Although, I believe that Earth has natural climate changes, the current climate change is happening exponentially faster and more extreme than ever before. This is due to human activity and industrialization of the last 300 years. What troubles me most about the current climate change is that all species, including the human race, are not prepared to adapt to the pace and intensity. Other species are affected by the current climate change more than humans...to the point of extinction.
As a public health professional, I believe that global communities should invest a great amount of attention to being better stewards of the land by minimizing industrialization activities (mining, pesticide use, oil refining...etc.), minimizing waste production and improving waste management systems.
I just returned from a one week long medical mission to Honduras during Holy Week. I was appalled at the lack of waste management. They burn their garbage in open burn pits 24 hours a day and 7 days a week...and most of the time garbage is everywhere. The children swim in it and that is why there is skyrocketing prevalence in infectious, waterborne and airborne diseases in Honduras. This is true for most countries around the world, but especially 3rd world countries. Burning trash destroys the ozone layer, which proliferates climate change. Climate change affects food sources and availability for all species.
Hi Allyssa,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post on this topic. I think it is especially terrible that many places, such as Honduras, outside the U.S. do not have a clean environments where children are exposed to hazardous waste without any means of it being properly addressed. We need issues like this being actively pushed by the WHO, NGOs and governmental bodies so that the people in these countries have a safer and healthier environment.
What an amazing experience to go to Honduras on a medical mission. I am sad to hear about the lack of waste management in this area as well. I am surprised that no one has stepped in to try to eradicate the burning of trash in many countries, though I understand many countries don't have resources to do much else.
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