Discussion Courses - A World of Health: Connecting People, Place and Planet
a six-session discussion guide for the workplace, community center, home or university.
“The most fundamental message is for people to remember that the environment is not just something that they visit on weekends or during their summer vacation— that the environment is all around us, that it is in us and we are in it, and that it profoundly influences our health.”
— Dr. Philip Landrigan Director, Children’s Environmental Health Center, Mt. Sinai Medical Center
Discussion Course Goals:
- Explore the connection between human health and the environment
- Examine the roots of Western medicine and how it has evolved in an industrial societ
- Learn about the places where our personal health intersects with the environment— our food, our living spaces, our communities and ultimately, our planet
- Identify actions that promote good health and in turn promote a healthier environment
Topics covered:
- Redefining Health
Good health is something we all strive for, so how might we go about creating the conditions that create it? This session explores how we define health and how that understanding informs our individual and collective well-being.
- Eating Well
Most people agree that eating well is a foundation of good health. This session explores the impacts of the industrial food system on personal, collective and ecological health as well as addresses the health impacts of food packaging and toxins in our foods.
- Cleaning House
Those living in industrialized societies now spend nearly 90 percent of their time indoors, much of that at home. We look to it as a safe haven, but recent studies suggest they may not be the safe refuges we think. This session brings to light the toxins in and around our living spaces and everyday household items, considering ways industry and government can eliminate toxins in consumer products. Ways to reduce exposure to household toxins will be explored.
- Building Healthy Communities
Many health problems may be traced not only to what we eat, but also to where we live and how our urban design impacts health. What health impacts do big box shopping centers have on local communities? The readings in this session examine how issues of proximity to major roads and industry, urban and suburban sprawl, and access to amenities and green space impact our overall well-being.
- Curing Consumption
The authors in this session look at health within the broader context of a consumer culture. Readings explore the life cycle of “stuff” and its impact on human and ecological health and consider more sustainable and healthy alternatives.
- Healthy Planet, Healthy Self
This session considers health within the broader context of Earth’s dynamic and life-sustaining ecosystems. The readings explore the importance of biodiversity, the health of the oceans, climate change and the interplay between the forces of nature and our individual and collective health.
The Canadian Earth Institute supports the commitment of individuals who seek to protect the earth.
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