Last year I wrote a piece about why Occupying Wall Street can make the US Healthier. In honour of the Movement's one year anniversary I offer a condensed version of that post here.
What does the Occupy Movement have to do with Public Health?
One of the movement’s fundamental concerns, excessive levels of income inequality, is a major determinant of health.
Protesters recognize that social ills, like income inequality, are a consequence of deliberate actions by individuals and groups who impart undue influence on the government. This is crucial. For it is ultimately this undue influence which threatens the quality, availability and distribution of resources important for health. Resources like income, employment, food, healthcare, housing, education, and the environment. By demanding
sweeping reform of an entrenched system, protesters are thus taking aim at
the ultimate determinants of health.
There are many reasons why the Occupy Wall Street movement should be supported. For those concerned with the public's health the call to action should be answered without hesitation.