In honor or Earth Day, NPR takes a look at how the build up of trash can contribute to health problems and justice issues around the world. Check out their story here!
Earth Day and Justice
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Muddy’s cupcake sales!
Do you want to be happy like this girl?
Well, guess what? You can be! Get your own Muddy’s cupcake delivered to Rhodes. We’ll be taking pre-orders all next week (Monday to Thursday 7pm-midnight) in the Middle Ground, with deliveries the following week. They’re $3 with proceeds going towards our partner, AMOS. You can pay with your R-number.
Happiness as a development goal
Here’s an intriguing idea: what if happiness became a new way of measuring progress and development? Should we consider happiness as an equally important goal to reach as elimination of poverty and access to clean water? One could argue that those other goals were ultimately created to reach the larger goal of happiness. By shifting the focus away from the more concrete goals, an individual’s overall well-being becomes the important factor. Does this shift in focus lead to greater respect for people in developing countries? Does it suggest that people in developed countries may have some developing of our own to do? Learn more about this idea in this Guardian article.
Need summer plans?
Still wondering how you’re going to fill your summer months? Take a few tips from Karen Grepin on finding a global health-related internship. And be sure to check out this wide range of CDC internships and fellowships available!
Some April links
Here’s a round-up of some recent articles:
- On the politics of pharmaceuticals – GOOD magazine
- On economic development in Africa – World Bank blog
- On the promise of “global health” – Lancet Student blog
- “Five poverty-fighting women to watch” – Christian Science Monitor
Enjoy!
World Water Day
Today is World Water Day!
Here are a few articles that discuss the current state of water in our world:
- The official UN World Water Day website: http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/
- On dwindling sources: http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/water-short-world-will-need-more-crop-per-drop-experts
- On water use for food production: http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/animation_101.html
- CDC resources on healthy water: http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/global/
- How much water do you use each day? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/22/world-water-day-2012-infographic_n_1367394.html
Spring break readings
As we head off for Spring Break, here are some articles that you may find of interest to peruse in your extra free time:
- an exploration of how discussions about “health systems” can dehumanize the people being treated.
- presentation and discussion of data about alcohol use around the world
- an opinion piece about the need to increase palliative care offerings
- a shocking infographic that demonstrates how little of the aid sent to Haiti in response to the earthquake has actually been spent
- in honor of International Women’s Day, this article explores some of the work that still needs to be done to bring greater equality and improved health to women around the world
- an intriguing study indicates that malaria treatment during pregnancy does help maternal health but may cause the newborns to be more susceptible to malaria in the future
- a discussion of how NGOs are the “new missionaries” and how NGOs should learn from the failures and successes in the past
- a recent report shows that we are on track to meet the poverty and safe-water access MDGs, but this article lays out the work that will still need to be done to meet the remaining 6 MDGs
Enjoy the break!
