Vignette: Limits to Growth, the Rohingya, and Planetary Health

Abstract

The repeated expulsions and flights of the Rohingya people from Myanmar, documented to occur periodically for over two centuries, are widely and correctly interpreted as egregious examples of human rights violations. It is here hypothesized that this violence has ecological causes in addition to the better recognized social factors, such as intolerance, inequality, and religious and cultural differences. Furthermore, this case study shares characteristics found in an increasing number of locations and countries, most or perhaps even all of which are relevant both to the emerging discipline of ‘planetary health’, in addition to the far older conceptualization of ‘limits to growth’. If these hypotheses are correct, it follows that far more effort is needed to improve the underlying ecological factors, in order to reduce repeated and perhaps even worse future abuses of human rights.