Sustainable Human Health Solutions

A secondary effect of climate change is an increased occurance of
infectious disease.  One of the causes is due to the migration of
disease vector insects from warmer climates into the formerly cooler
climate zones.  The yellow mosquito that can carry malaria is one
example, as its range appears to be expanding.

It has been argued that a decrease in the amount of international
shipping, especially air flight, would help with the problem of
introducing non-native species, as long as shipping remains even as well
regulated as it is now.  Of course, if shipping became unregulated to
the point that rampant smuggling was bringing goods instead of drugs
across maritime borders, potentially devastating bugs could get loose,
as was the case earlier this century with the outbreak of cholera in
Mexico.

As always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Sustainable
health care is no different.  The focus remains on prevention, as it
should be.  That means encouraging healthy eating habits and plenty of
exercise, as many HMOs and other health “organizations” are doing.  In
Canada where government policies drive the national health care system,
change can be slower.  However, anyone can make common sense lifestyle
and diet changes on their own to reduce their need for health care.

Technorati Tags: cholera in mexico, disease vector insects, human health, international shipping, sustainable development, sustainable health care, sustainable human health solutions, sustainable solutions

Conserving Fresh Water: Home and Business

Our fresh water supplies surely will be strained in coming years.  This
is due, at least in part, to climate change.  The Earth’s sharply
increasing populations affect the supply of water as well as its quality.
No matter what they think they know about climate and the weather,it is
in everyone’s best interest to do their part in conserving water.
Sustainable development seeks to conserve water in both the design of
buildings and the behavior of the people within them.

Example, you could collect water to irrigate a garden of vegetables
you’ve cultivated instead of a lawn.  It’s been pointed out, grow native
flora and vegetation instead of regular grass to decrease your usage of
water. You can install low-flow fixtures in the bathroom.  If water is a
part of your business you can take a water audit.

Whether you do the audit yourself or hire a professional to do it, the
recommendations can save a great deal of water and money by implementing
what usually amounts to simple changes in procedure.  This may call for
water storage, and cisterns are a good investment for businesses that
absolutely rely upon water, such as a distillery or nursery.

Technorati Tags: climate change, conserving water, low flow fixtures, sustainable development, water audit

Managing North American Forests for Climate Change Preparedness

An important part of any plan to manage the massive resources of several
different forest types must be a procedure for trimming the effects of
climate change.  A poorly conceived plan can easily be seen in
South-eastern Alaska’s once mighty Sitka Spruce populations that formed
a temperate rain forest.

Forest ownership laws allowed for people from out-of-state to own some of
the land in Alaska.  Due to climate change, the Spruce Bark Beetle was
able to spread unchecked through this natural near-monoculture of a
mature forest.

The absent owners allowed these pest to escape their attention.  It could
have been, at least temporarily, contained by cutting out the host trees
for a distance around the observed infestation.  This was not carried out
and the problem has since spread to nearly the entire state, leaving a
scarred ghost forest in its wake.

Now, plans for dealing with the aftermath of that disaster will need to
be implemented. Regular monitoring and protective measures are all part
of a sustainable forest management plan.

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Interesting Links:

9 Green Products You Should Know About
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20239367,00.html

22 Little Ways to Go Green
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,20152458,00.html

Greatest New Green Products
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20178451,00.html

Technorati Tags: Alaska, climate change preparedness, North American forests, sitka spruce, spruce bark beetle, sustainable forest management plan, temperate rain forest

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