'Slugfields Luxury Prison' c/o Isabel Rock - artist

"In November 2022, I spent a month on remand at HMP Bronzefield for my part in the Just Stop Oil protests on the M25. I was happy to go to prison for something I know is morally right. Drawing in prison became my saviour against the monotony. I rarely draw from life anymore, but we were given a little notebook in our 'welcome' bags of grey tracksuits, pastel pants and toothbrush." p.19.

"This drawing is Slugfields Luxury Prison, (152×120cm) the institutional blue doors, plastic chairs, toilet in the corner and the panoptican architecture mirror that of Bronzefields. It's not quite finished yet, but it's been a cathartic experience to draw some of my thoughts on prison life and incarceration by the state." Instagram (and image source).

INDIVIDUAL
  |

     INTERPERSONAL    :     SCIENCES               

HUMANISTIC --------------------------------------  MECHANISTIC      

SOCIOLOGY  :   POLITICAL 

|

GROUP

	Slugfields Luxury Prison, (152×120cm) by Isabel Rock

Rock, I., 'Drawn Behind Bars' PRINTMAKING TODAY, Autumn 2023, Cello Press Ltd. Volume 32, Issue 127, p.19-21.

With thanks to Isabel Rock.

Are the lines open? Is the train running? "Wigan Coal and Iron"

"Nos. 7 and 8 pits were a short distance away from the main colliery and were known as Brookside or New Zealand Pits. No coal was raised at these pits when Wigan Coal Corporation took over, but they were used for pumping and ventilation. Shortly afterwards (in 1931) they were filled up.

Wigan Coal and Iron

 

A very tragic and bizarre accident happened here on 13th April 1945 when Ludovic Berry, a locomotive driver employed by the Coal Corporation, was moving 13 loaded wagons in sidings over the filled up No. 7 shaft which was 12ft. diameter and 400 yd. deep. Suddenly the ground collapsed under the leading wagon which fell into a large cavity followed by the rest of the train and the locomotive at an accelerating pace. The locomotive with all wheels locked by the brakes and the driver still at the controls was dragged into the shaft by the wagons and came to rest wedged in a vertical position with the smokebox uppermost 127 ft. down the shaft. The total length of the train was 283 ft. and there were indications on the rails that the brakes had been applied when the train was 226 ft. from the crater. This crater was 52 ft. long and 34 ft. wide. The body of the driver was never recovered, owing to the dangerous condition of the ground surrounding the cavity." p.181.

 INDIVIDUAL

|

 INTERPERSONAL    :     SCIENCES               

HUMANISTIC --------------------------------------  MECHANISTIC      

SOCIOLOGY  :   POLITICAL 

|

GROUP

Ludovic	| | | ------------------------------------------------------- | | |
(Mr) Berry RIP

D. Anderson, A.A. France (1994) Wigan Coal and Iron. Paperback. Smiths of Wigan.
ISBN 0 9510680 7 5.

Cover image file - Amazon. Cover painting David W. Barrow.

See also:
http://www.healeyhero.co.uk/rescue/Collection/ian/2004/page_30.htm

https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/stuff/past1.php

Thanks to Mr Harold Parkinson RIP for the book.

"Address Pollution" - not just a P.O. Box ...

... and not just in the proper U-L quadrant ...

INDIVIDUAL

|

 INTERPERSONAL    :     SCIENCES               

HUMANISTIC --------------------------------------  MECHANISTIC      

SOCIOLOGY  :   POLITICAL 

|

GROUP

Homeless? No address? Identity? mental health* self-report*	Address Pollution
Global issue of street names, having an address. "LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND"	'POLITICAL FOG?' TRANSPARENCY OPACITY reporting ACTION

*Hautekiet, P., Saenen, N.D., Demarest, S. et al. Air pollution in association with mental and self-rated health and the mediating effect of physical activity. Environ Health 21, 29 (2022).
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-022-00839-x

See also:

https://hodges-model.blogspot.com/search?q=address

My source: @AddresPollutionhttps://twitter.com/imathematicians/status/1530724466073952261?s=20&t=eF1XRD9HbkSJ2XWWbIk2qQ

Review: v "Climate Change and the People's Health"

Climate Change and the People's Health

At just over 30 pages chapter 3 the last is also the shortest, we all hope this does not reflect the length of the future?

Chapter 3. Challenges and Future Prospects

Before beginning to review Chapter 3 I need to revisit the closing sentences of the preceding chapter's conclusion - if you 'get' Hodges' model you will understand why:

"I [Friel] pick up on these ideas of complexity in chapter 3, arguing that how we understand and characterize these phenomena depends on our standpoint and also evolves as knowledge develops and available evidence accumulates. Given those complexities, responding to climate change and health inequity requires the development of policies that transcend doctrinal boundaries and draw on insights from a range of disciplines, including those in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities". p.112.

I hope you can see and will please excuse my reference to Hodges' model, but I've another.

Friel refers to how research is primarily based upon reductive pathologizing and needs to shift [ ;-) ] "towards research that is attentive to, and actively engaged with, policymaking processes". (p.114).

In Hodges' model, the Sciences and Politics are mechanistic, the sciences invariably (with some exceptions) reductive and the 4Ps I have attributed to the model as follows:

1. SCIENCES -PROCESS
2. POLITICAL - POLICY
3. SOCIOLOGY - Practice
4. INTRA- INTERPERSONAL - Purpose

(As in a previous part of this review I have been wondering how policy can (best) permeate the other care (knowledge) domains?)

Being where this review is posted I would be remiss not to state this, picking up on Friel's thought.

OK, let us get back on track. Taking the lead from chapter 2, in Chapter 3 Friel argues the need to take research, advocacy, and policy forward to address environmental degradation, social justice and health equity by breaking down the disciplinary, sectoral and various silos that exist in the many systems that are encountered. Systems research can increase our understanding and the evidence base. Interesting to note also then solutions can be crafted. (p.113). The evidence base on more equal societies is discussed. With the stress on systems research, systems and systems thinking are explained briefly and referenced. As will already be obvious I am all for the plurality of disciplinary approaches that is needed, but as Friel will conclude this, with systems science, and improved understanding of policy processes (hybridised: is this the Green Marshall Plan that is referred to?) to counter the resistance to change that is already being experienced now (p.115).

Perhaps above, I have fallen into Friel's trap. I have been caught out as a model monger (p.115)?

Scale is a concurrent consideration in Hodges' model, as with Friel's account of systems thinking. To macro- meso- and micro-levels let us add nano, there is much still unclear from the presence of plastics and other pollutants in the environment. The arrival of eco-epidemiology is to be applauded (p.116).

Any mention of 'systems' takes me to the Health System Redesign book I reviewed over a year ago on W2tQ. This is a very useful companion to "Climate Change ..." but is not referenced here. Box 3.1 'Systems Approach to Childhood Obesity Prevention' brought home the connection and the visual representation referred to (p.120). I could readily go off again with Friel's section on Politics, Policies, and Processes (p.122). Thank goodness for this - I feel better now - as Friel "shamelessly plugs" personal involvement with a research program at the CRE (p.124). The Centre for Research Excellence in the Social Determinants of Health Equity needs to be, not just on the 'map' (Sciences - located geographically) but affecting policies, practices and purposes (individual and organisational). Friel provides several references - very useful and timely. I will reference this, as I'll explain next time. Again the much needed call for a move from reductionist pathologizing.

Box 3.3 Policy Principles for the World We Want is simplistic (like Hodges' model), but if delivered would be very impactful in terms of the positive change (p.128) that would ensue. Against p.134 my note is "It's a small world!" I'm not sure if this a reference to the Disney song as a perverse consumptagenic global eco-anthem, or to Schumacher? What could be noted (p.134) is the potential role of blockchain in assuring land tenure and ownership. This technology is much vaunted in health, education and the obvious application of economics. In terms of developing nations protection of land rights is critical (even as I write and you read). The chapter closes on policy from "The first 1000 days of Life" to "Health in All Policies" which I reflected upon as "Policies in All the (#h2cm) Domains"? How do we do this? There are avenues as Friel writes of macroeconomics and progressive policy development. There is much on the Social Development Goals and how cities (despite the critique on urbanization) are working together internationally to mitigate climate change effects, even as some governments fail to meet set objectives and global agreements.

The print and layout is excellent, a content listing of sections complements the index (invaluable). The next book I've to review has no index.

Small book, big ideas - correct on both counts and a very informative if rightly troubling read.
One last plea. Do buy this book, but don't leave it on your shelf; read it. There is no excuse, it's small, but your ideas on climate change and the people's health will grow!

I would like to thank OUP

CHAD ZIMMERMAN │ Senior Editor, Medicine and Public Health

Oxford University Press │ 198 Madison Avenue │ New York, NY

and Prof. Nancy Krieger for the review copy and Prof. Sharon Friel for engagement on twitter and RTs.

While I appreciate I make the request to review and this places absolutely no obligation on others, it helps a lot when a publisher / author / conference organiser ... acknowledges the effort - even just a thank you. As ever, the thanks is in the learning gained, not the thanks lost. Many do - lift a hand, nod their head ... of course, making this even more worthwhile here. TY


Chapter 1. Climate Change, Global Justice, and Health Inequities

Chapter 2. It's a Consumptagenic World: Producing Climate Change, Exacerbating Health Inequities


Friel, S. (2019) Climate Change and the People's Health, Oxford University Press, New York

Review: iv "Climate Change and the People's Health"

Climate Change and the People's Health

Whatever your educational philosophy when a book offers new concepts that is welcome learning. Learning enhanced when the concept, as is often the case, is a hybrid of terms.

Chapter 2 It's a Consumptagenic World looks at the veritable production of climate change. Our dependence on fossil fuels not just for our transport, but the transport of food and agricultural products is explored. Perhaps there is a political irony in the former slogan of education, education, education amid relentless growth, growth, growth. At least now there is a constant message regards there being "No Planet 'B'".

If chapter 1 considered food security, this chapter attends to the industrial food system. Once again the themes are first introduced and related back. Very interesting here is the rise of urbanisation and the drivers for this. In chapter 1 I noticed the word shift. Nurses are one occupational group that recognise this word only too well. Here though it is the shifts in population that is very worrying. Especially so when many people may be putting themselves in harm's way as chapter 1 described. It is encouraging to see references going back to the 1940s. There is an evidence trail.

Current economic systems seems to reward monopolies and creates externalities (p.60). Unfortunately there is a lack of evidence in the production of pollution if remediation is to be sought. The emission of greenhouse gases where products are produced may be remote from where they are consumed. Friel argues for accountability at the origin of products not where they are consumed. Such externalities are 'out of the box' and need to be put back in the box and properly accounted for - (ecological governance). Often industrial concerns also follow the cheapest ('best value?') labour markets, relocating when needed.

Friel really annoyed me. Yes, in a positive way. Figure 2.2 compares a range of consumer goods and how their cost has changed over time; food, housing, health care, versus technology, media goods for example (p.68). The need for sustainable health care services is a constant topic it seems (Centres of research, journal special issues, conferences, twitter chats...), but when the essentials of living are so expensive does this not undermine and load - displace the disparity - the inequity no-less on to the health sector, its workforce and funding? It is as if the scientific-economic-industrial complex is saying to the health care (and social care) sector "Carry This!". There is no choice. It is a consequence of the society in which the bulk of us live. As Friel writes, processed foods lend themselves to concentrated control of supply chains which can introduce pricing volatility (p.78). The price of good quality nutritional food is a health inequality (p.76); figure 2.3  (p.77) illustrates the system.

While reading I thought of how amid the emotional, social and economic ravages of dementia we talk (well some of us ...) of organisational memory, while having forgotten what 'local' means. The rise of glocalism and the pursuit of growth - at any price it seems - in some quarters even prompts a re-evaluation of philanthropy in the 21st relative to the 19th and 20th? I found myself wondering how we would recognise a shift (the shift) in the market's thinking when watching the business TV channels CNBC, Bloomberg and similar ilk? The consumptagenic system has an effect on organisational memory, it is a behaviour known as perseveration; repetition of the word: profit. For all the thoughts provoked in me, this book is not a capitalism bashing exercise. Far from it, it deals objectively with what remains a sad and dangerous reality.

If it were not for the realist and critical perspectives that must also be present, the efforts of technologists, policy makers and researchers (urban informatics) and others to create Smart cities would seem to guarantee success. The discussion on cities (pp. 93-112), their sustainability, projected populations and the health inequities arising from them is very illuminating. In a teaching situation there is a lot to engage students, not just in the 'city' but in the text overall.


Chapter 1. Climate Change, Global Justice, and Health Inequities

Chapter 3. Challenges and Future Prospects


Friel, S. (2019) Climate Change and the People's Health, Oxford University Press, New York