Posted on 09/30/2003 3:17:12 PM PDT by presidio9
About 160,000 people die every year from side-effects of global warming (news - web sites) ranging from malaria to malnutrition and the numbers could almost double by 2020, a group of scientists said on Tuesday.
The study, by scientists at the World Health Organization (news - web sites) (WHO) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said children in developing nations seemed most vulnerable.
"We estimate that climate change may already be causing in the region of 160,000 deaths...a year," Professor Andrew Haines of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine told a climate change conference in Moscow.
"The disease burden caused by climate change could almost double by 2020," he added, even taking account of factors like improvements in health care. He said the estimates had not been previously published.
Most deaths would be in developing nations in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia, which would be hardest hit by the spread of malnutrition, diarrhea and malaria in the wake of warmer temperatures, floods and droughts.
"These diseases mainly affect younger age groups, so that the total burden of disease due to climate change appears to be borne mainly by children in developing countries," Haines said.
Milder winters, however, might mean that people would live longer on average in Europe or North America despite risks from heatwaves this summer in which about 15,000 people died in France alone.
Haines said the study suggested climate change could "bring some health benefits, such as lower cold-related mortality and greater crop yields in temperate zones, but (that) these will be greatly outweighed by increased rates of other diseases."
Russia is hosting a World Climate Change Conference this week to discuss how to rein in emissions of gases like carbon dioxide from factories and cars that scientists blame for blanketing the planet and nudging up temperatures.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (news - web sites), who opened the conference on Monday, suggested in jest that global warming could benefit countries like Russia as people "would spend less money on fur coats and other warm things."
But Putin also backed away from Russia's earlier pledge to swiftly ratify the key Kyoto pact on curbing global warming, a plan that will collapse without Moscow's backing.
He told 940 delegates to the conference Russia was closely studying the issue of Kyoto. "A decision will be taken when this work is finished," he said, giving no timetable.
Haines said small shifts in temperatures, for instance, could extend the range of mosquitoes that spread malaria. Water supplies could be contaminated by floods, for instance, which could also wash away crops.
So, why should I die early just to save some southeast Asian?
Crank up the heat.
"Malaria was an important cause of illness and death in 16th and 17th century England, during a period known as the "Little Ice Age."
History shows that malaria was common in England and much of Europe until the end of the 19th century. It even flourished during a 150-year period called the "Little Ice Age," clear evidence that factors other than climate affect the spread of a disease seen today as "tropical," according to an article in Emerging Infectious Diseases, CDC's peer-reviewed journal, which tracks new and reemerging infectious diseases worldwide.
The world's climate is constantly changing. In the Middle Ages, temperatures in Europe were higher than they are now, but in the 16th century, bitter cold prevailed in a period known as the "Little Ice Age." During that period, malaria (then known as "ague") was common in England and most of Europe. It was described in detail by prominent physicians such as William Harvey and Thomas Sydenham and mentioned by many contemporary British authors, including Shakespeare and Defoe. Cinchona bark was first used to cure the disease in the marshes of Essex near London, in the late 1600s. The essential ingredient, quinine, is still in use."
Etc.
By God you're right! We need to come up with a name for this phenomenon to "raise awareness" so we can combat it. I'm kicking around "Chronological Deterioration." What do you think?
Now if only we can find a bunch of quack scientists to use faulty logic to indicate that the problem may or may not exist. Then we can assign political issues as potential causes. I think stress caused by rampant liberalism accelerates "Chronological Deterioration." We need to do everything we can to stop it.
Here they are! (Sorry to insult the Stooges like this).
Oh, yes! Have to get THE CHILDREN in there.
The answer is 148.082 per every 100,000. 148.082 out of every 100,000 people die every year due to Malaria.
It's a good thing, since, with the growing number of unemployed Americans, more people need to die so as to decrease the surplus population.
Don't bring back DDT, or not enough people (who are probably union (ex)workers anyway) will be dying.
A really big war would help get rid of the useless people a little faster, which would be good for us taxpayers.
; )
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