The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #74923

Jody Platt-Garcia, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 2361 Bishop St., #5, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, 734-763-8323, jeplatt@umich.edu

Human rights and development are felt, heard and faced at local, national and international levels by people living the reality discussed behind closed doors at international conferences like the World Summit on Sustainable Development held last year in Johannesburg, South Africa. In the Andes, across South America, Central America, and the Caribbean, where music is part of everyday life, one hears the language and impact of development – empowerment of women, immigration, and health care – in popular songs. This poster offers an analysis of one of these songs, “Niagara en bicicleta,” or, “[Crossing] Niagara Falls on a Bicycle.” Written and performed by Juan Luis Guerra from the Dominican Republic, the song addresses the inability of the health care system to address basic needs. This incapacity to meet fundamental health needs is relevant to economic development in that healthy lives are led by productive members of (or laborers in) the political economic system. Guerra’s lyrics provide direct and indirect insight into the relationship of global capitalism, development and human rights. Guerra speaks most explicitly about health care and the current state of the world in the economic sense, but his piece also alludes to the relationship between developing countries and the hegemonic states, immigration and migration, education and technology. Insofar as the wealthy nations are the destination of the disenfranchised, they are ultimately faced with a very simple choice: actively help and support developing countries to participate in the global market as potential competitors, or be prepared to actively help as people begin to stream across the border, be it by boat, or by bicycle.

Learning Objectives:

After reviewing the poster presentation, observers will be able to:
• Understand more concretely the interrelatedness of human rights, access to health care and development
• See (and hear) how popular music can serve as a platform for expressing the failure of global society to meet the basic needs of people, including health care needs.
• Understand some of the ramifications (i.e., mass migration and immigration) of not providing tools (i.e., education, technology) to third world nations to support sustainable development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.