Global Environmental Health LAB

We wanted to share a little more about who we are Our founders, Dr. Tomoyuki Shibata @shiba4sdgs and Heidi West @calmer.than.youare founded GEH LAB to bring scientific research and sustainable practice into global health decision-making. GEH LAB began as a small research group under the director of Dr. Shibata at Northern Illinois University, and was granted official 501(c)(3) status in 2016. Since then, we have connected with communities across the world, from Myanmar, In...donesia, Thailand, Nigeria and beyond. Though we usually meet in-person with our partners, in light of the coronavirus pandemic, we are not currently traveling. We continuing with our research and sustainability initiatives virtually this summer in Myanmar and we can’t wait to share our work with you soon. Here’s a post so you can learn a bit about how we contribute - if you are a student, young professional, or possible collaborator, we would love to hear from you if you are interested in joining us #sdgs #sdg #globalgoals #sustainability #sustainabledevelopmentgoals #sustainabledevelopment #climatechange #sustainable #education #environment #un #climateaction #humanrights #youth #genderequality #socialimpact #ngo #environmentalistm #socialjustice #development #covid19 #coronavirus #globalhealth #nonprofit #environment #health #water #earth #school #research @ Los Angeles, California

Today is #GlobalHandwashingDay! Did you know hand washing is essential to prevent illnesses such as childhood diarrhea? The GEH LAB team visited Makasaar, Indonesia to investigate how exactly this association is made. Swipe to learn more about why hand washing is so important, and what steps we can take to make our communities safer around the globe. You can also visit our website at gehlab.org to learn more about our research #sdgs #sdg #globalgoals #sustainability #sustainabledevelopmentgoals #sustainabledevelopment #climatechange #sustainable #education #environment #un #climateaction #humanrights #youth #genderequality #socialimpact #ngo #environmentalistm #socialjustice #development #globalhealth #nonprofit #environment #health #water #earth #school #research

What does #SDG4 Quality Education mean to you? Dr. San Myint Yi is an Associate Professor at Yadanabon University in Mandalay, Myanmar. Dr. Yi regularly lectures on the topic of International Relations. Here, she delivers one of her lectures to students at the university in the summer of 2016. GEH LAB has had the pleasure of attending Dr. Yi’s lecture. To us, quality education also means taking on a hands-on learning approach. Throughout the week, GEH LAB also hosted capac...ity-building workshops focused on sustainable development with the students. Combining the expertise of Dr. Yi’s lecture style, along with creating a dynamic, engaging atmosphere where students can build and share ideas, we help contribute to Quality Education across the globe #sdgs #sdg #globalgoals #sustainability #sustainabledevelopmentgoals #sustainabledevelopment #climatechange #sustainable #education #environment #un #climateaction #humanrights #youth #genderequality #socialimpact #ngo #environmentalistm #socialjustice #development #globalhealth #nonprofit #environment #health #water #earth #school #research

Have you ever heard the term LMIC? How about HIC, or UMIC? At GEH LAB, we focus our work on research and sustainable development in a variety of worldwide contexts. In addition to differences in physical location, the economies of the countries we work in are different as well. To better understand our worldwide economic system, the World Bank has created classification measures to group countries, using terms such as low middle income countries (LMIC) to high income cou...ntries (HIC). Countries where we have projects include #LMICs like Myanmar and Nigeria, and #UMIC’s like Indonesia and Mexico. We work with local communities in these countries, helping with building research capacity and community-based projects with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals framework in mind. Curious to learn more about the World Bank’s economic classification system? Read more in our post above! #sdgs #sdg #globalgoals #sustainability #sustainabledevelopmentgoals #sustainabledevelopment #climatechange #sustainable #education #environment #un #climateaction #humanrights #youth #genderequality #socialimpact #ngo #environmentalistm #socialjustice #development #globalhealth #nonprofit #environment #health #water #earth #school #research

Organic colorings patiently await decoration onto lacquerware at a traditional production site in #Bagan, Myanmar. The tradition of lacquerware in Myanmar dates back as early as the 12th century, and is one of Bagan’s most well known cultural exports. How is this related to sustainable tourism? According to the World Tourism Organization, #sustainabletourism is takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of v...isitors, the industry, the environment and host communities. In Bagan, purchasing the handmade lacquerware contributes to the local economy, and helps the ancient tradition continue to live on. Using #organic pigments natural to the local environment also helps reduce the #carbonfootprint of this practice. The United Nations supports sustainable tourism through two global goals: #SDG8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth) & #SDG12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). SDG target 8.9 highlights the importance of sustainable tourism, stating that by 2030, devise and implement policies [should be implemented] to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products. Additionally, SDG target 12.b. states the need to develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products. Have you ever supported the tourism economy? If so, do you think you participated in sustainable tourism? #sdgs #sdg #globalgoals #sustainability #sustainabledevelopmentgoals #sustainabledevelopment #climatechange #sustainable #education #environment #un #socialjustice #development #globalhealth #nonprofit #environment #health #water #earth

Coming to our page, or browsing through other global health resources, you’ve probably come across the term SDG a lot, and may be unsure of what that exactly means. The SDGs are a set of 17 broad goals designed by the @unitednations at the 2015 United Nations General Assembly in New York. These goals were agreed on by each country who signed onto the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. That means each signatory country agreed, back in 2015, that they would try and reac...h these goals by 2030! Though the 17 goals remains the same across all signatories, the individual ways in which the SDGs would be addressed differs across countries. From individuals to entire governments, anyone can be involved in advancing progress of the SDGs. GEH LAB is an organization that contributes to helping meet the SDGs, through SDG-related research and capacity-building for local communities across the globe You can learn about the SDGs in your home country, to see if these goals will be achieved by 2030, by looking at the 2020 SDG Report. Stay tuned for more information from us on the SDGs @sdgstrategyhub @sdgaction @theglobalgoals @undp @unep @unwomen @sdglab @unfoundation @sdsnyouth #globalhealth #environment #sustainability #SDGs #UnitedNations #biodiversity #progress #change #education #nonprofitorganization #school #student #university #learning #dogood #teaching #learn #nonprofit #socialgood #environment #health #water #earth #school #research #medicine #study #crowdfunding #project #world #global

Enjoying a fresh breath of air from the top of Mandalay Hill, on one of our research scholar program trips. Yesterday was the first International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, a day put forth by the United Nations to raise awareness for the necessity of protecting our planet’s air. Did you know that around the world, 9 out of 10 people breathe unhealthy air? Air pollution is one of the greatest environmental risks for people, and a leading, preventable cause of death world...wide. In many parts of the world, air pollution is as common as another weather event. Right now, #wildfires fueled by changing climates are raging in California, leading to poor air quality. In other parts of the world, such as in Northern India, China, and Thailand, air pollution can get so intense, people must stay masked indoors. Recent research has also suggested a connection with air pollution as a risk factor of #COVID19. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres puts it, On the first-ever International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, let us commit to no new coal for cleaner, greener economies and better health for all. @unep @unitednations #WorldCleanAirDay #CleanAirforAll #sdgs #sdg #globalgoals #sustainability #covid #sustainabledevelopmentgoals #sustainabledevelopment #climatechange #sustainable #fire #environment #air #climateaction #humanrights #youth #genderequality #socialimpact #coronavirus #globalhealth #nonprofit #environment #health #water #earth #research

Did you know that by the year 2100, 200 million people could be displaced due to rising sea levels? When communities are forced to relocate due to a natural disaster or catastrophic event, the process is called managed retreat. Though relocating is a difficult decision and action, managed retreat is proactive response to help preserve the culture and livelihood of the communities who are being displaced, and is considered an adaptive strategy to the #climatecrisis. Read on... for more information on managed retreat, and for more reasons on why communities relocate. Do you know any examples of managed retreat? Drop us a comment below! #managedretreat #resilience #adapt #respond #sdgs #sdg #globalgoals #sustainability #sustainabledevelopmentgoals #sustainabledevelopment #climatechange #sustainable #education #environment #un #climateaction #humanrights #youth #socialimpact #ngo #environmentalistm #socialjustice #development #globalhealth #nonprofit #environment #health #water #earth #school

We need your support! Our partners in Tanzania, Shirati for Active Rehabilitation and Development Organization, are campaigning for Masks Made with Love, to create and distribute clear face masks to people with disabilities! People with disabilities (PwD) face a large number of healthcare barriers on a day to day basis, and COVID-19 has made these challenges more apparent than ever. One of the most critical issues as a result of the pandemic has been the lack of face masks... to prevent the spread of the virus. Therefore, we are trying to fundraise to purchase clear covered face-masks for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. We presented this project to the Clinton Global Initiative COVID-19 Student Fund with our intern, Samantha Noor, and are proud to have been selected as a finalist in the competition! We are now participating in the Crowdfunding Challenge, from August 10th to August 28th, and we need your support to help reach our goal of $1,000! This campaign is incredibly important for the PwD community, as there is a great shortage of masks. As many deaf and hard-of-hearing rural Tanzanians have not had the opportunity to learn sign language, lip reading is crucial to their understanding of current news, or communicating day-to-day activities. This isn't possible with regular cloth face masks as the mouth is hidden, and we want to support our community by eliminating this language barrier. We also plan to distribute cloth masks to the general PwD community, as well as obtain water and sanitation supplies. We would really appreciate any assistance in raising funds for this project. Our campaign is avaliable on the Clinton Global Initiative University Crowdfunding Challenge page, under the name Masks Made with Love. Donate today - together GEH LAB and SARDO can help make a difference for the PwD community! Link: gf.me/u/ynpu9y Archy Nathaniel Gomba Heidi West #Clinton #CGI #ClintonGlobalInitiative #ClintonGlobalInitiativeUniversity #student #crowdfund #crowdrise #gofundme #disabilities #peoplewithdisabilities #pwd #shirati #tanzania #coronavirus #covid # globalhealth #nonprofit #education #research #activism #socialgood #giveback #philanthropy #socialjustice #globalgoals #makeadifference

A couple of weeks ago, we had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Jim Wilson, a long-time friend and collaborator of GEH LAB. Dr. Wilson is an associate professor at Northern Illinois and teaches students how to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS). In the interview, we go over what exactly GIS is, how it can be used to bolster research in sustainable development, and how the field is evolving to meed the public health demands of the future. In past projects with GEH LAB, D...r. Wilson has helped us visualize air pollution, particulate matter, and other environmental hazards in Myanmar and Indonesia. Click through to learn more about our conversation on GIS. Thank you to Dr. Wilson for your time and contributions to GEH LAB! #sdgs #sdg #globalgoals #sustainability #sustainabledevelopmentgoals #sustainabledevelopment #climatechange #sustainable #education #environment #un #climateaction #humanrights #youth #genderequality #socialimpact #ngo #environmentalistm #socialjustice #development #globalhealth #nonprofit #environment #health #water #earth #school #research

Today is #worldindigenousday. According the the United Nations, it is estimated that there are 370 million indigenous people living across over 70 countries. In Myanmar, the government recognizes the Shan, the Karen, the Rakhine, the Karenni, the Chin, the Kachin and the Mon as the main ethnic minority groups, though there are over 100 ethnic minorities across the country. The earliest-known inhabitants of Myanmar were the Tibeto-Burmese Pyu People, who adopted Theravada Bud...dhism (in coexistence with other forms of Buddhism, such as Mahayana, Tantric, and other forms of Hindu Buddhism). From the 9th to 13th century, the home of the Pyu, Bagan (Pagan) in the Mandalay region, became capital of the Pagan Kingdom - the first kingdom to unite the regions which form modern day Myanmar. During this time, over 4,400 Buddhist temples and pagodas were constructed and, today, well over 3,800 structures remain. The preservation of the pagodas has been maintained, in large part, because of the continuous care of worshippers and visitors, who each rub gold leaf on their base. Preventing discrimination against Buddhism is one way to preserve Myanmar’s indigenous cultures, but far more action is needed. To support the indigenous of Myanmar, many of the ethnic states offer sustainable tourism. One of the most important ways to support the indigenous (especially if you do not visit or live in the country) is through activism and supporting indigenous rights groups. Here are a few to follow (most on Facebook) World Kachin Congress Karen Peace Support Network Human Rights Watch @humanrightswatch Minority Rights Group @minorityrightsgroup #sdgs #sdg #globalgoals #sustainability #sustainabledevelopmentgoals #sustainabledevelopment #climatechange #sustainable #education #environment #un #climateaction #humanrights #youth #genderequality #socialimpact #ngo #environmentalistm #socialjustice #development #globalhealth #nonprofit #environment #health #water #earth #school #research @ Bagan Pagodas

We live in a world where we are confronted by challenges, disasters, and crises on a day to day basis - poverty, racial injustice, and the deterioration of our environment are just some of the many battles we collectively face. Today marks the International Day of #Friendship. For as many global battles we face today, the solutions to these are rooted in cooperation, compassion, and empathy - all characteristics of friendship. GEH LAB is proud to foster friendship as the ba...sis for our organizational partners, as we believe the foundation of any successful sustainable development begins with mutual understanding, respect, and support. Here is a photo from some of our GEH LAB and Myanmar team enjoying lunch, as we bond over SDG workshops held earlier in the week. To all of our partners, we are grateful for you, and our friendship #sdgs #sdg #globalgoals #sustainability #covid #sustainabledevelopmentgoals #sustainabledevelopment #climatechange #sustainable #education #environment #un #climateaction #humanrights #youth #genderequality #socialimpact #ngo #coronavirus #globalhealth #nonprofit #environment #health #water #earth #school #research

On Friday, the House passed a minibus (H.R. 7608) that includes $17 million overall for environmental justice programs at the @epagov. This is almost double the amount signified in the fiscal 2020 budget! Though the bill still must go through the Senate, environmental justice leaders are excited to envision the potential for a greener, healthier future for their communities. Protect what you love Regram: @green4ema // Art by @melanie.johnsson ... #sdgs #sdg #globalgoals #sustainability #covid #sustainabledevelopmentgoals #sustainabledevelopment #climatechange #sustainable #education #environment #un #climateaction #humanrights #youth #genderequality #socialimpact #ngo #coronavirus #globalhealth #nonprofit #environment #health #water #earth #school #research

It’s almost the weekend! As we reflect on what is happening in the world around us during quarantine, let’s not forget that almost one-third of people around the world are food insecure . The second global goal, #zerohunger, aims to reduce this inequality. What are some ways you can contribute? Shopping locally and growing organically are some of the best ways to start creating a healthier life for our planet. Going into the weekend, maybe stop by to pick up fresh local pro...duce for yourself, or to donate to those who are most in need Source: @usdagov Economic Research Service Photo credit: For those nearby, shop @theurbanedgefarm #sdgs #sdg #globalgoals #sustainability #covid #sustainabledevelopmentgoals #sustainabledevelopment #climatechange #sustainable #education #environment #un #climateaction #humanrights #endhunger #genderequality #socialimpact #ngo #coronavirus #globalhealth #nonprofit #environment #health #water #earth #vegetables #research

Happy Monday! #Climatejustice is #socialjustice - a reminder that without one, we cannot have the other. Regram: Follow @intersectionalenvironmentalist // Art by @kikamack #sdgs #sdg #globalgoals #sustainability #covid #sustainabledevelopmentgoals #sustainabledevelopment #climatechange #sustainable #education #environment #un #climateaction #humanrights #youth #genderequality #socialimpact #ngo #coronavirus ... #globalhealth #nonprofit #environment #health #water #earth #school #research See more