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?