What does climate change have to do with it? July 13, 2009
Posted by Katelyn Mack in Climate Change, Disparities, Events, Violence.2 comments
An article on the intersection of climate change and social determinants of health (SDH) in Global Health Promotion recently caught my eye. Climate change interventions ought to consider the social context in which they (will) occur in order to prevent a widening of health inequalities.
How will climate change impact health? The authors cite the effects of climate change on the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, lessening of water and food security, and alterations in the geographical distribution of infectious diseases (such as malaria and other mosquito-driven diseases).
My attendance at the 2009 Humanitarian Action Summit at Harvard University brings one more health impact of climate change to mind; one that is inextricably linked to social determinants, as well: violence and war. As food security is threatened and resources become more scarce malnutrition and starvation are not the only consequences. This insecurity can easily manifest in social unrest. We are seeing it in humanitarian emergency settings. Children, adolescents, and men are joining militias and moving into new territory (wreaking havoc on whoever may live there and be most unprotected — often women and children). What results is gender-based violence, community chaos, and a survival mentality. Intense urbanization is also a common consequence, as the article discusses. (Read this article by Peter Walker from Tufts University for more on this topic – he presented at the Summit).
Climate change must be taken seriously in public health. We must at least include the food and water effects of climate change in our domestic and international agendas. Glad to see PAHO taking this seriously — perhaps they will get this stuff into AJPH soon…
UPDATE 07/21: I just got wind of a Working Paper on the Social and Governance Dimensions of Climate Change: Implications for Policy by Robert Foa (of Harvard!) as part of the 2010 World Development Report. The key recommendation is to create national policy environments that are amenable to environmental legislation. How? He suggests gender quotas and supporting civil society groups. Surprised? (…this is just taken from the abstract…I haven’t read it yet!)
Public Health Commission Convenes Forum to Discuss Dating Violence April 24, 2009
Posted by Katelyn Mack in Children and Adolescents, Events, Neighborhoods, Violence.5 comments
This afternoon, the Boston Public Health Commission along with Northeastern University brought together stakeholders and citizens interested in learning more about youth attitudes toward dating violence and current activities to prevent intimate abuse and reach out to teens.
Soon after Chris Brown’s assault on Rihanna in February, the Commission conducted a survey of 200 teens to examine their attitude toward dating violence, and the Rihanna-Chris Brown incident specifically. The results: staggering.
- 44% of youth said fighting was a normal part of a relationship.
- 46% said Rihanna was responsible for the incident.
- 52% said both individuals were to blame (despite knowing that Rihanna had been beaten badly enough to require hospital treatment)
Young people from various violence prevention organizations sat on a panel to discuss the findings and share their own views on dating violence and its meaning for Boston teens. They gave excellent commentary and provided strong insight into some of the causes of partner violence, especially witnessing domestic violence in your own family, and the lack of awareness and communication about the issue.
Boston is in a strong position to address dating violence; they have a Division of Violence Prevention and recently received funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to develop programs and change norms around dating violence among young adolescents. The RWJF program is called Strong Start: Building Healthy Teen Relationships and is directed by Casey Corcoran.
The organizers were extremely cognizant of the need to include young people in the discussion, especially in dicussing what the results of this survey really mean.
Strong Start intends to continue these conversations in neighborhoods throughout the city. If you hear about one near you — go! And if you have kids, bring them too!
