. It also examines issues in the US economy like slowing productivity and job growth concentrated in less productive service sectors. The document advocates for reforms in higher education, including addressing deficiencies in standards and curriculum, improving accountability, and making the introductory curriculum more quantitative. It highlights the importance of leadership focused on principles rather than politics to drive meaningful and lasting change.
This document discusses the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, from early concepts of "one medicine" to modern approaches recognizing the complex interrelationships between all living things and their environment. It warns of the threats posed by climate change, including increasing temperatures, extreme weather events, sea level rise, and environmental degradation affecting wildlife, livestock, and humans. The document calls for urgent mitigation efforts through transitions to renewable energy and away from fossil fuels, as well as adaptation strategies incorporating ecosystem-based approaches to promote health and sustainability.
Sustainable Development: a controversial conceptIJMREMJournal
The issue of economic growth and development is one of the fundamental concerns of humankind. It is therefore
necessary to find solutions so that people can have access to a greater diversity of goods and services, as well
as better standard of living and well-being. Since ancient times, humankind has been warned about the scarcity
of the resources but even with this information, they still take unreasonable measures with irreversible effects.
The recent past gives us evidence that Sustainable Development is not only a practice of corporate social
responsibility to gain a competitive edge, but also a necessity to meet the needs of future generations. The
strength of the economic element cannot overlap with the balance of social and environmental dimensions.
Having this is mind, the challenges are vast, as they are from all and for all citizens, since they are increasingly
participating in building their futures, which require an awareness of a common destiny and the progressive
construction of a world community. There is a clear need for paradigm shifting: civil society will be the kernel
for building a change strategy with clear and strong perspectives based on identified collective shared visions.
This study presents an evolutionary perspective of concerns related with sustainability, from the eighteenth and
nineteenth centuries to the present day.
The Abolition of Aging - An update for 2022.pdfDavid Wood
Slides used by David Wood, Chair of London Futurists, in his presentation on 24th March 2022 for the Church of Perpetual Life. The presentation weighed up arguments for and against the possibility of widespread low-cost access, by 2040, of treatments providing comprehensive rejuvenation (reversal of aging) in both body and mind. In particular, the presentation looks at how that balance of probabilities has shifted in the six years since these arguments were first aired in the 2016 book "The Abolition of Aging".
A recording of this presentation can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSETLmTKzqg
The Brundtland Report from 1987 defined sustainable development as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." It highlighted the three pillars of sustainable development as the environment, economy, and society. The report led to the creation of Agenda 21, which outlined global, national and local actions to make life on Earth more sustainable. The Brundtland Report emphasized the need for economic growth in developing nations, environmental conservation, and social equity both within and between countries.
Similar to Health, environment, population: connecting the dots (20)
An expanded version of a lecture given Sept 26, 2022, to students in the “Climate Change, Health and Big Data" course, at Curtin University, WA (convened by Dr Ivan Hanigan). The history of the "primary, secondary and tertiary" health effect framework is traced from 1992 until the second edition of the book "Climate Change and Global Health" (Eds Butler and Higgs) to be published in 2023 by CABI (Wallingford UK).
BODHI, the Bahujan Hitay Pune Project, and the ongoing work of Dr Ambedkar provides a summary of key organizations and their work to help marginalized groups in India over the past few decades. It outlines BODHI's main projects from the 1990s to present, including work with Tibetan refugees, Dalits, and those living in slums. The document also lists the key staff involved in the Bahujan Hitay Pune Project and shows pictures from their work.
This document appears to be the slides from a presentation given by Colin D Butler on the topic of the Sustainable Development Goals and human wellbeing. It discusses several thinkers and reports from the 20th century that addressed issues of environmental and resource limits to economic growth. It also summarizes models from the 1970s that predicted global overshoot and collapse by 2000 if trends continued, and argues these predictions appear to be coming true. It outlines planetary boundaries and planetary health as frameworks recognizing the interdependence of human and Earth systems.
This document discusses energy policy, climate change, and health. It notes that technological lock-in and inequality have led to unmet demand for clean energy. Peak oil and climate change pose risks to health and civilization. Solutions discussed include transitioning to renewable energy sources like solar and reducing fossil fuel subsidies. The impacts of climate change on health are also examined, such as increased extreme weather events, food and oil price rises, and risks of famine, conflict and mass migration. The document argues that addressing these issues presents an opportunity for innovation and transitioning to a renewable energy grid.
1. The document discusses the role of the kangaroo industry in land management and reviews options and alternatives.
2. It notes that some level of harm to animals is inevitable, even for vegetarians, and that consciousness and emotion have evolved beyond just humans.
3. Eating meat always involves harm to animals, and this harm can be reduced through practices like licensed shooting and minimizing orphaned joeys in the kangaroo industry, providing potential benefits over intensively farmed meats when considering the full "life cycle analysis" of violence.
This document discusses the concept of environmental sustainability and its contested nature. It provides several definitions of sustainability from focusing solely on the environment to broader definitions encompassing social and economic factors. There is no universal agreement on its meaning. The document also outlines some of the challenges to achieving sustainability, such as competing views on limits to growth, disagreement around consumption levels, and uncertainty about impacts. It argues sustainability is about maintaining resources for both current and future generations in an integrated way and is important for public health given the health effects of issues like climate change and food insecurity.
This document provides an overview of empirical evidence for climate change from observed data and its health impacts. It discusses how rising temperatures have led to more heat waves and extreme weather events like floods and fires. Observational data shows rising sea levels submerging cities and coastlines. Climate change is projected to shift disease ranges and intensify health issues. The impacts could significantly increase risks like conflicts and mass migrations. Individual actions and policy changes are needed to curb emissions and adapt to the changing climate.
Keynote talk: September 1, 2016, Adelaide, SA, Australia 17th National symposium, https://www.treenet.org/ Dr Colin Butler Bob Such lecture (second); video will be posted on web in due course
invited talk to CERH symposium: Arctic environment, people and health – Building bridges between research and policymakers, Little Parliament building, Helsinki, May 31, 2006
1) Biodiversity provides essential benefits to human health such as food, fuel, and disease regulation, but biodiversity is declining due to factors like human population growth and habitat destruction.
2) Past losses of charismatic species like mammoths and lions as well as keystone species like passenger pigeons have negatively impacted human health long-term by changing ecosystems in ways that increased diseases.
3) There are thresholds of biodiversity loss that could seriously endanger human health and survival, so concerted global action is needed to protect biodiversity.
Histololgy of Female Reproductive System.pptxAyeshaZaid1
Dive into an in-depth exploration of the histological structure of female reproductive system with this comprehensive lecture. Presented by Dr. Ayesha Irfan, Assistant Professor of Anatomy, this presentation covers the Gross anatomy and functional histology of the female reproductive organs. Ideal for students, educators, and anyone interested in medical science, this lecture provides clear explanations, detailed diagrams, and valuable insights into female reproductive system. Enhance your knowledge and understanding of this essential aspect of human biology.
Osteoporosis - Definition , Evaluation and Management .pdfJim Jacob Roy
Osteoporosis is an increasing cause of morbidity among the elderly.
In this document , a brief outline of osteoporosis is given , including the risk factors of osteoporosis fractures , the indications for testing bone mineral density and the management of osteoporosis
Rasamanikya is a excellent preparation in the field of Rasashastra, it is used in various Kushtha Roga, Shwasa, Vicharchika, Bhagandara, Vatarakta, and Phiranga Roga. In this article Preparation& Comparative analytical profile for both Formulationon i.e Rasamanikya prepared by Kushmanda swarasa & Churnodhaka Shodita Haratala. The study aims to provide insights into the comparative efficacy and analytical aspects of these formulations for enhanced therapeutic outcomes.
8 Surprising Reasons To Meditate 40 Minutes A Day That Can Change Your Life.pptxHolistified Wellness
We’re talking about Vedic Meditation, a form of meditation that has been around for at least 5,000 years. Back then, the people who lived in the Indus Valley, now known as India and Pakistan, practised meditation as a fundamental part of daily life. This knowledge that has given us yoga and Ayurveda, was known as Veda, hence the name Vedic. And though there are some written records, the practice has been passed down verbally from generation to generation.
Cell Therapy Expansion and Challenges in Autoimmune DiseaseHealth Advances
There is increasing confidence that cell therapies will soon play a role in the treatment of autoimmune disorders, but the extent of this impact remains to be seen. Early readouts on autologous CAR-Ts in lupus are encouraging, but manufacturing and cost limitations are likely to restrict access to highly refractory patients. Allogeneic CAR-Ts have the potential to broaden access to earlier lines of treatment due to their inherent cost benefits, however they will need to demonstrate comparable or improved efficacy to established modalities.
In addition to infrastructure and capacity constraints, CAR-Ts face a very different risk-benefit dynamic in autoimmune compared to oncology, highlighting the need for tolerable therapies with low adverse event risk. CAR-NK and Treg-based therapies are also being developed in certain autoimmune disorders and may demonstrate favorable safety profiles. Several novel non-cell therapies such as bispecific antibodies, nanobodies, and RNAi drugs, may also offer future alternative competitive solutions with variable value propositions.
Widespread adoption of cell therapies will not only require strong efficacy and safety data, but also adapted pricing and access strategies. At oncology-based price points, CAR-Ts are unlikely to achieve broad market access in autoimmune disorders, with eligible patient populations that are potentially orders of magnitude greater than the number of currently addressable cancer patients. Developers have made strides towards reducing cell therapy COGS while improving manufacturing efficiency, but payors will inevitably restrict access until more sustainable pricing is achieved.
Despite these headwinds, industry leaders and investors remain confident that cell therapies are poised to address significant unmet need in patients suffering from autoimmune disorders. However, the extent of this impact on the treatment landscape remains to be seen, as the industry rapidly approaches an inflection point.
These lecture slides, by Dr Sidra Arshad, offer a quick overview of the physiological basis of a normal electrocardiogram.
Learning objectives:
1. Define an electrocardiogram (ECG) and electrocardiography
2. Describe how dipoles generated by the heart produce the waveforms of the ECG
3. Describe the components of a normal electrocardiogram of a typical bipolar lead (limb II)
4. Differentiate between intervals and segments
5. Enlist some common indications for obtaining an ECG
6. Describe the flow of current around the heart during the cardiac cycle
7. Discuss the placement and polarity of the leads of electrocardiograph
8. Describe the normal electrocardiograms recorded from the limb leads and explain the physiological basis of the different records that are obtained
9. Define mean electrical vector (axis) of the heart and give the normal range
10. Define the mean QRS vector
11. Describe the axes of leads (hexagonal reference system)
12. Comprehend the vectorial analysis of the normal ECG
13. Determine the mean electrical axis of the ventricular QRS and appreciate the mean axis deviation
14. Explain the concepts of current of injury, J point, and their significance
Study Resources:
1. Chapter 11, Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology, 14th edition
2. Chapter 9, Human Physiology - From Cells to Systems, Lauralee Sherwood, 9th edition
3. Chapter 29, Ganong’s Review of Medical Physiology, 26th edition
4. Electrocardiogram, StatPearls - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549803/
5. ECG in Medical Practice by ABM Abdullah, 4th edition
6. Chapter 3, Cardiology Explained, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2214/
7. ECG Basics, http://www.nataliescasebook.com/tag/e-c-g-basics
Muktapishti is a traditional Ayurvedic preparation made from Shoditha Mukta (Purified Pearl), is believed to help regulate thyroid function and reduce symptoms of hyperthyroidism due to its cooling and balancing properties. Clinical evidence on its efficacy remains limited, necessitating further research to validate its therapeutic benefits.
share - Lions, tigers, AI and health misinformation, oh my!.pptxTina Purnat
• Pitfalls and pivots needed to use AI effectively in public health
• Evidence-based strategies to address health misinformation effectively
• Building trust with communities online and offline
• Equipping health professionals to address questions, concerns and health misinformation
• Assessing risk and mitigating harm from adverse health narratives in communities, health workforce and health system
Health, environment, population: connecting the dots
1. CRICOS #00212K
Prof Colin Butler, ARC Future Fellow
Department of Public Health and Environment WHO August 27, 2013
Health, environment, population
2. CRICOS #00212K
“Efforts to prevent noncommunicable diseases go
against the business interests of powerful economic
operators... one of the biggest challenges facing
health promotion.
.. it is not just Big Tobacco anymore. Public health
must also contend with Big Food, Big Soda, and Big
Alcohol. All of these industries fear regulation, and
protect themselves by using the same tactics.”
Dr Margaret Chan
Director-General
Opening address, 8th Global Conference on
Health Promotion, Helsinki, Finland, 10 June 2013
2
also – Big CARBON
10. CRICOS #00212K
Lyndon Johnson
“… less than five dollars invested in population
control is worth a hundred dollars invested in
economic growth”
1968: shipped 1/5 US wheat harvest to India, on
condition that India step up family planning
programme
10
11. CRICOS #00212K
Richard Nixon
“… countries such as Mozambique, Ethiopia, ..
need to maintain real economic growth rates of
3% just to keep their per capita incomes from
dropping. Unchecked population growth will
put them on an ever-accelerating treadmill
that will outpace any potential economic
performance"
11
13. CRICOS #00212K
The Cornucopian Enchantment
Simon: “the notion of something being
infinite is very much a matter of how we look
at it..” (The Ultimate Resource)
“From a high point some 10-15 years ago,
intellectual concern about population has
steadily waned to a position where it falls
now somewhere between ocean mining and
acid rain” (McNicoll and Nag, 1982)
13
14. CRICOS #00212K
Ronald Reagan
When questioned about population growth
the New York Times reported that he
considered the problem to have been
“vastly exaggerated”
(Finkle and Crane, 1985)
14
15. CRICOS #00212K
US policy at the Mexico City
population conference, 1984
American Population Association:
‘authors of draft report “either unaware of 50
years of demographic research, or
deliberately ignored it”’
15
18. CRICOS #00212K
Larry Summers: Limits & Human
Carrying Capacity
“The idea that we should put limits
on growth, because of some
natural limit, is a profound error”
(cited in George and Sabelli, 1994 p109)
18
24. CRICOS #00212K
The U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) pointed out that almost 1.5
billion young men and women will enter the 20-to-24-years age
cohort between 2000 and 2015, and if they don't find jobs "they
will fuel political instability."
24
27. CRICOS #00212K
27
“With 11 million people .. Rwanda is hoping to lower its high
fertility rate so that it can benefit from future economic
growth” Ruxin, J. & Habinshuti, A. 2011. Crowd control in Rwanda. Nature, 474, 572-573.
32. CRICOS #00212K
Conclusions: High pop’n growth: cause and effect of
1. Poverty
2. Global inequality (“claste” system)
3. We who care about global health need to challenge the
“cornucopian enchantment” fostered by big Capital, the
woolly Left, some in the Church, and collusive academia
32
33. CRICOS #00212K
Cumulative carbon
combustion
1848 1960 1987 – 1994 2008
2012
JS Mill –
steady state
economy
Our Common
Future, Rio
conference
Rio+20
now?
CD Butler
ANU
33
K Boulding
Limits to Growth
Stockholm,
Bucharest confs,
N Borlaug’s
warning
Cairo pop’n
conference
“Cornucopian
enchantment”
Adapted from Meinshausen et al (2011)
Global
sense of
risk
43. CRICOS #00212K
The good news
is you’re too
big to let fail
Pope
Canberra
Times
29 Oct 08
The good
news is
you’re too
big to let
fail
The bad news
is it’s hard to
get a
government
bailout until
your stocks
completely
crash
43