Saturday, January 31, 2009
Vertical Farms
An article about urban farming. If you've never heard about the idea, this would be a great oppurtunity to read about this revolutinary concept.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Restorative Commons
Hello Mary -- This is Lindsay Campbell from the Forest Service, writing to you from my new email account. I hope that the New Year is treating you well. A few months ago I sent you the full draft text of our Restorative Commons book in case this would be of use to you in your spring course. Well, the book is now going to printer and should be done by mid-March. Erika reminded me that you only teach in the spring, so I dont want to miss this opportunity to share the laid-out and designed version with you (the images and design add another important dimension, I think). I'm attaching the TOC and intro here and I'll send you the complete PDF via yousendit.com. Please look for that as a separate email. I'd welcome any feedback you have on the book, in particular I'd love to learn if you are able to use any of the sections in your course. I think you should certainly find Erika's chapter interesting, and it draws on your framework. We are excited about this book coming out as a free, Forest Service publication. It will be available for electronic download or in hard copy via on online order form. Will share full release info with you as we near that date.
Link to file:
https://rcpt.yousendit.com/647714590/2001e72f177e9d6baabfaaea3c1fd740
p: 212.637.4175m: c/o EPA Region 2 290 Broadway, 26th Floor New York, NY 10007
w: http://nrs.fs.fed.us/nyc/
Link to file:
https://rcpt.yousendit.com/647714590/2001e72f177e9d6baabfaaea3c1fd740
Many thanks for your interest in this project, Lindsay
Lindsay CampbellUS Forest Service Northern Research Stationp: 212.637.4175m: c/o EPA Region 2 290 Broadway, 26th Floor New York, NY 10007
w: http://nrs.fs.fed.us/nyc/
PlusNews Global | ZIMBABWE: Urban patients now referred to rural mission hospitals
PlusNews Global | ZIMBABWE: Urban patients now referred to rural mission hospitals:
"...This experience is becoming common as more and more people requiring medical care in Harare are forced to travel long distances to rural mission hospitals for treatment.
...Since October 2008, government hospitals such as Parirenyatwa and the Harare hospital have stayed closed after a work boycott by health workers protesting against poor salaries and working conditions, and because they could not continue to endanger the lives of patients by working in hospitals that were not properly equipped. "
"...This experience is becoming common as more and more people requiring medical care in Harare are forced to travel long distances to rural mission hospitals for treatment.
...Since October 2008, government hospitals such as Parirenyatwa and the Harare hospital have stayed closed after a work boycott by health workers protesting against poor salaries and working conditions, and because they could not continue to endanger the lives of patients by working in hospitals that were not properly equipped. "
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Flood-tolerant rice....
I thought this article was interesting given the readings from last class and the concept that improvements to rural areas come from cities.
Researchers at UC-Davis have engineered flood-resistant rice that can survive longer in flood waters.
"In Bangladesh, for example, 20 percent of the rice land is flood prone and the country typically suffers several major floods each year. Submergence-tolerant varieties could make major inroads into Bangladesh's annual rice shortfall."
Researchers at UC-Davis have engineered flood-resistant rice that can survive longer in flood waters.
"In Bangladesh, for example, 20 percent of the rice land is flood prone and the country typically suffers several major floods each year. Submergence-tolerant varieties could make major inroads into Bangladesh's annual rice shortfall."
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
'Our children were killed and the driver walks away without a ticket': Anguished moms demand justice
This article discusses the death of two toddlers in Manhattan Chinatown. Streetsblog, which writes generally about improved transportation alternatives and reducing auto dependence, has framed this story as problem with the city's idling policy. Their article talks about the need to pass an upcoming bill at New York City Council that would reduce the legal idling time from 3 minutes to 1 minute when a vehicle is adjacent to a school.
This is how Rebecca Kalin of Asthma Free School Zone links this idling vehicle disaster and human health:
"Idling is harmful to health and environment; it's wasteful and against the law. Now, we can add "dangerous to pedestrians." The Chinatown tragedy might never have happened if the driver had simply turned the key."
This is how Rebecca Kalin of Asthma Free School Zone links this idling vehicle disaster and human health:
"Idling is harmful to health and environment; it's wasteful and against the law. Now, we can add "dangerous to pedestrians." The Chinatown tragedy might never have happened if the driver had simply turned the key."
Fresh air in Mexico City, and more - THE WEEK
Fresh air in Mexico City, and more - THE WEEK: "Fresh air in Mexico City, and more
Fresh air in Mexico City
The air pollution in Mexico City was once so bad that birds dropped dead while flying and children used brown crayons to draw pictures of the sky. But in recent years, the sprawling metropolis has enacted tough environmental standards, curbed driving, and aggressively promoted mass transit. As a result, its 20 million residents are breathing much easier. Compared with the early 1990s, lead levels in Mexico City are down 95 percent, sulfur dioxide is down 86 percent, and carbon monoxide, 74 percent. “There has been a large improvement,” said Nobel Prize–winning Mexican chemist Mario Molina, “and it’s important to show it can be done.”"
Fresh air in Mexico City
The air pollution in Mexico City was once so bad that birds dropped dead while flying and children used brown crayons to draw pictures of the sky. But in recent years, the sprawling metropolis has enacted tough environmental standards, curbed driving, and aggressively promoted mass transit. As a result, its 20 million residents are breathing much easier. Compared with the early 1990s, lead levels in Mexico City are down 95 percent, sulfur dioxide is down 86 percent, and carbon monoxide, 74 percent. “There has been a large improvement,” said Nobel Prize–winning Mexican chemist Mario Molina, “and it’s important to show it can be done.”"
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
China Environment Forum : Documents : Environmental Health Research Briefs and Fact Sheets (2008)
China Environment Forum : Documents : Environmental Health Research Briefs and Fact Sheets (2008):
"In the two and a half years leading up to 2006, Qiugang—a village of 2,000 people in the Huai River Basin in Anhui Province—had 53 deaths due to cancer.[1] These deaths were not solely among the elderly; children as young as one-year old manifested malignant tumors. The air in the village smelled like rotten eggs....
The story of this Chinese village could have been a tragic one, like many other cancer villages in China, with increasing death rates, decreasing crop yields, and children who suffered lasting damage. The magnitude of Qiugang’s serious environmental health problems in 2006 led Green Anhui, the first environmental nongovernmental organization (NGO) in the province to take actions that have given the citizens of Qiugang hope."
"In the two and a half years leading up to 2006, Qiugang—a village of 2,000 people in the Huai River Basin in Anhui Province—had 53 deaths due to cancer.[1] These deaths were not solely among the elderly; children as young as one-year old manifested malignant tumors. The air in the village smelled like rotten eggs....
The story of this Chinese village could have been a tragic one, like many other cancer villages in China, with increasing death rates, decreasing crop yields, and children who suffered lasting damage. The magnitude of Qiugang’s serious environmental health problems in 2006 led Green Anhui, the first environmental nongovernmental organization (NGO) in the province to take actions that have given the citizens of Qiugang hope."
Obama Urgent on Warming, Public Cool - Dot Earth Blog - NYTimes.com
This was very concerning to me...
Obama Urgent on Warming, Public Cool - Dot Earth Blog - NYTimes.com: "The latest in an annual series of polls from the Pew Research Center on people’s top priorities for their elected leaders shows that America and President Obama are completely out of sync on human-caused global warming. Mr. Obama stressed the issue throughout his campaign and several times in his inaugural speech, mentioning stabilizing climate in the same breath as preventing nuclear conflict at one point.
According to the survey of 1,503 adults, global warming, on its own, ranks last out of 20 surveyed issues."
However, I am somewhat comforted by the following response from Steve Cohen (Exec. Director of the Earth Institute).
Understanding Public Opinion About the Environment
The data reported here is accurate, but the data can be interpreted in several ways. I think it is a mistake to assume that the public's support for protecting the environment is declining. The reporter is drawing his conclusion from Pew's own survey analysts, and there is no question that the urgency of environmental issues has shifted due to the current economic crisis. However, we need to look a little deeper to really understand what is happening here.
Obama Urgent on Warming, Public Cool - Dot Earth Blog - NYTimes.com: "The latest in an annual series of polls from the Pew Research Center on people’s top priorities for their elected leaders shows that America and President Obama are completely out of sync on human-caused global warming. Mr. Obama stressed the issue throughout his campaign and several times in his inaugural speech, mentioning stabilizing climate in the same breath as preventing nuclear conflict at one point.
According to the survey of 1,503 adults, global warming, on its own, ranks last out of 20 surveyed issues."
However, I am somewhat comforted by the following response from Steve Cohen (Exec. Director of the Earth Institute).
Understanding Public Opinion About the Environment
The data reported here is accurate, but the data can be interpreted in several ways. I think it is a mistake to assume that the public's support for protecting the environment is declining. The reporter is drawing his conclusion from Pew's own survey analysts, and there is no question that the urgency of environmental issues has shifted due to the current economic crisis. However, we need to look a little deeper to really understand what is happening here.
Museum of the City of New York : Growing and Greening New York
Museum of the City of New York : Growing and Greening New York: "Growing and Greening New York
Dec 11 through Apr 22
Today 8 million New Yorkers daily get up, go out, and live their lives. By the year 2030, there will be a million more people living in New York City. And the city will have undergone a great transformation, becoming cleaner, greener, more responsible, and more robust--if the projections of PlaNYC2030 are correct, and if we take action on them now."
Dec 11 through Apr 22
Today 8 million New Yorkers daily get up, go out, and live their lives. By the year 2030, there will be a million more people living in New York City. And the city will have undergone a great transformation, becoming cleaner, greener, more responsible, and more robust--if the projections of PlaNYC2030 are correct, and if we take action on them now."
From Harvard Design Magazine:
Can Designers Improve Life in Non-Formal Cities? Number 28, Spring/Summer 2008
DESIGN INTERVENTIONS
Improving Informal Settlements
Ideas from Latin America
byand
Can Designers Improve Life in Non-Formal Cities? Number 28, Spring/Summer 2008
DESIGN INTERVENTIONS
Improving Informal Settlements
Ideas from Latin America
byand
NPR: Global Warming is Irreversible
Climate change is essentially irreversible, according to a sobering new scientific study.
"People have imagined that if we stopped emitting carbon dioxide that the climate would go back to normal in 100 years or 200 years. What we're showing here is that's not right. It's essentially an irreversible change that will last for more than a thousand years," Solomon says.
The idea that changes will be irreversible has consequences for how we should deal with climate change. The global thermostat can't be turned down quickly once it's been turned up, so scientists say we need to proceed with more caution right now.
"People have imagined that if we stopped emitting carbon dioxide that the climate would go back to normal in 100 years or 200 years. What we're showing here is that's not right. It's essentially an irreversible change that will last for more than a thousand years," Solomon says.
The idea that changes will be irreversible has consequences for how we should deal with climate change. The global thermostat can't be turned down quickly once it's been turned up, so scientists say we need to proceed with more caution right now.
Time-lapse shopping centre build
From Bbcnews.com:
A webcam at the building site of the £675m St David's 2 shopping centre in Cardiff caught construction work as it developed - a time delay shows two years work in three minutes.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7843271.stm
A webcam at the building site of the £675m St David's 2 shopping centre in Cardiff caught construction work as it developed - a time delay shows two years work in three minutes.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7843271.stm
Monday, January 26, 2009
The pychological effects on children in Gaza
The pychological effects on children in Gaza | The Lancet Global Health Network:
"...Psychological problems such as depression and aggression are common in children who have lived through conflict. This is not a new phenomenon in Gaza as many children have lived through other periods of violence, but this latest crisis will have added to the mental health problems faced by Gaza’s children. However, families in Gaza are already struggling with the basics of life; getting enough water, food, fuel and shelter. Hidden psychological problems are not something they are able to deal with.
And it is not only families. The health system is still in disarray. The wards at Gaza’s hospitals are full and doctors are still struggling to treat patients with little medication or electricity. The priority in Gaza is still to keep people alive and there is not the time to treat those whose injuries you cannot see [...]"
William Easterly's new blog
This, in response to those of us curious about the critical view of Development:
William Easterly's new blog | FP Passport:
William Easterly's new blog | FP Passport:
"Development ideologues beware. NYU economist, aid skeptic, top intellectual, and FP contributor William Easterly has entered the blogosphere. His new blog, Aid Watch, aims to 'be brutally honest when aid is not helping the poor, but also praising it when it is.' His first post takes on World Bank President Robert Zoellick's call for $6 billion in addtional U.S. foreign aid.
Stay tuned."
A Man With a Mission
A Man With a Mission - washingtonpost.com:
found via Passport
"A Man With a Mission," by David Matthews in the Washington Post Magazine. Adrenaline-charged adventure fills this account of a freelance contractor who goes to Sudan for humanitarian work, and, most unconventionally, offers tactical advice to a militia.
found via Passport
upcoming event
Development Dialogue: Challenges and Frontiers in the Provision of Global Reproductive Health Services
Thursday, February 5th at 7:30, Social Work Room CO3
Countries and regions around the globe in conflict and post-conflict
states, often endure extremely high maternal and child mortality
rates. Due to collapsed infrastructure, information to guide
reproductive health interventions is sparse though improving. Join us
in a discussion with experts in the field of reproductive health and
human rights as we learn about the challenges for reproductive health
service provision abroad.
Catherine S. Todd, M.D., MPH
Assistant Professor
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, and
Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School
of Public Health, Columbia University
Therese McGinn
Associate Professor of Clinical Population and Family Health, Mailman
School of Public Health
Director, Reproductive Health Access, Information and Services in
Emergencies (RAISE) Initiative
Susan Purdin
Deputy Director, Health Unit | International Rescue Committee
Joanne Csete
Assistant Professor, Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family
Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
Thursday, February 5th at 7:30, Social Work Room CO3
Countries and regions around the globe in conflict and post-conflict
states, often endure extremely high maternal and child mortality
rates. Due to collapsed infrastructure, information to guide
reproductive health interventions is sparse though improving. Join us
in a discussion with experts in the field of reproductive health and
human rights as we learn about the challenges for reproductive health
service provision abroad.
Catherine S. Todd, M.D., MPH
Assistant Professor
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, and
Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School
of Public Health, Columbia University
Therese McGinn
Associate Professor of Clinical Population and Family Health, Mailman
School of Public Health
Director, Reproductive Health Access, Information and Services in
Emergencies (RAISE) Initiative
Susan Purdin
Deputy Director, Health Unit | International Rescue Committee
Joanne Csete
Assistant Professor, Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family
Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
Map of the Day: NYC's Population is as Big as... - Gothamist: New York City News, Food, Arts & Events
Map of the Day: NYC's Population is as Big as... - Gothamist: New York City News, Food, Arts & Events: "Map of the Day: NYC's Population is as Big as...
Very Small Array created this fun map that shows which U.S. states have populations similar to the populations of NYC's boroughs. For reference, according to 2000 Census numbers, the populations of the boroughs are: Bronx-1.332 million; Brooklyn-2.465 million; Manhattan-1.537 million; Queens-2.229 million; and Staten Island 443,728. And here's more population fun from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates. [Via Curbed]"
Very Small Array created this fun map that shows which U.S. states have populations similar to the populations of NYC's boroughs. For reference, according to 2000 Census numbers, the populations of the boroughs are: Bronx-1.332 million; Brooklyn-2.465 million; Manhattan-1.537 million; Queens-2.229 million; and Staten Island 443,728. And here's more population fun from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates. [Via Curbed]"
Sunday, January 25, 2009
index_new
index_new: "The G-Econ research project is devoted to developing a geophysically based data set on economic activity for the world. The current data set (GEcon 1.3) is now publicly available and covers 'gross cell product' for all regions for 1990, which includes 27,500 terrestrial observations."
BBC NEWS | Africa | Cholera moves to rural Zimbabwe
BBC NEWS | Africa | Cholera moves to rural Zimbabwe:
"MSF Zimbabwe representative Manuel Lopez said that small villages off the main roads were now being affected following the Christmas holidays, when urban residents went home."
"MSF Zimbabwe representative Manuel Lopez said that small villages off the main roads were now being affected following the Christmas holidays, when urban residents went home."
In Health, Still Leaving Children Behind
In Health, Still Leaving Children Behind - Well Blog - NYTimes.com:
"As the new administration struggles with health care reform, the smallest patients may pose the biggest challenge.
In her latest Doctor and Patient column, Dr. Pauline Chen writes that inadequate and unequal care for children in this country are some of the most striking symptoms of our broken health care system. Currently, nearly 9 million children in this country have no health care coverage at all..."
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Cleaner Air Equals Longer Life...
A study in the New England Journal of Medicine published this week shows a direct relationship between reducing fine particle pollution and increasing life expectancy in the United States.
Am thinking about the impact this could have in the developing world.
Summary
NEJM article
Am thinking about the impact this could have in the developing world.
Summary
NEJM article
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Ethical Recruitment of Health Workers That is Truly Ethical
Global Health Policy: Way to Go, WHO! Ethical Recruitment of Health Workers That is Truly Ethical:
"...it is all about ensuring that internationally recruited health workers know what they’re getting into, get treated fairly, and don’t get exploited, and that states monitor heath worker movement so they can plan accordingly. All great ideas.
In fact, the draft code goes out of its way to condemn coercive limitations on health workers’ movement:
“Nothing in this code should be interpreted as impinging on the rights of health personnel to migrate to countries that wish to admit and employ them.”
Refreshingly, it stresses that the way to keep health workers in developing countries is to give them safe and dignified working conditions, rather than coerce them to stay by taking away job opportunities abroad via recruitment bans:
“Member States should recognize that improving the social and economic status of health personnel, their living and working conditions, their opportunities for employment and their career prospects is an important means of overcoming existing shortages and improving retention of a skilled health workforce.”"
Columbia University event
Columbia University
*Muhammad Yunus - Creating A World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism*
The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize outlines his vision for a new business model that combines the power of free markets with the quest for a more humane world?and tells the inspiring stories of companies that are doing this work today.
*Muhammad Yunus*, a native of Bangladesh, was educated at Dhaka University and was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study economics at Vanderbilt University. In 1972 he became head of the economics department at Chittagong University. He is the founder and managing director of Grameen Bank, a pioneer of microcredit, an economic movement that has helped lift millions of families around the world out of poverty. Yunus and Grameen Bank are winners of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize.
As space is limited, advance registration is encouraged, though not required.
Register for this Event
Time: 3:00-5:00pm, January 27
Location: Lerner Hall, Arledge Cinema
Sponsor: Center for the Study of Human Rights (CSHR)
*Muhammad Yunus - Creating A World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism*
The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize outlines his vision for a new business model that combines the power of free markets with the quest for a more humane world?and tells the inspiring stories of companies that are doing this work today.
*Muhammad Yunus*, a native of Bangladesh, was educated at Dhaka University and was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study economics at Vanderbilt University. In 1972 he became head of the economics department at Chittagong University. He is the founder and managing director of Grameen Bank, a pioneer of microcredit, an economic movement that has helped lift millions of families around the world out of poverty. Yunus and Grameen Bank are winners of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize.
As space is limited, advance registration is encouraged, though not required.
Register for this Event
Time: 3:00-5:00pm, January 27
Location: Lerner Hall, Arledge Cinema
Sponsor: Center for the Study of Human Rights (CSHR)
Saturday, January 17, 2009
The State of the World’s Children 2009: Maternal and Newborn Health
UNICEF - Publications - The State of the World’s Children 2009: Maternal and Newborn Health:
"The State of the World’s Children 2009 examines the current state of maternal and neonatal health, explores the fundamentals of a supportive environment for mothers and newborns, and outlines ways to strengthen efforts in support of primary health care. The report highlights the importance of establishing a continuum of maternal and newborn care framework and the imperative of strengthening health systems and working together. Africa and Asia are a key focus of this report, which complements the previous year’s issue on child survival."
Friday, January 16, 2009
childhood pysical activity study
keep this one in mind when we talk about health and the built environment this semester!
JPAH: "Prevalence and Correlates of State and Regional Disparities in Vigorous Physical Activity Levels Among US Children and Adolescents"
JPAH: "Prevalence and Correlates of State and Regional Disparities in Vigorous Physical Activity Levels Among US Children and Adolescents"
Thursday, January 15, 2009
upcoming lecture at Columbia
Mailman School of Public Health - Columbia University Webcasts:
Grandrounds NEXT LECTURE:
January 21, 2009
Meeting the Survival Needs of the World’s Least Healthy People: Toward a Framework Convention
on Global Health
Lawrence Gostin, JD [bio]
Linda D. and Timothy J. O’Neill Professor of Global Health Law and Professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Location: Alumni Auditorium, 650 W. 168th Street, New York City
Time: All lectures are from 4:00–5:30 p.m.
Grandrounds NEXT LECTURE:
January 21, 2009
Meeting the Survival Needs of the World’s Least Healthy People: Toward a Framework Convention
on Global Health
Lawrence Gostin, JD [bio]
Linda D. and Timothy J. O’Neill Professor of Global Health Law and Professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Location: Alumni Auditorium, 650 W. 168th Street, New York City
Time: All lectures are from 4:00–5:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
AMNH 2009 Spring Symposium
This Symposium is on health and the environment, and is accepting a limited number of posters (deadline January 30):
2009 Spring Symposium:
2009 Spring Symposium:
"The health of all species on Earth is largely determined by the complex linkages and interactions among organisms and the systems in which they live. Health and the environment are deeply intertwined for populations, species, and ecosystems, as well as for human lives and livelihoods. Human endeavors in agriculture, energy and food production, transportation, and infrastructure development can have far-reaching and significant impact on the health of humans and the environment. Understanding these relationships is increasingly critical in the context of our changing world and the accelerating loss of biodiversity.
The Center for Biodiversity and Conservation Milstein Science Symposium will present a diversity of viewpoints and experiences, spanning the natural, medical, and social sciences, as well as policy planning. Presenters will discuss knowledge/data gaps and the limitations of current approaches, and examine innovative methods that move beyond speculation to a grounded understanding of impacts and realistic solutions. Particular emphasis will be placed on consideration of multiple and interacting stressors and decision making for maximizing benefits to both health and the environment."
another perspective on those pirates
Johann Hari: You Are Being Lied to About Pirates:
"...This is the context in which the men we are calling 'pirates' have emerged. Everyone agrees they were ordinary Somalian fishermen who at first took speedboats to try to dissuade the dumpers and trawlers, or at least wage a 'tax' on them. They call themselves the Volunteer Coastguard of Somalia - and it's not hard to see why. In a surreal telephone interview, one of the pirate leaders, Sugule Ali, said their motive was 'to stop illegal fishing and dumping in our waters... We don't consider ourselves sea bandits. We consider sea bandits [to be] those who illegally fish and dump in our seas and dump waste in our seas and carry weapons in our seas.' William Scott would understand those words [...]"
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