With so much happening of concern in global politics, highlighted this week by the United Kingdom and French elections, as well as the latest rulings of the United States Supreme Court, this column has a focus on commercial and political determinants of health – or more bluntly, on acts and tactics that are deceptive, unhealthy, self-serving, anti-democratic and/or ignorant.
It also brings news of much activity on the Australian health front – the good, the bad and the ‘let’s see’, updates on Indigenous health and scholarship as we head towards 2024 NAIDOC Week, and some rays of light.
The quotable?
We are at the beginning of a global movement. We are going to outlaw political lying.”
The world scores a big ‘fail’
In what may not come as a surprise to Croakey readers, the world has scored a ‘fail’ from the 2024 Sustainable Development Goals Report.
“This report is known as the annual SDG report card and it shows the world is getting a failing grade,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres told a press conference.
The update identified the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, escalating conflicts, geopolitical tensions and worsening climate chaos as major obstacles to progress on the SDGs which were adopted by UN Member States in 2015 to bring peace and prosperity for people and the planet.
It reported that an additional 23 million people were pushed into extreme poverty and over 100 million more were suffering from hunger in 2022 compared to 2019, while the number of civilian deaths in armed conflict skyrocketed last year.
2023 was also the warmest on record, with global temperatures nearing the critical 1.5°C threshold.
Some reasons how and why …..
Read: Threatening public health: new documents shed light on PMI’s secret science
Read: How women’s decisions about breastfeeding are made for them
Read: The media is still falling short on climate
Read: Global health action delayed: people’s health and wellbeing denied
Read: Downstream — Water Pollution, Health, and Medicine’s Duty to Engage
Explainer: Meg O’Neill (left) is CEO of Woodside Energy. Madeleine King is Resources Minister
Some positive rays?
Read: Welsh government commits to making lying in politics illegal
COVID-19 marches on….
Waylaid, waiting, and welcome
AHPA: Position Paper: Climate Change and Health Promotion – June 2024
Read: Push to rename La Trobe University due to namesake’s links to ‘genocidal violence’
Indigenous news & views
Next week (7-14 July) is 2024 National NAIDOC Week, with events planned across Australia under the theme: Keep the Fire Burning: Blak, Loud and Proud!
The celebrations will kick off with the National NAIDOC Week Awards Ceremony this Saturday 6 July in Tarndanya (Adelaide) on Kaurna Yerta (Country), to be telecast live by the ABC.
This year’s finalists, says NAIDOC Committee Co-Chair, Dr Aunty Lynette Riley, “epitomise the ongoing fight for rights and demonstrate our ongoing excellence. I am in awe of all our people’s strengths, perseverance and congratulate them all for ‘Keeping the Fires Burning’.” Check them out here.
Read: 
Read: X/Twitter thread from Students Transitions Achievement Retention & Success Conference (STARS) conference Indigenous panel discussion
Arrivals, departures and travels
Read: Governor General Sam Mostyn’s swearing in speech
Read: Launching an investigative travel series, on how to better support GPs working at the ‘Deep End’
Coming up
