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How can the future growth of settlements in the third world (Africa) be sustainable and planned?
Posted on August 31st, 2009Categorized as Interdisciplinary, Social Science, Social-Ecological Systems Tagged as Health, human settlements, population, slums, urbanization
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The recent UN-HABITAT (2008) report on rate of urbanization said that the number of people of living in urban areas will more than double its 2007 level of 373.4 Million by 2030. Unlike in the developed western world where the urbanization process is taking place within a planned environment, in Africa the cities are growing without any plan or pattern. Slums are in the increase all over the cities of Africa with its attendant consequences of crime, poverty and health problems which has the capacity to truncate any global effort to make our earth a better and safer place. We must therefore address the root causes of unplanned growth and institutionalize community planning so that each community within and outside the cities of Africa and other developing countries would see the beauty of planning so that the towns are not only planned but provision are made for conservation and environmental protection.
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With rapidly increasing industrialisation, pollution and green house gases, how we shall protect the mother earth from ultra violet radiations coming from the sun? Is there some way to produce Ozone artificially to save the earth?
Posted on August 14th, 2009Categorized as Earth System Tagged as greenhouse gas, Health, ozone depletion, pollution
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Increasing industrial zones globally producing harmful green house gases in to atmosphere. Due to certain gases such as CFC, even perfume spay gases etc. ozone is getting destroyed. At some places such as Siberia (north pole), near south pole and certain other places ozone holes already created due to industrial pollution and deforestation, as a result UV radiations directly attacking earth. Direct penetration of UV radiation may create health hazards such as skin cancer etc. Ozone layer in the atmosphere is a protective shield of our mother earth. If it is lost we may have to loose earth in future. Hence I think time has come to think very seriously how to protect mother earth from UV radiations and to produce ozone artificially.
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What coud be the evolution of emerging pathogenic agents in relation with global earth changes?
Posted on August 16th, 2009Categorized as Biodiversity, Human Health, Interdisciplinary Tagged as diseases, global warming, globalization, Health, public health
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Earth warming, ecological changes and globalization of transportation may induce further spread of insect born diseases away from the tropics. Large numbers of population might not be ready to cope with the threat with their natural defenses, or with public health procedures.
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In the context of climate change, how can we imporve health early warning systems (HEWS)?
Posted on August 29th, 2009Categorized as Human Health Tagged as adaptation, climate change, early warning, Health
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Today, we are well informed about climate change even if there still remain some uncertainties, improving HEWS can be a research priority in the framework of adaptation to climate change.
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How much will slowly deteriorating conditions of environment, climate and global warming affect human health in the next 1 to 5 decades?
Posted on August 9th, 2009Categorized as Earth System, Human Health, Social Science Tagged as adaptation, climate change, Health
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In one experiment a frog was dropped suddenly in very hot water container and what is observed is obvious that he jumped out of a container and ran away. Next time a similar experiment was performed differently. A frog was kept in an open container with tap water. Then It is kept on heater and slowly allowed container to heat. On the first day temperature was kept at 40 degrees. Like this each day temperature was raised step by step. During each rise in temperature the frog reaction was observed. It is seen that as temperature rises to say 60 degrees, a frog tried to get adjusted him self with what we called as-slowly deteriorating conditions. Even at temperature above 60, 65 he does same thing. But a frog never tried to jump out of a container to survive, instead he tried to get adjusted. One day temperature was raised to 80 and more. This time the frog tried hard to survive himself but unfortunately could not survive and ended his life in a container. But he never tried to jump out of the container to survive. The conclusion is that all living animals have the tendency to adjust themselves with such slowly varying, though deteriorating, conditions. All of us today are going to be victims of these conditions created by us! The slowly changing environment conditions, micro climatic changes, global warming and deforestation etc. need to be curbed urgently. Many animal species are vanishing today only because of these conditions. It not only affects earth system but also human health.
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Could it be possible to better understand biodiversity ?
Posted on August 27th, 2009Categorized as Biodiversity, Human Health Tagged as agriculture, Biodiversity, consumption, ecosystems, Health
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Biodiversity is declining (in quantity and qualtity, i.e. fewer species and fewer individuals) for different reasons including over-use, over-harvesting, misunderstanding and direct destruction. The possible effects will concern at least agriculture (feeding human beings), health and the functioning of more natural ecosystems. It could be important to anticipate a little bit.
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What is the optimum level of atmospheric carbon dioxide for maximum forest, crop and pasture growth, without compromising human health?
Posted on August 14th, 2009Categorized as Earth System Tagged as CO2, greenhouse gas, Health, plant productivity, vegetation
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Evidence suggests that historical atmospheric carbon dioxide levels were markedly higher than at present, and that these higher levels were associated with very high plant productivity – such as during the carboniferous age. Even today, greenhouse producers pump carbon dioxide into their production units to facilitate plant growth, suggesting our current atmosphere is carbon dioxide poor. A sensible approach to atmospheric carbon dioxide management requires a clear understanding of the optimum levels necessary for plant productivity witout compromising human health.
