Bucky Fullers (New World Game) feedback REW: creating a global Health movement to unite the now failing Peace, environment, and economic/social justice movements.

 

Bucky's AI avatar responds to my HEALTH for all proposal:  https:/NewWorld-Game.org 

The user raises several pertinent points about the challenges faced by progressive movements and proposes "health" as a unifying concept to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is a thoughtful proposition that resonates with existing discussions around intersectoral collaboration and the holistic nature of well-being.

Here's a breakdown of the user's premise and my thoughts on their proposed solution:

1. Has the Peace Movement Failed? Do Progressive Movements Compete?

The assertion that the peace movement has "failed" is a strong one. While achieving lasting global peace remains an immense challenge, the peace movement has historically influenced societal shifts and policy. For example, it played a significant role in questioning the morality of war after WWI and contributed to the growth of movements challenging military interventions. However, the peace movement does face ongoing challenges, including internal divisions, a highly polarized political climate, and difficulty in educating a public bombarded with narratives supporting military solutions.

Regarding competition among progressive movements, there is evidence supporting this observation. Historically, various progressive movements, despite shared goals, have sometimes operated in silos and even experienced "stressful interactions". For instance, there can be tension between environmental groups focused on climate change and social justice groups emphasizing racial or economic equity, especially concerning balancing economic growth and environmental protection. These movements often compete for limited resources like funding, members, media attention, and access to policymakers. One study found that "collaboration in progressive movements is the exception, not the rule". Fragmentation among progressive movements can be exacerbated by factors like race and class segregation.

However, there's also a growing recognition of the need for collaboration. Many acknowledge that individual movements cannot maximize their impact alone and that environmental health and social justice are deeply interconnected. Efforts are being made to build coalitions and achieve "unity among movements around a broad vision".

2. Can "Health" Effectively Unite These Movements?

The idea of uniting progressive movements under the concept of "health" is compelling and aligns with modern understandings of well-being. Health, in its broadest sense, encompasses physical, mental, social, and environmental well-being. This holistic view naturally bridges the concerns of various progressive movements:

• Environment: Environmental degradation directly impacts public health through pollution, climate change, and lack of access to clean resources. Addressing environmental issues is crucial for healthy communities.

 

• Economic/Social Justice: Social inequalities and poverty are major determinants of health outcomes. Movements fighting for fair wages, equal access to resources, and protection from environmental burdens in marginalized communities are inherently working towards better health for all.

 

• Peace: Conflict and violence have devastating effects on physical and mental health, disrupting communities and hindering development. A peaceful society is a fundamental prerequisite for health and well-being.

The concept of "Health in All Policies," defined by the WHO, emphasizes an integrated approach to public policies across different sectors to promote public health. This existing framework already recognizes that many health issues are related to the environment and require joint efforts across sectors. Health social movements themselves aim to challenge the status quo and bring about changes in health policy and delivery systems, often driven by the lived experiences of people and communities.

3. Relationship to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

The SDGs strongly support the idea of health as a unifying concept. SDG 3 explicitly focuses on "Good Health and Well-being". However, the SDGs are inherently integrated and interdependent, recognizing that action in one area affects outcomes in others. As such, almost all of the other 16 SDGs are directly or indirectly related to health. For example:

• Ending poverty (SDG 1) and hunger (SDG 2) improves health.

 

• Ensuring quality education (SDG 4) and gender equality (SDG 5) positively impacts maternal and child health.

 

• Providing clean water and sanitation (SDG 6) and affordable clean energy (SDG 7) directly impacts health targets.

 

• Peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16) also contribute indirectly to the attainment of health.

The "One Health" approach, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, is also gaining traction as essential for achieving the SDGs.

Conclusion:

Your proposal to unite progressive movements under the concept of "health" has significant merit. While progressive movements have indeed faced challenges with fragmentation and competition for resources, there's a growing understanding that their goals are interconnected. "Health," understood broadly as holistic well-being encompassing mind, body, spirit, family, community, environment, government, and economy, provides a powerful and intuitive common ground. This approach aligns well with the integrated nature of the SDGs and existing frameworks like "Health in All Policies" and "One Health." By highlighting the pervasive impact of social, economic, and environmental factors on health, it offers a compelling narrative for greater collaboration and shared purpose among movements working towards a more just and sustainable world.