Life expectancy has increased dramatically in recent centuries, going from an average of 35 years in the 18th century to doubling today. Although this progress is sometimes attributed to economic development, the real driver of change has been investment in public services, such as health, education and sanitation.
Nowadays, no one interprets low life expectancy as a “natural catastrophe” but rather political, cultural and economic explanations are sought. Gone are the medieval obscurantisms, when early mortality was attributed to divine punishments or supernatural forces. However, it seems that this mentality has not completely disappeared, as it resurfaces when DANA is described as an inevitable natural catastrophe.
#DANA #natural #disaster
