Health and (climate) change

 

 

Global warming will bring new challenges and problems. These include hazardous weather patterns with extreme hot and cold temperatures, floods and drought, rising ocean levels and population migrations.

George McBean, a University of Western Ontario professor and Nobel prize-winning climate change scientist thinks that extreme weather conditions will put Canadians, particularly the elderly and young children, at greater risk of injuries, illness and mental health problems related to stress.

Major storms can contaminate drinking water, as was the case in Walkerton in 2000 where 7 people died and 2000 others became ill. Living through a terrifying event can also cause psychological trauma.

McBean hopes that the new funds for infrastructure will include money to improve emergency preparedness with systems similar in place in some European countries which post advisories if weather conditions may trigger health problems such as asthma and migraines.

McBean, however, addresses the effects rather than the causes. While governments can do a great deal to prepare for the unexpected, citizens, individually and collectively, need to muster the will, wisdom and intelligence to face whatever happens.

 

As Buddha said...In life we cannot avoid change, we cannot avoid loss. Freedom and happiness are found in the flexibility and ease with which we move through change.

The climate change discussion is driven by the fear of its effect on humans and the economy.
We try to conquer the outer world often weakening the inner world.

 

We are part of nature and we will never be free of global warming unless we change our relationship with the Earth, including an awareness of the gross injustice when one life system overwhelms the others.

“Human happiness, true prosperity and joyful living emerge from a life of elegant simplicity.”

 

 

July 29, 2008

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