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Next Population
Health Forum Meeting:
Wednesday,
September 24, 5:30
in H 670
Map
Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?
In the spring of 2008 a PBS TV documentary will air in the US that deals directly
with the content of this site.
Visit their site, look at the
materials, and get your
community involved.
Join
our Listserv
TO SUBSCRIBE to the Forum's list, click this LINK
and follow the instructions and options for subscribing as well
as access to the email archives.
I
was asked to discuss, here in Oslo, the greatest challenge that
the world faces. I decided that the most serious and universal problem
is the growing chasm between the richest and poorest people on Earth."
—Jimmy Carter,
recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize
Send us
your comments, questions, and written contributions |
United States of America:
RICHEST Nation
"BIG GAP" Society
SICKEST Population
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WHY
do people in these countries live longer than we do in the
United States?
OUR
GREATEST HEALTH HAZARD is
the economic "gap" between the rich and the
poor. With greater economic
inequality
comes worse
health —
lower life expectancy and higher mortality rates. The U.S.
spends the most money on health care, but ties for 30th place
in life expectancy.
All of
the countries that rank higher in the Health Olympics have
a smaller gap in income distribution between their richest
and poorest citizens. |
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(from
UNDP Human
Development Report)
See a chart of these rankings.
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6
STEPS you can take
to help close the gap.
- Fight for JUSTICE
to reduce the gap between rich and poor. Being active as
a public citizen is good for your health.
- Advocate for CHILD-SUPPORTIVE
ENVIRONMENTS where children get love, care,
and opportunities to develop. Ways of becoming involved
center around acting to promote true family values.
- Promote SPIRITUAL
AND SOCIAL CONNECTIONS in your community.
Know and share with your neighbors. Communities where people
trust and help one another are healthier than places with
less cooperation.
- Work to increase WOMEN’S
STATUS AND OPPORTUNITIES in society. Where
women’s status is higher, everyone’s health
is better. When women have a larger role in society, it’s
good for all of us.
- Strive to end stressful, low-paid
WORK.
A sense of control and a decent workplace go along with
the right to have a union and a commitment to end discrimination
at work. We must improve working conditions for everyone.
- JOIN the
POPULATION HEALTH FORUM. Subscribe
to our listserv, join us at our meetings, and consider organizing
chapters in your communities. We want to hear your ideas
for making the world a healthier place!
The Population Health
Forum is a group of academics, citizens, students, and activists
across several nations who work to build support for changing
the rules of society so that better health comes naturally.
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