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=__**Global Issues Activity**__=

Resources:
Each person must contribute 3 annotated sources. This ensures we will have at least 10, assuming there may be some overlap. If you use more than 3 sources, please cite all of them. More is better! The main link to your individual or city can serve as one resource. I'd imagine others would include websites, articles, and videos you used to learn more about health in your city or the health issue your individual is addressing. Cite your resources below. Make sure to provide the name, link to it if it is an online resource, and a 1-2 sentence annotation (description of it). 7th & 11th graders, if you know how to put it in APA format, please do. Undergrads and graduate students, please make sure your resources are in APA format.

EXAMPLE: 1. World Health Organization (2010). //1000 Cities, 1000 Lives.// Retrieved from: http://1000cities.who.int/ This website provides information to cities and individuals participating in the 2010 World Health Day. It includes an interactive map of the cities participating, videos made by individuals and cities, visual representations of health efforts, and a group forum for individuals to discuss their plans for World Health Day.

Cherelle: (1) World Health Day 2010 (2010). Retrieved from: [] This website provides info to individuals of Melbourne, Australia about World Health Day. It contains various articles that answer questions about the focus of World Health Day, urbanization and health, who will be performing, how to participate, what activities will be happening and other info about the event. (2) Healthy Parks Healthy People (2010). Retrieved from: [] This website provides information about the International Healty Parks Healthy People congress of Melbourne, Australia. It lists the efforts the group is making in conjuction with World Health Day. It lists speakers, social events and their goals to explore how nature contributes to culturally and broader societal benefits. (3) AMREP, World Health Day Conference 2010 (2010). //Health and the City.// Retrieved from: [] This website provides a detailed event associated with World Health Day. Its theme is "Health and City." THe site gives a detailed itinerary of the event and a list of speakers.

John:

Viliami:

Tracey:1. From the video: Thhttp://globalissuesactivity.wikispaces.com/page/edit/home?responseToken=05836902d50ed006281596a2665069936e city of Maasin, Phillipines participated in World Health Day. The city seemed to focus on the fitness aspect of health. The video showed citizens of this city participating in a variety of activities. The video showed citizens riding bikes, running, Tae Kwon Do, Group Fitness activities like stretching, cardiovascular, and dancing. There were also people participating in boxing. There were health professionals doing blood pressure checkups. The mayor of the city also explained that he would be closing that particular part of town to motorized vehicle traffic so the citizens could use that part of the city for fitness. 2. UN Web Services Sections (2008).// United Nations Millennium Development Goals. //Retrieved from: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/ The World Health Organization is a United Nations Project. They have put forth Millennium Development Goals that all participating states must meet by the year 2015. The goals are: End poverty and hunger, universal education, gender equality, child health, maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS, Environmental Sustainability, and Global Partnership. The secretary general put out a report that is titled “Keeping the Promise” which serves as somewhat of an action plan. He feels that these goals are achievable and that anything less than success “would be an unacceptable failure, moral and practical.” There will be a summit in September in New York to help boost progress towards the goals listed above. I think these goals are one of the reasons for the World Health Day. It can help participants meet the goals of the Millennium Development. 3. Climate-L (2010).// WHO to Celebrate World Heath Day by Focusing on Urbanization and Health. //Retrieved from: http://climate-l.org/2010/02/01/who-to-celebrate-world-health-day-by-focusing-on-urbanization-and-health/. This website brings up a point I had not thought about before. Climate-L.org reiterates the fact that World Health Day will be focusing on urbanization and health. They make note that "road transportation has significant effects on human health because greenhouse gas emissions result in climate change." World Heath Day 2010 is focusing on opening public spaces for various healthy activities. Just think how much cleaner our world would be if people decided to ride their bikes or walk to work vs. driving. 4. PIA Information Services-Philippine Information Agency (2010).// Maasin City nominates Mayor Samaco as Urban Health Champion: 1000 Cities, 1000 Lives Program. //Retrieved from: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p100218.htm&no=72. This website outlines what the Mayor of Maasin City has done to make his city a more healthy place to live. The city nominated the Mayor as a candidate for the 100- Cities, 1000 lives Program.

Joshua:

Julia:

Lauren: 1.// Ciclo Recreo Via (2010). //CicloRecreoVia.// Retrieved from: http://www.ciclorecreovia.cl/what-is-it/ This website describes the history of the CicloRecreoVia program in Santiago, Chile. In addition to describing the project and how it got off the ground, it includes the philosophy of the program, photos of the program in action, and descriptions of linked programs in other Latin American countries. The website is available in English and in Spanish. 3. Bambs, C., Cerda, J., & Escalona, A. (2008). Morbid obesity in a developing country: The Chilean experience. //Bulletin of the World Health Organization//, //86// (10), 737-816. Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/86/10/07-048785/en/ This article describes the growing obesity epidemic in Chile. Causes, treatment, and policy changes are addressed.

Research Questions:
Describe your individual's approach to a health-related issue or your city's approach to World Health Day. Include an answer to the research questions: What is a country's responsibility? and What is an individual's responsibility? 7th and 11th graders, your description should be at least 5-7 sentences. Undergraduate and graduate students, I'm expecting your response to be longer, at least two solid 5-7 sentence paragraphs. We need to dig in deep and really think about the health issue the country/city or individual is addressing and whether or not the approach addresses the issue fully or not. You should also consider whether or not the approach will result in lasting change.

Cherelle: Melbourne is the capital city of Victoria, a state in Australia. It is the center for business, culture, and recreation in the state of Victoria. It is noted for its vast area dedicated to parklands and beautiful gardens. It is one of the safest, healthiest, and cleanist cities. Melbourne hosts over one million international visitors a year. It is constantly changing. It manages 500 hectares of open space including more than 60 parks and gardens. Melbourne's approach to World Health Day is through having conferences that invite others from around the world as well as its citizens. One conference, AMRED, brings together students, researchers, practioners, policy makers, government and non-government agencies to exchange ideas and discuss relevant current issues pertaining to global health. Also, Melbourne has planned events in one of its parks, Albert Park. The event includes a 5K run, yoga, tai chi, warm up exercises, prizes, gourmet health snacks, music and dance from around the world, and sailing. For the kids, there is a treasure hunt, musical entertainment, a petting zoo and face painting. Melbourne has also created an International Congress, Healthy Parks Healthy People. Their statement is that parks provide a place for physical activity, stress relief, a connection to nature, havens for children, and provide a sence of place and cultural identity. I feel the responsibility of the country is to help raise awareness for public health in urban environments not just with its citizens but worldwide. It should allow opportunity for its people. An opportunity where all citizens are given a chance to participate and have a say. Another responsibility of the country is to provide a place for its citizens to receive help. Another is to maintain and protect the parklands. I feel the responsibility of the individual is to participate. They should take advantage of the parks to relax and getaway. Also individuals should let their country know how much theyt value thier health and the parklands available to them.

John:

Viliami:

Tracey: The city of Maasin’s leader in urban health is its Mayor Maloney Samaco. The city nominated him to be part of the 1000 cities, 1000 lives campaign. The city of Maasin has a “Healthy City Initiative.” This department nominated Mayor Samaco. Samaco supports a 13-point agenda “consisting of market and business improvement, agriculture production, livelihood assistance, orderliness and peace promotion, nutrition and health services. Education for the masses, youth development, sports excellence, anti-illegal drug campaign, mangrove and forest protection, advertisement for tourism, concreting and maintenance of roads and overall barangay development”

Mayor Samaco organized the first Maasin Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MICAA). This organized all of the local colleges. As a result of these organized sports, young adults are being protected from the influence of drugs. Mayor Samaco also reinstated the Citizens Anti-Drug Narcotics Unit (CANU) to prevent drug addiction.

Maasin City enforces a no smoking policy. Smoking is not allowed in public places.

In coordination with World Health Day 2010, the Mayor is going to be closing a portion of a major Boulevard on Sundays to give the people a “smoke and traffic-free” road. A “hataw” has been scheduled every Friday afternoon for an hour. Participants include city hall employees, students, the army, and the Philippine National Police, and the Bureau of Fire Protection.

Finally, the mayor has reiterated the importance of scouting in order to instill the importance of the care of the environment.

I feel that the responsibility of a country is to provide opportunities for its citizens to be healthy. Just like the mayor of Maasin closing streets so people can use them to be active. I also think that the no smoking policy is imperative as well. The fact that the Mayor has organized the collegiate sports is also huge. I think it is the responsibility of the individual to participate in these activities. I think a major part of health care costs are caring for the sick, so I think preventative measures and programs that promote wellness can do a lot. I think it is also the job of the citizens to demand what they want/need from the government. In a place that has democratic processes, people should be voting for representatives that are going to provide opportunities to be healthy. I think each town/city needs to base their needs on what the citizens in that particular region need. I know that Cary, NC has miles and miles of walking trails. Simple things like that as well as local parks etc. can go a long way in keeping citizens healthy.

Joshua:

Julia:

Lauren: Ciclo Recreo Via is a progam in Santiago, Chile that creates an urban park each Sunday by closing roads to vehicular traffic. It is modeled after the Ciclovia, which began in Bogota, Columbia and has spread to other Latin American countries. The program has several aims: to provide all citizens with access to safe recreational sites, to provide citizens with opportunities for free and safe physical exercise, and to provide a space where citizens can interact with each other and form community bonds. Despite the fact that physical and mental health were on the country's radar as major issues and the fact that the lack of green space in Chile's comunas was acknowledged by the public and political officials, the organizers of CicloRecreoVia had to fight for five years to get the project off the ground. They relied heavily on the example set by previous organizers to determine security, organizational, and logistical needs. The main obstacle came from municipal authorities who were unwilling to support the closure of streets. Finally, the organizers received permission from one comuna, La Reina, where the program has been in place since 2005. They are in the process of bringing the program to 12 other comunas. CicloRecreoVia has benefits outside improved health and physical fitness. The organizers state that it strengthens and unifies communities, creates safe and secure public places, offers a free recreational space to everyone, revitalizes urban spaces, creates job opportunities, facilitates awareness and educational campaigns, integrates individuals who are often excluded from society, and encourages bicycle use. I think it is interesting that so much emphasis is placed on combating social isolation, as mental health is not an issue commonly on the public radar. It is also amazing that it has taken nearly a decade to get this program to its current state, which is still quite small. I think this program fully illustrates the importance of people taking responsibility for the health of their communities. An individual must identify problems, design solutions, and work towards those solutions. It is not enough to merely talk about how important an issue is. This problem is also illustrated by the fact that even though WHO is a huge organization with a lot of awareness globally, they are not even close to meeting their goal of having 1000 cities participate in this year's World Health Day. People may talk about World Health Day and what a great idea it is, but they wait for someone else to organize something, rather than working on it themselves. The struggle to get CicloRecreoVia off the ground also illustrates how important it is for countries and cities to support their citizens efforts towards improved health. The organizers of CicloRecreoVia had to fight for YEARS to get permission to close a few streets for a few hours each Sunday. They were willing to organize the program and put it on, but they needed permission from municipalities. I think governments must make it easier for citizens to get their programs off the ground. The establishment of local health organizations who can help individuals maneuver through the political avenues necessary for permission would do a great deal towards meeting this need.

Action Plan:
This is the most important part of our project, and the part we will need to present to the other groups. However, it is also the part that is the least structured. I will modify this format as needed, but for now, here's what I would like you to do. Using the information you learned about your city/country or individual, draw some conclusions about how countries and individuals can address issues of health education & awareness as well as access to health care and healthy opportunities. You should use the positives and negatives you noticed while researching your country/city or individual to draw these conclusions. In the space below, write a description of the steps you think a country or individual should take to address a health-related issue in his/her country. 7th & 11th graders, please make sure your response is at least 3-5 sentences. Graduate students and undergraduates, please make your response 7-10 sentences.

Cherelle: The government in Melbourne should continue identifying and monitoring public health issues. They should do more research and continue to deliver health promoting programs and strategies. It should also protect and enhane its open spaces including parks. It should plan for use and access and prioritize issues and resources. The citizens should always make suggestions. They should suggest any issues that limit thier current use of the parks or access to health care. Both the government and the citizens shoul understand the benefits of nature through all eyes. John:

Viliami:

Tracey: Government: set up opportunities for citizens to be active. Designate local areas as "fitness" areas. Open up public spaces as parks, have walking and/or fitness trials. Reward cities or citizens that are getting healthy. Like the old adage says, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Keeping citizens healthy is much cheaper than paying for them to get well. Like the cities mentioned above, governments need to provide opportunities for people to get up off the couch or from the computer and become active. Obesity, people who smoke, and are generally unhealthy are costing countries way too much money. Citizens need to make sure that they are participating in these programs. I think that like in a classroom, students that have a say in the rules are more likely to obey them. I think the same thing goes for citizens. If they have a say in what they need, they are going to be more likely to participate.

Joshua:

Julia:

Lauren: