Final Blog on Environmental News

I read this interesting article on Ghosts of the future published by the Washington Post on the history of the earth which began 4 billion years ago, evolving over time.  Fossils, glaciers and tectonics changed the earth and fossilized the animals and organisms giving us the topography we have today.
By this history, it has an impact how we as humans treat our planet.  The earth's climate is changing due to the exponential population growth and use of fossil fuels, this cannot keep pace with the 4 billion years of natural history of the earth.  The life forms on earth are becoming extinguished, our planet is hurling towards the "point of no return" (Washington Post, 2019).

Humans are the first species with the power to alter the planet and predict its consequences, so our actions can predict our future.  No, we won't become fossils but we can become humans who live in a profound toxic world that is vacant of natural history, geography and an organic environment.

Final Blog: Highlights of the course

I cannot believe that this is my final blog, and I hope I continue to blog on issues that matter to me and to the world around me.  I have learned new communication and publication skills with blogging.  The topics on the various environmental and occupational exposures were all interesting and I learned so much.  I have become more conscious about pollutants, wastes and hazardous materials and how these elements affect our health.  Through this course, it has allowed me to care for my patients differently by interviewing them not only about their health history but also about their social, residence and occupational histories.  I truly believe that the environment we live and work in has a significant effect on our health.  The economy we support and rely on also affect climate change and our resources.
I recently returned from Iceland and I learned that the people of Iceland use their own resources to be self-sufficient.  They do not import anything they can produce.  Icelanders are a conservative and organic users of their natural resources.  I liked their sustainability, putting money back into the country's workforce, economy and market share.  They keep the land as natural as they can so there were no over developed areas of fast food places, shopping or rows of restaurants other than in the downtown tourist area of Reykjavik.  It was beautiful and comforting to see and know, especially after the knowledge I obtained in this course.
I think the small group blogging was a good way to view others perceptions on issues that affect them, their colleagues and environment.  It allowed me to express my thoughts without inhibition and read new ideas and thoughts from my fellow bloggers.  Small group blogging was efficacious, worldly and challenging.

Blog #26: Radiation

Ionizing Radiation from the use of Cell Phones

The video on cell phones emitting ionizing radiation was well worth my time in listening to Dr. Davis.  I have always wondered if glioblastoma was linked to long-term cell phone use.  I have heard of studies in the media about cell phone use and cancers, particularly brain cancer.  It never occurred to me about infertility in the adults and birth defects in the unborn with the use of cell phones.  It was a very interesting lecture by Dr. Devra Davis.

When I went to my settings and found the 'Legal and Regulatory' link, I skimmed through a lot of nonsense information about copyright, warranty and license, I kept scrolling down to find information about risk factors on cell phone use but I ran out of patience trying to scroll for the information, no wonder consumers are not aware of the risks, its not easy to find!

I agree and endorse nurses who advocate and support educating the public and their patients on the hazards of cell phone use because where else will the public get it from?  They would have to do their own research or be enrolled in courses like this to be educated and informed.

Position statement on technology and health: Provide scientific research from credible sources, then state your position statement on the health risks of cell phone use.  Publish this statement to the public health authorities and the cell phone companies so they can develop the appropriate infrastructures to use the devices safely, like it was illustrated in Dr. Davis' video.

"Cell phones are attributed to low fertility, birth defects and some forms of brain cancers"

Blog #25: Greening Healthcare

Green Healthcare

 It has never occurred to me to think 'green' in the health care industry until now.  With the informative sessions in this course, I have come to appreciate the environment more, and none so more than in the healthcare setting.  I have always worked in a hospital setting for the last 25 years, and it has always irked me on how hospitals waste so much supply of their instruments, patient care supplies, medications and equipment.  An opened package for one item caused the entire medical supply package to be discarded.  At one hospital I worked at, any sterile packages that were opened and not used went into the mission storage supply to be distributed to less affluent countries but for the most part, very little of the sterile and clean supplies were recycled.  One example is, plastics that are not contaminated with human secretions are not allowed to go into recycling including the water and soda pop bottles and cans that patients and staff use.  When I asked why couldn't these items be sent to a recycling center, I was told because the items came from a hospital, it could not go to a recycling plant for fear of contamination.  Instead, these recyclables now fill our our landfill sites.

I belong to the ANHE for a fellowship program on environmental health and I am currently working in my community to improve land use zoning and development.  There is also the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) that deals with environmental and occupational issues in the more vulnerable populations.

I like the idea of 'green health care', it has to involve every aspect of the contributing industries, occupations and the growth of the economy.  

Blog #24: Energy

Energy and Health

The production of energy globally has both negative and positive impacts on the health and the environment.  Reading and watching the articles and videos on current energy sources were very informative and have opened my mind and thoughts of the progress and destruction that energy use has made.  Energy has caused global engineering success with innovative advances in providing the basics of food, shelter and water.  On the contrary, it has also caused depletion of our earth's natural and man-made resources, destroyed our ecosystem and increased the disease trajectory in the world's population.  Knowing what I know now after this educational session on energy and health, I have enough information to advocate and lobby for more sustainable and re-usable energy sources.  The graphics depicted from the reduction of greenhouse emissions was eye-opening and impactful on how I use and conserve energy with my own personal practices.  I can support organizations and industries that promote a safer and cleaner environment when they implement or plan on implementing renewable resources for building and engineering.  The videos and readings were very informative and well promulgated with clear understanding of the content and the audience they were trying to reach.

The current government incentives that are available state and local wide are, monetary incentives and rebates for electric vehicles, parking spaces that are designated for EV which are located closer to the retailers' entrances.  There are carpool lanes to get you to places faster.  There are charging stations located at convenient stops.  I am not sure about this measure, but I think the license fees are cheaper if you own an electric vehicle. I know in Vancouver, in my home city, the parking spots are free for energy efficient vehicles. This is a big incentive, since parking a car is expensive in Vancouver.

Blog #23: News today on Indoor Farming

Indoor Farming to combat climate change

The safety challenges of outdoor farming are becoming more acute with climate change and unexpected shifts in pests and bird migrations.  Indoor farming is a solution to eliminating green house gases as our planet gradually gets hotter and the population increases.  The solution by one company in Baltimore is to use LED lights and the natural lighting to grow and farm food, producing more and having a lesser impact on the green house emissions.  Since climate change is warming the earth, impacting the seasons and weather, the natural environment, including marine and land wild life, it is difficult to produce the amount of food from the unpredictability of climate change.  (News released by the Washington Post on November 19, 2019).  Companies such as this operates and produces food for the planet in an ecological and sustainable way through massive greenhouses, thus, moving us forward into the 22nd century!

Blog #23: Climate Change

Climate Change and Our Health

1. Climate change is predicted to have multiple effects. Are you prepared, as a nurse, to address the effects that are likely to be experienced in your community?
2. Are there ways in which the nursing community can use our trusted voices about health to strengthen climate change policies and practices?

1. As I go through this course on environmental health, I am more aware of the negative health and environmental effects that are currently happening now and will happen in the near future if our conscious effort to reduce our carbon emissions is desensitized and unamended.  I am solely prepared to advise my community but I can educate them on the effects of climate change, its causes and prevention.   Using the fact sheet on climate change put out and endorsed by the Obama Administration is a good place to start my community education and preparedness on the health effects from climate change.

2. Since I have been informed and constantly reminded that our profession in nursing is the most trusted and reliable voice to influence change in policy and public safety, that, by using media and scientific data to convey our message and concern to policy makers, elected state and city officials and the general public that the need to address climate change will be impactful.  One of the ways to influence awareness and action is through nursing and environmental disciplines to project the immediate need to change the way our society does things in order to preserve the planet and improve our green house gas emissions.  Strong bodies that are made up of medical professionals and scientists have the greatest influence on policy change.  Like the Obama Administration, they used reliable bodies of knowledge and experience to influence them release reports about climate change into the healthcare sectors.