The spread of misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy theories, the corruption of the information ecosystem, and leaders who discount science and seek to suppress free speech and human rights – these are some of the existential threats facing humanity, according to leading scientists.
The column this week also highlights some of the hazards facing Palestinians returning to northern Gaza, the impacts of bird flu upon food supply, climate and health updates, and human rights concerns in Queensland and the Northern Territory, as well as a public health campaign for voters in Western Australia.
It brings some evidence-based advice for how governments can save lives among people with mental health disorders through wider social policy – a timely publication as the Federal Government has just announced a Productivity Commission review of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement.
The quotable?
These are the first results to suggest that a broad programme of social assistance, not directed at psychiatric patients in particular, has major benefits in reducing mortality among psychiatric patients after discharge.”
Tick, TICK
Founded by Albert Einstein, J. Robert Oppenheimer, and Manhattan Project scientists who developed the first atomic weapons, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has set the hands of the Doomsday Clock since 1947.
This week, the clock – “a universally recognised indicator of the world’s vulnerability to global catastrophe caused by man-made technologies” – was set at 89 seconds to midnight, in which midnight represents apocalypse.
This is one second closer since the last movement in 2023, and “should be taken as an indication of extreme danger and an unmistakable warning that every second of delay in reversing course increases the probability of global disaster”, the scientists said.
The Doomsday Clock is set every year by the Bulletin’s Science and Security Board in consultation with its Board of Sponsors, which includes nine Nobel laureates.
This year the scientists cite the risk of nuclear war, the collapsing nuclear arms control process, the increasing impacts of climate change, emerging and re-emerging diseases, rapid advances in artificial intelligence, and related disruptive technologies that make the world more dangerous.
“The long-term prognosis for the world’s attempts to deal with climate change remains poor, as most governments fail to enact the financing and policy initiatives necessary to halt global warming,” say the scientists.
All of these dangers “are greatly exacerbated by a potent threat multiplier: the spread of misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy theories that degrade the communication ecosystem and increasingly blur the line between truth and falsehood”.
“Advances in AI are making it easier to spread false or inauthentic information across the internet – and harder to detect it,” they say.
“At the same time, nations are engaging in cross-border efforts to use disinformation and other forms of propaganda to subvert elections, while some technology, media, and political leaders aid the spread of lies and conspiracy theories.
“This corruption of the information ecosystem undermines the public discourse and honest debate upon which democracy depends. The battered information landscape is also producing leaders who discount science and endeavour to suppress free speech and human rights, compromising the fact-based public discussions that are required to combat the enormous threats facing the world.”
The scientists urge the United States, China, and Russia – which have “the collective power to destroy civilisation” – to exercise their responsibility to pull the world back from the brink.
On related topics, read Croakey’s recent account of the latest World Economic Forum global risks assessment.
Other global health news
As more than 423,000 displaced Palestinians return to their homes in northern Gaza, they face many hazards.
Israel’s ban on UNRWA is expected to affect the agency’s operations in Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank, impacting schools, healthcare centres and other services.
Bird flu
“Ten months on from the shocking discovery that a virus usually carried by wild birds can readily infect cows, at least 68 people in North America have become ill from the pathogen and one person has died,” begins this Nature report examines the risk of an H5N1 pandemic affecting humans.
Meanwhile, other reports are highlighting the flow-on effects from mass chicken slaughter in raising egg prices. All this as the Trump Administration is set on undermining public health capability.
Social determinants
A study by Brazilian researchers has found that the national wealth redistribution programme, Bolsa Familia, reduces mortality rates in people with mental health disorders, adding to growing evidence that cash transfers can have a marked improvement on the health of the poorest and most vulnerable people.
The study, published in PLOS Medicine, analysed administrative health and social data from almost 7, 000 patients who had been admitted to hospital with a mental health condition.
The number of deaths from all causes in this cohort was seven percent lower in people who were enlisted in the Bolsa Familia programme than in those who were not, reports the BMJ.
The authors wrote: “These are the first results to suggest that a broad programme of social assistance, not directed at psychiatric patients in particular, has major benefits in reducing mortality among psychiatric patients after discharge.
“It has broader significance too, opening the question of whether such assistance could reduce the well-established high mortality rate among all people with psychiatric disorders.”
Commercial determinants
Climate and health matters
Doctors for the Environment Australia is supporting public health messaging during the Western Australian election campaign.
#AusPol
Statement by the Australian Human Rights Commission
Sex Discrimination Commissioner Dr Anna Cody has raised concerns on the pause in Stage One and Two hormone therapies for people under 18 years through the Queensland’s public health system while an independent review is undertaken.
“A fundamental human right is access to healthcare, and gender affirming healthcare is part of this right,” she said. “Trans and gender diverse children and young people should feel supported to affirm their gender by the adults in their lives and health care providers.
“This pause has the potential to harm the physical and mental wellbeing of children in Queensland who are currently awaiting care. We note that these treatments are supported by evidence and the Australian Standards of Care and Treatment Guidelines for Trans and Gender Diverse Children and Adolescents that are endorsed by medical experts. Above all, we must ensure we are putting the wellbeing of trans and gender children and young people first.
“The Australian Human Rights Commission will be contacting the Queensland Government with our concerns and to seek further information. Our concern is that restricting access will create trauma to young people who will be unable to access treatments in a timely manner.”
https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/jim-chalmers-2022/media-releases/albanese-government-launches-review-strengthen-mental
Media matters
This essay, circling back to concerns raised by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, is a must-read: The Atlantic: Europe’s Elon Musk Problem.
“He and other tech oligarchs are making it impossible to conduct free and fair elections anywhere.”
Events upcoming
