AN INTERVIEW SERIES BY WWF
Amidst the COVID19 pandemic, the fragility of our way of life and the challenges and opportunities for nature conservation, food security, energy supply and health care are more apparent than ever.
In our #Connect2Earth Global Health Talks interview series, scientists and experts will address the causes of pandemics like COVID-19 and reveal how we can prevent future ones from occurring.
Episode 2 with Dr. Carlos Neves is now out - watch it below!
Guest Speaker:
Dr Peter Daszak is a British zoologist, researcher and expert on disease ecology, in particular on zoonosis - diseases that are transmissible from animal to person and from person to animal.
In this episode, Dr Daszak speaks about his mission to find out how and why the COVID-19 virus originated, and how our unprecedented levels of road building, deforestation, and agricultural expansion are setting up the perfect conditions for pandemics. Furthermore, Dr Daszak explains the risk wet markets pose, the role world leaders play in prevention of future pandemics, and what individuals can do to rethink their consumption patterns and make a positive difference.
Moderators:
Marco Vollmar - Executive Communications Director, WWF Germany
Alice Ruhweza - Africa Region Director, WWF International
Guest Speaker:
Dr Carlos das Neves is a veterinarian and expert for wildlife and viruses that spread from animal to humans. He is the Director of Research and Internationalization at the Norwegian Veterinary Institute and President of the International Wildlife Disease Association.
In our second episode, Dr das Neves shares how the overlaps between humans and wildlife have been increasingly changing, and how deforestation further contributes to the rise of pandemics. He also highlights the impact of our food system and the value of prevention rather than cure when it comes to avoiding future pandemics.
Moderator:
Felicity Glennie Holmes, Executive Director Communications & Marketing, WWF International
Guest Speaker:
Maria Neira is the Director of the Public Health, Environment and Social Determinants of Health Department at the World Health Organization.
In our third episode, Maria talks about how our current way of food production and consumption affects our health and our planet. She highlights the ways that consumers, industries and governments can make a change to protect the environment and therefore our health.
Moderator:
Claudia Bahamon, Colombian Celebrity and WWF ambassador
Guest Speaker:
Dr John Amuasi is an expert on Global Health and Infectious Diseases (and the Executive Director of the African Research Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases).
In our fourth episode, Dr Amuasi speaks about the One Health approach why separating humans from nature will ultimately take us down the wrong path. He also explains why our current economic system needs to change.
Moderator:
Alice Ruhweza, African Regional Director, WWF International
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Connect2Earth is part of the project “Scaling up Biodiversity Communication”, supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety with funding from the International Climate Initiative (IKI)
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