Go Green or Turn Green

By Kate Levinson

"Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing." -Redd Foxx


So, you're bummed that your beloved Nalgene bottle might not be the safest watering hole, you've stopped eating tomatoes and you don't even want to know how big your carbon footprint is.

I'm Kate, and I'm in the same boat. An '07 college grad (B.A. in journalism), I'm feeling my way into the public health world and currently nearing the end of a year of AmeriCorps VISTA service at a community health nonprofit organization with domestic and international programming. This (and all kinds of other stuff) led me to decide to head back to school in the fall for a joint master's program in public health and health journalism.

I recycle what I can, re-use my plastic fork and try to bike or bus when it's not too terribly inconvenient, hot, or pouring, but I don't pretend to be a perfect tree-hugger. I didn't think too much about the environment and making any huge impact.

Until I busted into the public health world and realized that the things I'm already interested in are inescapably tied to the whole green movement.

Our environment is the root of our health, directly or indirectly, like it or not. There's nothing—for your mind and your body—like breathing in fresh air, soaking up some rays, going for a dip in the lake. And, needless to stay, avoiding environmental hazards: asbestos, mold, fuzzy little rodents, you name it.

The World Health Organization estimates that 13 million people a year (or one every 2.5 seconds, if you're a stats person) die from preventable environmental causes. Because, whether we choose to admit it—and care about it—or not, it's all connected: environment and health, health and productivity, any number of specific environmental factors and their matching health outcomes.

Of course every field feels like the neglected field, but I'm making my case for public health. When not-so-green friends or family are confronted with global warming, overflowing landfills, they respond with, "Well, I'll be dead – it's not my problem!"

But by looking at the environment through a public health lens, you can appeal to the chunk of human nature that makes selfish things the best things: Your health is affected by your environment. Your family is affected by where and how you live. Little things can cause big problems – and little changes can make a big difference.