Category: Structural Violence

Recent coverage of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse has focused public attention on the case, yet Jocalyn Clark highlights that this focus often obscures critical issues: the rights, health, and pursuit of justice for survivors, as well as the role of the medical profession in enabling harm. Clark’s analysis of the ‘Epstein files’ reveals that prominent physicians contributed to legitimizing Epstein, providing access and a sense of safety that shielded those in power and perpetuated harm. Examined through a global health justice…

As world leaders gather for COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the question looms: How far have we progressed in addressing the interlinked crises of climate change and health? The Lancet Countdown 2025, released just one month before the summit, suggested the answer is deeply troubling. The report opens with a stark milestone: in 2024, average annual global temperatures exceeded 1.5°C above preindustrial levels for the first time. Of the 20 indicators tracking health risks and impacts, 12 reached alarming new records in…

As negotiations for a landmark Global Plastics Treaty intensify, a stark new report from The Lancet reveals the profound and growing threat plastics pose to both human and planetary health. Titled the “Countdown on Health and Plastics,” the report issues a grave warning: plastics are an under-recognized danger, responsible for an estimated $1.5 trillion in annual health-related costs worldwide. The crisis is intrinsically linked to the fossil fuel industry, which is pivoting to plastic production as markets for fossil fuels decline….

Seattle’s Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) is honoring Nelson Mandela’s legacy with a powerful community event and exhibition reflecting on his historic 1999 visit and the city’s deep ties to the global anti-apartheid movement. The event and exhibit underscore how local movements, like the one in Seattle, can drive change far beyond their borders. It’s inspiring to remember how people, geographically distant from South Africa, came together to demand justice and ultimately contributed to dismantling apartheid. This movement reminds…