Write an essay about impacts of climate changes in public health outcomes
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Impact of Climate Change on Public Health Outcomes
Climate change is a global phenomenon that has far-reaching consequences, affecting various aspects of our lives, including public health. The changes in climate patterns have led to a myriad of health implications, ranging from the spread of infectious diseases to the exacerbation of chronic conditions. It is crucial to understand the relationship between climate change and public health outcomes in order to develop effective strategies to mitigate its impact.
Thesis Statement
Climate change poses a significant threat to public health outcomes by increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, altering disease patterns, and exacerbating air pollution, thereby highlighting the urgent need for proactive measures to address these challenges.
Extreme Weather Events
One of the most direct impacts of climate change on public health is through the increase in extreme weather events such as hurricanes, heatwaves, and wildfires. These events not only cause immediate injuries and fatalities but also have long-term health effects. For instance, heatwaves can lead to heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke, particularly affecting vulnerable populations like the elderly and children. Moreover, natural disasters can damage healthcare infrastructure, disrupt medical services, and displace communities, further exacerbating public health risks.
Altered Disease Patterns
Climate change has also been linked to the altered patterns of infectious diseases, including vector-borne diseases like malaria, dengue fever, and Lyme disease. Rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns create favorable conditions for the proliferation of disease-carrying vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks, expanding the geographic range of these diseases. Additionally, changes in climate can impact water quality and food security, leading to an increase in waterborne illnesses and malnutrition, further compromising public health outcomes.
Exacerbated Air Pollution
Another significant impact of climate change on public health is the exacerbation of air pollution. The burning of fossil fuels and deforestation contribute to the release of greenhouse gases and air pollutants, leading to respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases, and other health issues. Poor air quality disproportionately affects marginalized communities and individuals with pre-existing conditions, highlighting the inequitable burden of environmental degradation on public health outcomes.
Mitigating the Impact
In order to address the adverse effects of climate change on public health outcomes, proactive measures must be taken at individual, community, and policy levels. This includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable practices, enhancing public health infrastructure to improve preparedness for extreme weather events, promoting vector control strategies to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, and advocating for policies that prioritize environmental justice and health equity.
In conclusion, climate change poses a significant threat to public health outcomes through its impact on extreme weather events, altered disease patterns, and exacerbated air pollution. By understanding the complex interplay between climate change and public health, we can work towards implementing effective strategies to mitigate these challenges and safeguard the well-being of current and future generations. It is imperative that we prioritize climate action and public health initiatives to create a more resilient and sustainable future for all.
