Public Health Week Stresses Healthier People,
Healthier Climate
April 7, 2008—Denver—During a news conference
today, Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien
and Jim Martin, executive director of the Colorado
Department of Public
Health and Environment, called on Coloradans to make small
changes that
would help protect the environment and improve people’s
health. The
event was the kickoff for National Public Health Week, April
7-13. This
year’s theme is “Climate Change: Our Health in the Balance.”
Speaking during the event at Stapleton’s new Central Park,
Lt. Gov.
O’Brien said, “There is a direct connection between climate
change
and our health. During public health week, we want to bring
attention
to a healthier world. We want to see people making changes
in their own
lives to help lead to a healthier climate. We are prepared
to travel,
eat, live and work differently. These changes have the added
benefit of
making us healthier, too.” Martin said, “It’s great to
talk about health and environmental
issues, but it is more important to act. There are simple
but effective
actions each of us can take to improve the environment and
our
health.” Some of the country’s top health and climate
change experts have
endorsed a number of recommendations for a healthier
lifestyle and a
healthier climate. Martin highlighted several steps people
can take.
Travel differently
- Walk or bike when you can.
- Take public transportation.
- If you must drive, park farther from your destination
and walk
more.
- Drive fuel-efficient vehicles.
Eat differently
- Eat fresh fruit and vegetables daily.
- Eat meatless once a
week.
- Choose a healthy meal at one
of the restaurants in the state
featuring the Smart Meal Seal.
Green your work
- Maintain digital records to use less paper.
- Use green
office products.
- Use recycled
goods.
Green your home
- Adjust your thermostat by lowering it in
winter and raising it
in summer.
- Insulate and weatherize your home.
- Use compact fluorescent bulbs.
- Plant a tree.
- Recycle.
“A walkable community such as
Stapleton provides the perfect setting
to promote the integration of healthy living and a healthy
environment,” said Martin.
In June 2007, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
recognized
Forest City Enterprises Inc., with an Environmental
Achievement Award
for vision, superior leadership and skill in redeveloping
the former
Stapleton International Airport site in Denver into an
environmentally
friendly, mixed-use development. Covering more than 4,700
acres, Stapleton is a model of urban reuse and
one of the largest "green" communities in the nation,
according to the
EPA. The development employs several key elements of
sustainability
including: compact mixed-use development,
pedestrian-friendly
neighborhoods, energy-efficient building design and
construction,
innovative storm water management, preservation of open
space, extensive
recycling and light pollution mitigation. John Lehigh,
president of Forest City-Stapleton, and Alisha Brown,
neighborhood connections officer with the Stapleton
Foundation for
Sustainable Urban Communities, also spoke at the event.
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