What do we mean by "Global Environmental Health"?

     According to the World Health Organization (WHO) "Environmental health addresses all the physical, chemical, and biological factors external to a person, and all the related factors impacting behaviors. It encompasses the assessment and control of those environmental factors that can potentially affect health. It is targeted towards preventing disease and creating health-supportive environments. This definition excludes behavior not related to environment, as well as behavior related to the social and cultural environment, and genetics."  That's a pretty complex definition and I'm not sure precisely how to decipher it! It sounds like the major issues we will be investigating are climate change, flooding, drought, and the world-wide shortage of potable water as well as shortages of food caused by insects, animals, and disease.  I would not expect to address issues involving the influence of governments, corporations, or organizations on the health of a community or portion of that community.

     As for addressing a colleagues previous blog, I chose Kerri's remarks about the destructive flooding along the Mississippi River.  Kerri, having lived in New Orleans for four years back in the nineties, I am astounded that the Mississippi hasn't wiped out every town from Minneapolis to Venice, La. at the mouth of the river.  Flooding is common along the Mississippi from Minnesota all the way to the Gulf.  Because the river gets larger the farther it flows, the Army Corps of Engineers has better levees down south.  The fact is that we have tricked the "Big Muddy" into submission a few too many times.  The Corps is attempting to stop something nature intended as a regular occurrence.  I think it would be ridiculous to think that climate change isn't a major player in the events taking place along the river today but mankind's folly is in arrogantly thinking that we can prevent a natural cycle that had gone on for millions of years before we ever began to tinker around with things.  The Mississippi discharges up to 700,000 gal/sec into the Gulf of Mexico.  I think we are being pretty arrogant if we think we can continue to control that kind of flow without frequent mishaps, especially in light of the the climate change issues.  What do you think?

... and not a drop to drink!

Hi, everyone.  My name is Keith. I'm a former U.S. Marine and a very "non-typical" undergrad student.  That's just a politically correct way saying I'm old.  Frankly, I would just as soon be called an old guy!  I'm not real sensitive about my age.  I'm a Junior majoring in Environmental Studies and Policy.  I'm originally from a small town in extreme SW Ga called Blakley (no, not Bleckley County).
     During our electronic summer together, I would like to take a "big picture"look at the world's water issues and consider the most practical and effective approach to minimizing its impact on impoverished and developing economies as well as our own nation and other developed areas of the global community.  My approach would usually center on the local or regional aspects of the water problem.  I think we have too many "bleeding hearts" that think the nearest problem that is worth their precious time is somewhere thousands of miles away while they ignore the plight of their own neighbors.  I would like for us to consider the global prospective.  That includes us, too, ya know!
     Air and water are vital to human life.  In my opinion, that makes clean water a human rights issue.  When one person deprives another person of air to the point of death, we call it murder.  Isn't it the same thing when a person is systematically deprived of water.  That happens all over the world on a daily basis!
     Prominent Canadian activist Maude Barlow recently discussed the water woes in Atlanta and the drought that is affecting the southeastern U. S..  Read the short article at http://www.alternet.org/water/76819/ where Ms. Barlow addresses this issue.