Psychosocial Aspects of Global Warming and Climate Change

The Doctor's Ear

The Doctor's Ear

Have we done too little too late about climate changes? Are we prepared for the social, political and psychological changes that will result from climate change? Perhaps a new term, climate induced social change, will capture the theme. The Doctor's Ear began in early 2007. We are pleased that this concept and concern is finally gaining atttenion.

We all need to share ideas.

The challenge is to maturely prepare for the time when climate changes really begin to take irreversible or prolonged effects. Who is planning for the social and psychological changes as climate change truely comes to our communities? What psychosocial response will occur as people learn that this current rush of concern may be less helpful than desired?

Historically climate changes on earth have occurred over great quantities of time, which allowed some biological adaptation. I believe it is now the responsibility of behavioral scientists to anticipate, plan and confront psychosocial changes which may rapidly force unwanted gradients onto our communities. News articles about cities that will be underwater give no follow up about what people in those cities should be doing about the warnings. Indeed, the plastic cup notion holds -- nature doesn't know how to remove plastic cups from our enviroment. As teacher once said "nature doesn't know from styrofoam!" The same is true of wasted pharmaceuticals and household products which are disposed of into the water system. This entire topic is known as emerging contaminants, and upstream communities may be at 'war' with downstream communities.

Climate changes may take generations to reverse. The earth will need time to heal. How can we maintain social order until the earth heals? This requires planning, not alarm.

"Traditionally the task of the physician has been to heal, and it is only within the past generation that a serious social endeavor has been evident in the direction of preventive medicine" -- (written by Gardner Murphy in 1929. This observation is almost 80 years old, yet we still do too little to follow the admonition and warning....)

Attention to global climate change is peaking. But a frigthfully faddish quality still exists about the concern. Making the very hard committments to life style changes hasn't taken root. A sense exists that a perhaps only a little sacriface can prevent the horrible changes, or that a new technology will stop the climate changes without interfereing with our life styles. The The Doctor's Ear wants to 'listen to tomorrow' so it can prescribe new behaviors to maintain a good political and social order. This will be more keen when global climate changes unavoidably force geopolitical shifts into our communities.

Some changes are a natural cycle. Glaciers last receeded about 10,000 years ago with another one due in about 10,000 years. These were slow changes so we could adapt. Now, our behaviors will make the earth unfit for human life faster than we can adapt.

Climate changes reversals may never occur or some reversals will need scores of years. The onset will be rather quick, and people will find land to cultivate for towns or food. Countires may complete for limited supplies, perhaps causing wars. The lower part of Florida will be underwater within the next hundred years, so who will invest in land that will disappear. The UN has already declared that enviromental issues is one root cause of the Sudan political crises.

Anger that will emerge when people realize that political or other volunatry delays in addressing climate changes have produced problems that might have been lessened or prevented.

Though climate changes have been assigned as the primary topic for this project, we could also consider epidemics. But unlike epidemics that end in a matter of months or years, ice cap recovery is very slow. Epidemics kill but do not reduce land availability, food sources, or force global biostatus changes. Officials are planning for a potential flu virus epidemic or nuclear weapon or accident radiation problems.. Few realize that many vaccines and interventions will be doled out to a select few. The same is for smallpox -- only 10 million vaccine doses exist.

The Doctor is Listening!

We must be the earth's doctors. Bring these ideas to friends, teachers, officials and anyone who will listen. Let's discuss and debate. Lets listen to what the future is telling us. Let's act now.

Anyone -- even non-mental health professionals -- with well written and serious ideas and concerns should contribute to the library. Send us ideas or articles to post. Over time it will become a library of essays from which we can draw balanced approaches to the future.

A Brief Introduction

The Doctor's Ear is a new project. Join us as we grow and build a library of serious discussions on the effects of climate changes on our social and psychological lives.

The Doctor's Ear is a not-for-profit personal project devoted entirely to the assembly of ideas. There is no pre-set philosophy.

We are listening to what the future can tell us today.

The project's title came from a patient who said "a good doctor has to take the time to listen to more than the present -- that's a doctor's ear"

The Parental Savings Account -- using less energy leaves more for your children -- it's a 'deposit' for their future. See the link for information.

The goals? They're simple -- to change our own life-styles, and to assemble good, thoughtful and realistic ideas for ourselves and our leaders as they prepare for this still under-mentioned aspect of our future. A set of ideas has already been sent to legislators. They need to hear from many more of us with even more ideas. Join us by continuing the efforts. Let's make the change happen.

Check out the blog for other information and projects.

Copyright 2009 Abbey Strauss. Editorial Assistance: Sidney Lehr

Note: Some articles posted as referenes may have their own copyrights. Posted opinions are those of the authors and may not reflect those of The Doctor's Ear. This project was first posted in 2007. Periodic updates occur.

A. Strauss, 1050 NW 15th St, #207 Boca Raton, Florida 33486