2029.0: Sunday, November 16, 2003: 2:30 PM-6:00 PM | |||
CE Hours: 3 contact hours | |||
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| Statement of Purpose and Institute Overview: | |||
| The purpose of this Institute is to describe the national and global causes and health consequences of environmental degradation and social injustice. Worldwide the greatest effects on the health of individuals and populations results from these phenomena, operating in consort. Causes of environmental degradation and social injustice include overpopulation, air and water pollution, deforestation, toxic pollutants, global warming, unsustainable agricultural and fishing practices, overconsumption, maldistribution of wealth, “affluenza.” the rise of the corporation, the Third World debt crisis, and militarism. Consequences include increased poverty, overcrowding, soil and water depletion, famine, weather extremes, species loss, acute and chronic medical illnesses, war and human rights abuses, and an increasingly unstable global situation which portends Malthusian chaos and disaster. Differences in quality of life and access to basic necessities (food, housing, education and health care) between rich and poor and between developed and developing nations are increasingly rapidly. Racism, “classism” and sexism all contribute to environmental degradation, the effects of which in turn fall most heavily upon the disenfranchised. Because of their scientific training, and due to their often-privileged socioeconomic status, health professionals are in a unique position to recognize these phenomena and to act at all levels, from interactions with their patients/clients, to volunteerism, to service and intervention in areas of great need, to direct political activism and involvement. Specific suggestions for action will be discussed. A syllabus and list of readings and websites will be provided. Literary selections and historical vignettes will be incorporated into the presentation. | |||
| Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this CEI, participants will be able to: 1) Articulate the major causes of environmental degradation and social injustice, both nationally and globally. 2) Discuss the health consequences of environmental degradation and social injustice, both nationally and globally. 3) Evaluate the roles played by racism, "classism," and sexism in causing and perpetuating environmental destruction and social injustice. 4) Analyze governmental and institutional policies which increase/decrease environmental degradation and social injustice. 5) Describe ways in which public health professionals and students can apply solutions to global, national, local, and institutional environmental problems, through education, public service and activism. | |||
| Martin T Donohoe, MD, FACP | |||
| Organized by: | Continuing Education Institutes | ||
| CE Credits: | CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing, Pharmacy | ||