Our health depends on our environment. The connection between the wellbeing of humans, other living things and entire ecosystems is becoming increasingly visible. The WHO – World Health Organization, developed an approach called One Health to implement programmes and researches aiming at optimizing the health of humans, animals and the environment.
“We invade tropical forests and other wild landscapes, which harbour so many species of animals and plants – and within those creatures, so many unknown viruses. We cut the trees, we kill the animals or cage them and send them to markets. We disrupt ecosystems, and we shake viruses loose from their natural hosts. When that happens, they need a new host. Often, we are it.”
David Quammen, author of Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Pandemic. Zoonotic diseases (infectious disease which an animal can give to a human), like the Covid-19, are linked to environmental changes and human behaviour.
Everything we do to the planet comes back like a boomerang to affect us. The experience of this last pandemic reminds us of the principle at the very heart of yoga and that’s oneness, we are one! Interdependence characterises the relations we have with one another and our home, planet Earth.
Everything is connected. There is one planet and there is one health, that’s it really. It’s easy to see, but mankind too often tries to dominate nature rather than acknowledging it as a vital ingredient and essence of being human. Today we are witnessing so many dramatic shifts for the planet and its inhabitants. The environment is changing and this is having an impact on people’s lives and wellbeing. Climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, oil spill are happening and transforming reality for all living things. When looking at future challenges there are many important issues to keep in mind and we must start to include the discussion of these topics in education. Writer and environmental activist George Monbiot suggests: “Let’s place ecology and Earth systems at the heart of learning, just as they are at the heart of life.”
Planetary Health Alliance provides a summary of the most crucial factors defining our present: Increased drought and water scarcity, declining pollinators, and extreme storms make it harder to grow food, and some crops are also becoming less nutritious because of atmospheric changes, making people more susceptible to malnutrition and disease. Air pollution, whether from industrial emissions or smoke from fires clearing forests for agricultural use, can lead to cardiorespiratory illnesses and other diseases.
Hurricanes and other major storms put people’s lives at risk. Witnessing the degradation of our world can have severe consequences for our mental health.
The time to start acting upon these challenges is now! Let’s walk together with the kids on a path of understanding and awareness of the reality of the planet, identifying problems and possible solutions as well as acknowledging and celebrating Life in all its magic and beauty.
