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Shelter in Place Modules (Peer Leaders 2020)

Environmental Health

Throughout this module, you will watch videos, participate in activities, and respond to discussion questions and a case study as if you were actually at The Spot for a 1-1.5 hour Peer Leaders session. By the end of the module, please email discussion questions responses and your case study response (all inside the purple rounded squares) with the subject line "PL EH" to Danielle at youthprogramahs@gmail.com.

Environmental Health

What's Environmental Health and Its Aspects? 

Environmental Health

The part of public health that focuses on the relations between humans and the environment, both natural and built.

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Who works in environmental health?

Health departments, environmental agencies, occupational health and safety workers, toxicologists, epidemiologists, etc.

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Five Pillars of Environmental Health

  1. Disease Control​​

  2. Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene

  3. Built Environment

  4. Occupational Health

  5. Food Safety & Hygiene

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Important Environmental Health Concepts

Air Quality: the degree of measurement that determines quality of air based on pollution.

Natural Disasters: natural events that cause immense damage, even a loss of human, animal, and plant life.

Vector-borne diseases: disease that happens as a result of infection from mosquitoes, ticks, or flies.

Water-related Illnesses: recreational or drinking water that is contaminated by microbes or pathogens.

Transportation: the movement of goods or people from one environment to another.

Safety: condition of being protected from danger or risk.

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Environmental Health Issues (Examples)

  • Climate Change

  • Lead in the Water (Flint, MI)

  • Mauna Ke'a Telescope (Hawaii)

  • Dakota Access Pipeline (North & South Dakota, Iowa, & Illinois)

  • Pesticides (Central Valley, CA)

  • Agent Orange (Vietnam War)

  • Noise Pollution (New York City)

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Activity

Research one of the five pillars of environmental health. Create a 3 slide presentation of ONE of the pillars. Explain what it is, how communities are kept healthy through it, and why it is important to maintain health within this pillar. 

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Activity

Pick one of the issues listed in the examples section and look up a news article or Youtube video on the topic. Read/watch the article/video, and answering the following questions:

  • Who are the communities affected by this specific issue? (People, animals, etc.)

  • Why do you think this event of environmental health is considered a problem?

  • Do you think this issue can be resolved? How?

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Environmental Justice

What is Environmental Justice?

Watch this video on environmental justice - the ways we can break down systems of oppression and inequity regarding how we can work with healthier environments in marginalized communities. Communities that are poorer, mostly people of color, and come from non-English speaking backgrounds tend to experience more instances of environmental injustices (environmental racism, food deserts, pollution, etc.) 

Environmental Racism

Environmental Racism is a practices inequity and oppression through action and policy. In many communities of color, people are subjected to living in dangerous and harmful environments - people of color live in more polluted areas, have lower quality water, and live in conditions much more outdated and unsafe compared to their White counterparts. Watch this quick video to learn more about it.

The Green New Deal

The world is moving towards a critical point in the history of its existence. All that is happening right now - wildfires, mass migration, etc. - is a result of climate change, pollution, and environmental harm that humans have inflicted on the Earth. National and world leaders have a 14 page plan to address ways to mend the situation, and have considered the people who can be impacted by potential changes. This is the only plan that exists that acknowledges how climate change is ruining the world. Learn more and watch this video! 

Activity

Think about where you live (city, area, etc.) and connect it to what you just learned.

  • Do you think you've experienced the effects of environmental injustice? What makes you think so? 

  • After learning about the Green New Deal, how important do you think it is in working towards combatting climate change?

  • Have you seen any effects of climate change and environmental racism in your life in recent years? If so, what are they?

  • Do you believe climate change is an important topic in environmental health? Why?

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CASE STUDY

Richmond, CA and Chevron Refinery

LINK: http://www.umich.edu/~snre492/sherman.html 

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Summary:

  • Since the 1980s, there have been over 30 industrial accidents in Contra Costa County (location of Richmond, CA), making it one of the most dangerous places to live in the United States

  • Chevron, the biggest refinery in the area, is the biggest perpetrator of pollution and toxic waste, and had over 300 incidents between 1989 and 1995 alone

  • The company decided to increase storage of chemicals in their Richmond refinery, making case for an evident impact on the local community, which is comprised of mostly poor Black and Brown folks

  • Those opposing Chevron had the following strategies in mind:

    • Communicating and Working Things Out with the Polluter​

    • Lobbying

    • Mobilizing Local Community Members

    • Collaborating with Experts in Law and Science

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Imagine that you are a community organizer in Richmond, CA in 2012. An explosion and fire at the local refinery puts the surrounding area in lockdown as a large cloud of smoke runs through the city. Days pass and the air still carries toxic fumes. 15,000 low-income community members of color end up at local health centers and hospitals for emergency treatment, all involving the need for respiratory care and responses to symptoms such as persistent coughs, difficulty breathing, nausea, and light headedness. Rates for newly diagnosed asthma in the community increase in the following months. You and other parties decide to take action against the refinery in order to bring justice for local community members whose healths were put in danger. You're working with lawyers to bring a case against the company. 

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  • How would you assess the severity of the incident on the local community?

  • What are some demands you would you make towards large corporations conducting business that creates harmful environmental effects on the local community? How can an event like this be prevented in the future?

  • What are some actions you can take to work with the local community in upholding environmental justice?

YOU'RE DONE! 

Now please email discussion questions responses and your case study response (all inside the purple rounded squares) with the subject line "PL EH" to Danielle at youthprogramahs@gmail.com.

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