About the Cover
Cover. The traumatic events in New Orleans this year underscore conditions that have long shaped public health disasters, such as poor planning, inadequate resources, and confused leadership. Most particularly, these events underscore how social patterns shape even "natural" disasters and repeatedly cause the poor and marginalized to experience the greatest and most enduring devastation. The waters that covered large parts of New Orleans exposed the indifference that accompanies inequality and discrimination. Yet the disaster also prompted cries of outrage and precipitated a crisis in government and conscience of the sort that offer possibilities for change and a better future. It is with this hope that we dedicate this month's cover to the city of New Orleans and its inhabitants. We also acknowledge the care given by public health workers and the thousands of others who, committed to the well-being of their fellow citizens and devoted to their city, set about the work of recovery, as Phillip Turner, 62, is seen doing in this image. Mr. Turner did not heed the evacuation order and on September 23, 2005, broom in hand, rode his bike to his job cleaning businesses in the historic French Quarter of New Orleans. (AP/Charlie Riedel)
Cover concept and selection by Aleisha Kropf, Robert Sember, Mary Northridge, Michael Fine, Stephen Thomas, and Said Ibrahim.
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Copyright © 2005 by the American Public Health Association.
