Protecting and Promoting Human Health

Protecting and promoting human health on the individual and local level is in the best interest of all concerned. It reduces health care costs, helps address health inequalities, empowers people, and improves the health environment and options for future generations as well.

OVERVIEW

• The global ecosystem and health
• Healthy lifestyle and preventative practices
• Empowering and supporting marginalized groups
• Reducing health risks from environmental pollution and hazards

CLICK HERE TO READ WHY WE’VE CHOSEN TO REWRITE AGENDA 21

THE GLOBAL ECOSYSTEM AND HEALTH

The quality of our air, water, and soil affect the quality of our health directly through our interaction with them and indirectly through our food. For people concerned about this there are many actions that can be taken on the individual and local level.  These actions can be divided into two categories: direct reduction of stressors/toxins/pollution into our bodies through food, water, and the air we breathe and reduction of our contribution to stressors/toxins/pollution into our air, water, and food supply.

Ideas for those interested in reduction of stressors into the body

• Food: Switch to foods grown without pesticides or herbicides (here’s an organic food resource) or grow your own food (here’s a great apartment gardening resource)(here’s a great backyard gardening resource)(here’s two great permaculture forums: Permaculture Planet and Permies.com)(here’s a great composting resource)(here’s a free kitchen gardener community to join)
• Water: Invest in a water filter (here’s a great resource on options and how to choose)
• Air: Invest in an air filter (here’s an information resource) and/or grow air purifying houseplants (here’s a great resource)
• Everywhere else (here’s a resource covering everything from toys to cosmetics)
• Move to a cleaner environment. (50 largest US cities cleanliness rating)

• Switch to toxin free home cleaning (here’s a great recipe resource)
• Switch to toxin free weed control (here’s a great resource)
• Switch to toxin free pest and mold control (here’s a recipe resource)
• Click here for the EPA’s list of things you can do to reduce air pollution
• Click here for a resource on ways you can reduce water pollution

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND PREVENTATIVE PRACTICES

Healthy lifestyle and preventative practices are arguably the number one thing a person can do to promote their own health and longevity.

Ideas for those interested in implementation

• Practice preventative medicine through balanced and healthy food consumption (here’s a resource dissecting the world’s healthiest foods)
• Exercise regularly :: Even just walking 10-30 minutes a day is amazing for your health – here’s a 9 minute video that will amaze you with some statistics and how easy it is to dramatically improve your health:

• Consider adding natural remedies and herbs to your healthy living approach
• Develop and strengthen community and home based health care practices. (Here is a World Health Organization Model for this)
• Per community decision, strengthen community-based natural health activities for the entire population while promoting education and community involvement. (Here’s how they are doing this in Uganda)

EMPOWERING AND SUPPORTING MARGINALIZED GROUPS

In addition to meeting basic health needs, specific emphasis can be given to empowering, supporting, and educating marginalized groups, particularly the poor, uneducated, infants, youth, women, and indigenous people. We would all also benefit with special attention for the health needs of those with potentially life threatening conditions, chronically/severely ill, elderly and disabled population, to help with smooth transition from one form of health care to another and continuation of previous health care actions to ensure new health care practices do not in any way adversely effect people’s current medical conditions and well-being.

Ideas for those interested in implementation

There are a ton of organizations representing the various groups. Here are just a few:

• The Q Drum that is helping get clean water where it is needed.
• Mother Health International is building birthing centers around the world.
• The Social Network for Native Sustainability is a resource of groups to support.
• The Matses Tribal Organization is supporting native Indians of the Amazon.
• The International Council of Indigenous Grandmothers is supporting women and the elderly.
• Kiva is “empowering people around the world with a $25 loan.”
• The Hospice Foundation is supporting people with terminal illnesses.
• The Power of Love Foundation is addressing AIDS around the world.
• (click here to send us your additions or ideas for this section)

REDUCING HEALTH RISKS FROM ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND HAZARDS

Inefficient and unsafe development and production leads to health stressors and unnecessary overconsumption and waste. Via new technology, we now have the opportunity to demonstrate eco-efficiency and create methods of production that are safe, renewable, and resource efficient.

Ideas for those interested in implementation

• Learn how to make your home more energy efficient (here’s an archive of 100’s of articles on how to do this)
• Consider green approaches to business (here’s a resource) and community development (here’s an open source model for this)