Obtaining aObtaining a “GREEN Soul” to Improve “GREEN Soul” to Improve African AmericanAfrican American Health Health

ByByLeonard Williams IILeonard Williams IIWalden UniversityWalden University

PUBH 6165-2 Environmental HealthPUBH 6165-2 Environmental HealthSpring 2010Spring 2010

Dr. Rebecca HeickDr. Rebecca Heick

Overview Overview

Definition of Global WarmingDefinition of Global Warming Health Implications of Global WarmingHealth Implications of Global Warming Inequities of Global Warming in African Inequities of Global Warming in African

American Communities American Communities Definition of a “Green Soul”Definition of a “Green Soul” Increasing Awareness of Going GreenIncreasing Awareness of Going Green

It is the increase of the average temperature on It is the increase of the average temperature on Earth. (Climate Change)Earth. (Climate Change) Hotter temperaturesHotter temperatures Increase of natural disasters such as hurricanes, Increase of natural disasters such as hurricanes,

earthquakes, and floodsearthquakes, and floods

What is Global Warming?

World Health Organization. (n.d.)World Health Organization. (n.d.) Climate Change. Climate Change. Retrieved from Retrieved from http://www.who.int/ceh/publications/en/20globalwarming.pdfhttp://www.who.int/ceh/publications/en/20globalwarming.pdf

Climate changes are causing potential health effects Climate changes are causing potential health effects Extreme Heat WavesExtreme Heat Waves – higher temperatures and poor air quality – higher temperatures and poor air quality

can aggravate respiratory diseases (asthma) and can aggravate respiratory diseases (asthma) and cardiovascular diseases. Water or food borne disease can be cardiovascular diseases. Water or food borne disease can be increased due to droughtsincreased due to droughts

Extreme weather events-Extreme weather events- infrastructure damage can cause infrastructure damage can cause disruption in medical care and in employment .disruption in medical care and in employment .

Hoerner,J and Robinson J (2008)Hoerner,J and Robinson J (2008)

What are the Health Implications?

African Americans currently experience African Americans currently experience poorer health outcomes such as heart poorer health outcomes such as heart disease, cancer, and strokes than any disease, cancer, and strokes than any other race.other race.

According to The Environmental Justice According to The Environmental Justice

and Climate Change Initiative (EJCC), and Climate Change Initiative (EJCC), “African-Americans are more vulnerable “African-Americans are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change ”to the effects of climate change ”

Hoerner,J and Robinson J (2008)Hoerner,J and Robinson J (2008)

What are the Health Implications? cont.

African Americans spend thirty percent more of their income on energy than non-Hispanic whites

High unemployment of African Americans during energy-caused recessions is twice that of non-Hispanic whites

Hoerner,J and Robinson J (2008)Hoerner,J and Robinson J (2008)

Inequities of Global Warming in Inequities of Global Warming in African American CommunitiesAfrican American Communities

Children of color are three times more likely than white children to live in areas of high automobile traffic

African Americans are more likely than whites to live closer to the nearest industrial emissions source and to live within two miles of multiple industrial emissions sources.

Hoerner,J and Robinson J (2008Hoerner,J and Robinson J (2008

Inequities of Global Warming inInequities of Global Warming inAfrican American Communities, African American Communities, cont.cont.

Inequities of Global Warming in Inequities of Global Warming in African American Communities African American Communities cont,cont,

African Americans housing has energy inefficiencies, inadequate insulation, older appliances, and poor heating and cooling systems.

Hoerner,J and Robinson J (2008Hoerner,J and Robinson J (2008

Definition of a Definition of a “Green Soul”“Green Soul”

Increasing Awareness of Increasing Awareness of Going Green in African Going Green in African American CommunitiesAmerican Communities

Offer “Green Job” Training & Placement Offer “Green Job” Training & Placement Green Entrepreneurship MentoringGreen Entrepreneurship MentoringOffer Culturally Sensitive Green OutreachOffer Culturally Sensitive Green Outreach (Green Soul Movement)(Green Soul Movement) New Green Sustainable Community HousingNew Green Sustainable Community Housing

Earthships Earthships

What’s an Earthship?What’s an Earthship?

An Earthship is a radically sustainable home made of An Earthship is a radically sustainable home made of recycled materials recycled materials

(Earthship Biotecture (n.d.) Image retrieved from http://earthship.org)(Earthship Biotecture (n.d.) Image retrieved from http://earthship.org)

Community Earthships Community Earthships for African American for African American FamiliesFamilies

Could Earthships assist in eliminating Could Earthships assist in eliminating

Health DisparitiesHealth Disparities

Community Earthships Community Earthships for African American for African American FamiliesFamilies

Earthships Earthships Gets all electricity from the sun and windGets all electricity from the sun and wind Water harvesting systems/sewer systemsWater harvesting systems/sewer systemsThermal heating and coolingThermal heating and cooling Natural and recycled material used onlyNatural and recycled material used onlyFood production (inside and outside)Food production (inside and outside)Zero effect on climate changeZero effect on climate change

Earthship Biotecture (n.d.) Retrieved from http://earthship.orgEarthship Biotecture (n.d.) Retrieved from http://earthship.org

SummarySummary

To combat the issue of To combat the issue of global warming, we need global warming, we need the following:the following: More collaborative More collaborative

partnerships with partnerships with businesses and government businesses and government infrastructuresinfrastructures

More research on the More research on the effects of green living on effects of green living on African AmericansAfrican Americans

ResourcesResources www.greentopsites.com African American Environmentalist African American Environmentalist

Association(AAEA)Association(AAEA) www.aaenvironment.blogspot.com

The National Black Environmental The National Black Environmental Justice Network (www.nbejn.org)Justice Network (www.nbejn.org)

ReferencesReferences

Hoerner,J and Robinson J (2008). Hoerner,J and Robinson J (2008). A Climate of Change: African Americans, Global A Climate of Change: African Americans, Global Warming, and a Just Climate Policy in the U.SWarming, and a Just Climate Policy in the U.S. Environmental Justice and Climate . Environmental Justice and Climate Change Initiative. Retrieved Change Initiative. Retrieved http://www.rprogress.org/publications/2008/climateofchange.pdfhttp://www.rprogress.org/publications/2008/climateofchange.pdf

Earthship Biotecture (n.d.) Retrieved from http://earthship.orgEarthship Biotecture (n.d.) Retrieved from http://earthship.org

Google images. (n.d.) Images retrieved from http://www.images.google.comGoogle images. (n.d.) Images retrieved from http://www.images.google.com

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health Disparities (2005). U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health Disparities (2005). Experienced by Black or African American–United States Experienced by Black or African American–United States MMWRMMWR;54(01):1-3.;54(01):1-3.

World Health Organization. (n.d.)World Health Organization. (n.d.) Climate Change. Climate Change. Retrieved from Retrieved from http://www.who.int/ceh/publications/en/20globalwarming.pdfhttp://www.who.int/ceh/publications/en/20globalwarming.pdf