Hanlon Phil, Carlisle Sandra
Department of Public Health & Health Policy, University of Glasgow Medical School, Glasgow, UK.
J Public Health (Oxf). 2008 Dec;30(4):355-61. doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdn058. Epub 2008 Jul 21.
A range of evidence suggests that the dominant culture associated with the economic systems of 'modern' societies has become a major source of pressure on global resources and may precipitate a third revolution in human history, with major implications for health and well-being.
This paper aims to consider whether there are historical analogies with contemporary circumstances which might help us make connections between past and present predicaments in the human condition; to highlight the underpinnings of such predicaments in the politico-economic and cultural systems found in 'modern' societies; to outline questions prompted by this analysis, and stimulate greater debate around the issues raised.
We draw on evidence and arguments condensed from complex research and theorizing from multiple disciplines.
Contemporary evidence suggests that global depletion of a key energy resource (oil), increasing environmental degradation and imminent climate change can be linked to human socio-economic and cultural systems which are now out of balance with their environment. Those systems are associated with Western-type societies, where political philosophies of neo-liberalism, together with cultural values of individualism, materialism and consumerism, support an increasingly globalized capitalist economic system. Evidence points to a decline of psychological and social well-being in such societies.
We need to work out how to prevent/ameliorate the harms likely to flow from climate change and rising oil costs. Public health professionals face the challenge of preventing adverse health consequences likely to result from continued adherence to the have-it-all mindset prevailing in contemporary Western societies. Equally, we need to seek out the potential health dividends that could be realized in terms of reduced obesity, improved well-being and greater social equity, while not under-estimating the likelihood of profound resistance, from many sectors of society, to unwanted but inevitable change.
一系列证据表明，与“现代”社会经济体系相关的主流文化已成为全球资源压力的主要来源，并可能引发人类历史上的第三次革命，对健康和福祉产生重大影响。
本文旨在探讨是否存在与当代情况的历史类比，这可能有助于我们将人类状况中过去和现在的困境联系起来；强调这些困境在“现代”社会的政治经济和文化体系中的基础；概述这一分析引发的问题，并激发围绕所提出问题的更多辩论。
我们借鉴了多学科复杂研究和理论中的证据及论点。
当代证据表明，关键能源资源（石油）的全球枯竭、环境退化加剧和迫在眉睫的气候变化与人类社会经济和文化体系有关，而这些体系目前与其环境失衡。这些体系与西方类型的社会相关，在这些社会中，新自由主义的政治哲学以及个人主义、物质主义和消费主义的文化价值观支持着日益全球化的资本主义经济体系。有证据表明，此类社会中心理和社会福祉在下降。
我们需要找出如何预防/减轻气候变化和油价上涨可能带来的危害。公共卫生专业人员面临着防止因持续坚持当代西方社会普遍存在的“拥有一切”心态而可能导致的不良健康后果的挑战。同样，我们需要寻找潜在的健康红利，这些红利可以体现在减少肥胖、改善福祉和实现更大的社会公平方面，同时不要低估社会许多部门对不受欢迎但不可避免的变革产生强烈抵制的可能性。
