Climate change x health x built environment thread: This is the intersection our lab is working in and are always interested in sharing stories of how damaging this intersection can be if we don't move towards adaptation. For this thread we will also add environmental racism
and inequality. To not understand climate change from the race/inequality perspective is to not understand its impact with the rigour it needs. Jacqueline Keeler has done a great job of bringing forward the plight of the Sioux Reservation @jfkeeler. newsmaven.io/indiancountryt…
1. Reservations have a long history of built environment decay. Many don't have clean water/running water/insulated homes/heating/cooling/or homes that livable. Also many live in overcrowded homes. This has to do w/racists policies stemming back 400 years.
2. These decaying or unsuitable built environments are now under even more pressure as climate change arrives at these reservations. "Yankton Sioux reservation in southeastern South Dakota has been underwater since the bomb cyclone hit the area in March." The main road was
re-opened, but it's now flooded again due to a 12 inch rainfall in Sept. This has put more stress to long standing inferior infrastructure. "Six months the town is facing standing water in their homes, mold, evacuation orders." The community is facing....
...."state negligence and indifference to the health and well-being". Already this is translating to real human health consequences. The community now is dealing with e-coli breakouts and MRSA. Now winter is coming and they are scared to heat their homes given how the mold...
spores can spread with heat. The Dakotas get trundric weather. This will increase respiratory problems, heart disease, death. Then there is the mental health issues. Robert Sapolsky talks about the relation between helpless and depression and even PTSD. Which this community
is at risk of feeling as the government is neglecting their plights for help. Furthermore there is trauma in seeing your community get sick or die as well in experiencing the natural disaster itself. This again puts people at risk for PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
The Yankton Sioux gives a glimpse to the future of all communities. Degraded/inferior infrastructure will further degrade w/CC, in turn this will have long standing health consequences. It also shows that we aren't responding with the speed/quality/dignity these problems need.
Thanks to @jfkeeler for bringing this story to the forefront. Exposing the health emergency being experienced in this indigenous community. #ClimateChange #INDIGENOUS #siouxemergency
