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Healing and Heritage: The Middle East’s Cultural Legacy in Advancing Planetary Health and the Global Common Good

1. Highlight the Middle East’s cultural, spiritual, and scientific legacy, reflecting the idea of science in service of humanity.

2. Explore core Middle Eastern values—kindness, charity, reciprocity, and stewardship—and their role in shaping the physician as healer and moral guide.

3. Examine both historic and contemporary contributions to medicine from the region, emphasizing timeless healing practices and the commitment to the global common good.

4. Showcase artistic expressions—visual, musical, and architectural—as therapeutic tools and symbols of cultural resilience.

5. Present the Sunnah diet’s unique approach to health and sustainability, contrasting it with the Planetary Health Diet, and highlighting its adaptability to local ecosystems and cultural diversity.

6. Discuss the impacts of fasting, sleep, and music on the gut microbiome and overall health, rooted in Islamic wellness traditions.

7. Provide an overview of physical, mental, and spiritual health from an Islamic worldview, focusing on balance, intention, and harmony.

8. Emphasize the importance of peace-building, humanistic action, and shared responsibility in achieving global health equity and planetary sustainability.

9. Advocate for recognizing one interconnected living system, where science and the sacred unite to promote planetary health for the global common good.

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To participate, register here: https://sfu.zoom.us/meeting/register/AbySWGBnT0C8g7SeOVCQEw

When you register, you will receive a personalized zoom link that will work throughout the entire event.

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A living timeline of Ecohealth International: https://padlet.com/amkenned1/ecohealthinternational

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1. The Summit discussions in each region will be recorded.

2. The Zoom room will be set up so participants can show their video, type in the chat box, and rename themselves.

3. Participants will be unable to share their screen, or annotate the screen.

4. During each session, participants will be encouraged to provide comments and questions in the chat box.

5. Participants are invited to share their own local examples of how they are 'working together for a healthy, just, and sustainable planet' on this Padlet: https://padlet.com/echo_network/GlobalEcohealthExamples2023

6. Participants are invited to post these Padlet contributions on Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.

7. If participants have attended other conferences related to this theme, they are encouraged to share key insights.

8. Listen and speak without judgement

9. Respect other speakers and value their opinions

10. Listen to yourself and contribute when moved to

11. Take it easy, go with the flow, and enjoy!

(Adapted from Brown 2008)

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Turtle Island session: Join us for a session on Equity-oriented Climate Adaptation Planning

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Turtle Island session: Join us for a session on Equity-oriented Climate Adaptation Planning

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How can we build climate resilience that is truly equitable?

Join us for the Earth Hug Turtle Island session on March 27 (11AM-3PM PDT) for a hands-on workshop exploring climate adaptation and resilience planning through an equity lens.

🔹 Learn practical tools from Centering Equity in Climate Resilience Planning and Action
🔹 Work through a real-world case study to identify equity gaps in climate adaptation
🔹 Apply action mapping techniques to co-develop more just, community-driven solutions
🔹 Walk away with strategies to integrate equity into your own thinking about climate adaptation

This session is for anyone interested in the intersection of climate, health, and justice. Let’s come together to connect, learn, and create a more just future.

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Oceania Session: How Can Indigenous Systems Thinking and Science Communication Shape a More Just and Sustainable Food Future?

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Oceania Session: How Can Indigenous Systems Thinking and Science Communication Shape a More Just and Sustainable Food Future?

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This interactive session will explore how Indigenous knowledge, systems thinking, and science communication intersect to transform approaches to food sustainability, planetary health, and environmental governance. Through an engaging conversation with leaders in Ecohealth, food sovereignty, and Indigenous systems thinking, we’ll examine how diverse knowledge systems can strengthen health, climate resilience, and sustainable food policies.

Following this discussion, we’ll move into a collaborative workshop on systems thinking and modeling for Ecohealth and Planetary Health, exploring practical tools for mapping food system sustainability, watershed health, and climate adaptation strategies. Participants will engage in scenario-based problem-solving, considering how relational, community-led approaches can reshape sustainability efforts at both regional and global scales.

Whether you are a researcher, policymaker, community leader, or practitioner, this session will provide insights, frameworks, and tools to integrate interdisciplinary and Indigenous perspectives into climate-health solutions. Join us to collaborate, learn, and build new connections for a healthier, more sustainable future!

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Africa Session: Gender and Social Equity in Health Outcomes!

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Africa Session: Gender and Social Equity in Health Outcomes!

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Our conversation will examine how disparities in healthcare affect marginalized communities and explore solutions for more inclusive, equitable health systems. Specifically, this session will discuss the following questions:

·       How do gender and social equity shape health outcomes, especially in marginalized communities?

·       What are the biggest obstacles to gender and social equity in healthcare, and what concrete steps can help overcome them?

·       How can governments, businesses, and civil society work together to embed gender equity into long-term health policies?

·        Why is community engagement crucial for inclusive health and social equity, and how can we ensure it is truly participatory?

·       What are the most effective local, national, and global actions to put gender and social equity at the heart of a sustainable health future?

We look forward to seeing you there!

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Sesión 5: América Latina / Abya Yala (English translation will be available)

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Sesión 5: América Latina / Abya Yala (English translation will be available)

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🌎✨ Panel Latinoamericano ✨🌎

Promover la salud de nuestros territorios y comunidades es una tarea compartida. Nuestro panel de discusión se enfoca en cómo generar colaboraciones interdisciplinarias que sean más efectivas para promover la salud. Además, tendremos un taller sobre la metodología del cuerpo-territorio, que nos ayuda a visualizar cómo los cambios en el territorio afectan nuestros cuerpos y salud.

📅 Fecha: Viernes 28 de marzo de 2025

⏰ Horarios:
🇲🇽 12 PM | 🇨🇴 1 PM | 🇻🇪 2 PM | 🇧🇷🇦🇷🇨🇱🇺🇾 3 PM

📌 Programa
🎤 Panel de discusión (90 minutos)
🌀 Taller: Metodología del Cuerpo-Territorio (90 minutos)
💬 Espacio abierto de conversación (opcional, hasta 60 min)

👥 Panelistas:
🌿 Graciela González - Defensora del Territorio, 🇲🇽
🏥 Natiela Oliveira - Ministerio de Salud, 🇧🇷
🎓 Jeyver Rodríguez - Académico, 🇨🇱
📖 Fiorella Iaquinta - Académica, 🇺🇾

🎭 Taller facilitado por: Gabriel Keppl, 🇦🇷
📥 Descarga el manual para el taller

📢 El evento será en español y portugués (con traducción al inglés). ¡No es necesario asistir a todas las actividades! 🔥

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🌎✨ Latin American Panel ✨🌎

Promoting the health of our territories and communities is a shared task. Our discussion panel focuses on how to create more effective interdisciplinary collaborations to promote health. Additionally, we will have a workshop on the body-territory methodology, which helps us visualize how changes in the territory affect our bodies and health.

📅 Date: Friday, March 28, 2025

⏰ Times:
🇲🇽 12 PM | 🇨🇴 1 PM | 🇻🇪 2 PM | 🇧🇷🇦🇷🇨🇱🇺🇾 3 PM

📌 Program
🎤 Discussion Panel (90 minutes)
🌀 Workshop: Body-Territory Methodology (90 minutes)
💬 Open conversation space (optional, up to 60 min)

👥 Panelists:
🌿 Graciela González - Territory Defender, 🇲🇽
🏥 Natiela Oliveira - Ministry of Health, 🇧🇷
🎓 Jeyver Rodríguez - Academic, 🇨🇱
📖 Fiorella Iaquinta - Academic, 🇺🇾

🎭 Workshop facilitated by: Gabriel Keppl, 🇦🇷
📥 Download the workshop manual

📢 The event will be in Spanish and Portuguese (translation to English available). Attendance at all activities is not required! 🔥

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Europe Session: Join Us for an Engaging Session on Systems Thinking & Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping!

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Europe Session: Join Us for an Engaging Session on Systems Thinking & Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping!

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How can systems thinking transform the way we approach health and policy? This interactive session will dive into Participatory Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping (FCM)—a powerful tool for integrating diverse knowledge, defining complex problems, and co-creating solutions. The session begins with a dynamic discussion with One Health experts and practitioners on the value of systems approaches in policymaking, addressing real-world challenges in stakeholder engagement. Then, in a hands-on workshop, participants will build their own FCMs using Mental Modeler, applying scenario modeling to explore sustainable food systems. Whether you’re a researcher, policymaker, or advocate, this session will equip you with practical tools to incorporate systems thinking into your work and drive meaningful change. Don’t miss this opportunity to collaborate, learn, and apply innovative approaches to real-world problems!

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Angel Kennedy

Evan Griffith

Carlos Sanchez-Pimienta

Chester Kalinda

Christina Pettan-Brewer

Galase T. Ramolefhe-Mutumwa

Mark JP Gonzales

Chyna Yong

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3rd Annual EcoHealth Global Summit pdf flyer  (3)

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How do you find the start time in your time zone?

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How do you find the start time in your time zone?

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Click the session link you want to attend, then enter your city.

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Time Zone Converter – Time Difference Calculator

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Find the exact time difference with the Time Zone Converter – Time Difference Calculator which converts the time difference between places and time zones all over the world.

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Time Zone Converter – Time Difference Calculator

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Find the exact time difference with the Time Zone Converter – Time Difference Calculator which converts the time difference between places and time zones all over the world.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Time Zone Converter – Time Difference Calculator

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find the exact time difference with the Time Zone Converter – Time Difference Calculator which converts the time difference between places and time zones all over the world.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Time Zone Converter – Time Difference Calculator

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find the exact time difference with the Time Zone Converter – Time Difference Calculator which converts the time difference between places and time zones all over the world.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Time Zone Converter – Time Difference Calculator

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find the exact time difference with the Time Zone Converter – Time Difference Calculator which converts the time difference between places and time zones all over the world.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Time Zone Converter – Time Difference Calculator

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find the exact time difference with the Time Zone Converter – Time Difference Calculator which converts the time difference between places and time zones all over the world.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Time Zone Converter - Time Difference Calculator

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find the exact time difference with the Time Zone Converter - Time Difference Calculator which converts the time difference between places and time zones all over the world.

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Want to see what happened in our last summit? Check out this summary!

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Want to see what happened in our last summit? Check out this summary!

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Second Annual Ecohealth Summit (Earth Hug 2023) by ECHO Collective | Polarsteps

The Ecohealth sessions held across the globe, reveal a tapestry of distinct yet interconnected themes. These sessions showcase a shared commitment to addressing environmental and health challenges through holistic and collaborative approaches.

1. Advocacy for Holistic Approaches:

Across diverse regions, there is a vibrant advocacy for adopting a holistic and transdisciplinary approach. Participants consistently emphasize the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental well-being in addressing the complexity of health challenges.

2. Potency of Arts and Communication:

A recurring theme is the acknowledgment of the effectiveness of arts, particularly performance drama, in conveying messages. There's a shared recognition of the potency of artistic expressions in raising awareness and promoting a deeper understanding of complex ecological issues.

3. Community Engagement as a Key Element:

Community engagement emerges as a consistent and crucial theme. The emphasis is on actively involving communities as contributors rather than mere beneficiaries. This inclusive approach extends to policy statements, creative endeavours, and the development of sustainable initiatives.

4. Intersectionality of Ecohealth with Various Disciplines:

The sessions highlight the intersectionality of Ecohealth with various disciplines. This promotes a nuanced understanding of issues as diverse perspectives, ranging from environmental communication and bioindicators to mental, physical and animal health and academic research, contribute to a holistic approach.

5. Ethical Considerations and Departure from Eurocentrism:

Participants stress the importance of ethical considerations, responsible approaches, and a departure from Eurocentric models. This theme reflects a commitment to cultural sensitivity, knowledge inclusivity, and a recognition that global solutions must align with local contexts.

6. Challenges and Long-Term Thinking:

Addressing challenges such as the Eurocentric nature of projects, time-bound impacts, and questioning the motivation behind development efforts is a consistent focus. There's a shared call for long-term thinking, ethical practices, and a shift toward mutual respect.

7. Collective Action and Collaboration:

A unified call for collective action and collaboration echoes throughout the sessions. Participants emphasize the importance of operating as a movement rather than isolated projects. This shared responsibility is deemed crucial for building a healthier, just, and sustainable future.

8. Planetary Health and Indigenous Wisdom:

Planetary health takes centre stage, emphasizing the interconnectedness of environmental well-being, cultural preservation, and community health. Integration of Indigenous wisdom and acknowledgment and elevating Indigenous voices emerge as recurrent themes, reflecting a commitment to valuing diverse perspectives.

9. Community Empowerment and Capacity Building:

There's a universal stress on the importance of community empowerment and capacity building. Building skills, engaging communities, and fostering a sense of ownership are seen as essential components contributing to sustainable solutions.

10. Government Engagement and Collaborative Strategies:

Sessions consistently highlight the significance of government engagement and collaborative strategies in addressing health challenges effectively. Building capacity, especially in developing the One Health sector, emerges as a key focus for a comprehensive and sustainable impact.

In summary, the Ecohealth sessions around the world showcase a harmonious blend of local perspectives and shared values. The commitment to holistic approaches, community engagement, and collaborative strategies reflects a unified effort towards building a healthier, more sustainable future for the diverse communities across the continents.

Summary of the connected conversations prepared by Shona Thorne

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Polarsteps is the personal travel log in your pocket.

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2023 Earth Hug Summary

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Want to learn more about Ecohealth, Planetary Health, and One Health before the Summit? Here are some helpful resources.

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Want to learn more about Ecohealth, Planetary Health, and One Health before the Summit? Here are some helpful resources.

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One Health: Adisasmito, W.B., et al., One Health: A new definition for a sustainable and healthy future. PLoS Pathogens, 2022. 18(6): p. e1010537.; www.neoh.network (resource page)

Ecohealth: Charron, D. F. (2012). Ecosystem approaches to health for a global sustainability agenda. EcoHealth, 9, 256-266. (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10393-012-0791-5); Ecohealth Research in Practice (https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-4614-0517-7)

The new textbook Principles of One Health for a better planet has excellent overviews of both one health and ecohealth: https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/book/10.1079/9781800623002.0000

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Participants are invited to share their local examples of how your region is 'working together for a healthy, just, and sustainable planet': https://padlet.com/echo_network/GlobalEcohealthExamples2025

To see examples from the 2023 24-hour connected conversation, please visit this link: https://padlet.com/echo_network/GlobalEcohealthExamples2023

To see examples from the 2022 24-hour connected conversation, please visit this link: https://padlet.com/echo_network/GlobalEcohealthExamples

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Asia Session: Building Resilience Against Spillovers through Asia’s Lens

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Asia Session: Building Resilience Against Spillovers through Asia’s Lens

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🌏 How can we prevent the next pandemic before it starts?

Join us for the Earth Hug Asia session on March 29 (10:00-14:00 GMT+8) as we explore emerging infectious diseases and spillover prevention through an Asia-focused lens.

🔹 Understand the landscape – Key zoonotic disease challenges in Asia
🔹 Hear from experts and practitioners – Insights from One Health leaders and community voices
🔹 Engage in a hands-on workshop – Develop innovative strategies to reduce spillover risks
🔹 Expand your network – Connect with researchers, students, and professionals tackling disease prevention

The session will feature interactive discussions, case studies, and a collaborative strategy session on designing interventions that address root causes—from habitat destruction to community engagement.

💡 Be part of the conversation and help shape a spillover-free future!

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Step 1: Register (if you have not done it yet)

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Step 1: Register (if you have not done it yet)

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Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: 3rd Annual Global Ecohealth Summit (‘Earth Hug’). After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

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Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: 3rd Annual Global Ecohealth Summit (‘Earth Hug’). After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

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Step 2: Search the following in your email inbox

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Step 2: Search the following in your email inbox

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Angel Kennedy Summit Confirmation

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Step 3: Click on the linked circle in the image below

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Step 3: Click on the linked circle in the image below

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If the previous steps did not work, please register again and follow the above steps

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If the previous steps did not work, please register again and follow the above steps

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The Global Ecohealth Summit was first created in 2022 by Angel Kennedy (Early Career Coordinator of Ecohealth International) and Dr. Margot Parkes (Chair of the Ecohealth International External Advisory Group). It began as a space to foster ecological and equity-informed innovation, integration, and global collaboration to improve health for all—work that requires not only knowledge, but also relationships, trust, and deep care across regions, disciplines, sectors, and generations. The Summit grew from a desire to create connected, intentional spaces—spaces where we don’t just talk about health and sustainability, but where we practice collaboration, hold space for diverse knowledges, and support each other in the face of complex, overlapping challenges. It is entirely early-career led and run. We often call this gathering the ‘Earth Hug’—a reflection of what it feels like to come together across continents, time zones, and lived experience to say: you’re not alone in this work. In a world that can feel fragmented and overwhelming, Earth Hug is a reminder that connection is a form of resistance, and that love, care, and collective support are essential ingredients in building a healthier, more just, and sustainable future. We’re now proud to host Earth Hug as an annual global summit, and we look forward to staying connected with you beyond these sessions—and welcoming you back next year.