Bad Sugar: Water Rights and Diabetes in Arizona

The Tohono O'odham and Pima Indians of southern Arizona have perhaps the highest rate of diabetes in the world. Yet the disease was virtually unknown here 100 years ago. Over the last century, the diversion of river water to upstream white settlements cost the O'odham their crops, livelihood, traditional diet, culture and health. Today, community advocates hope that restoring water and renewing culture can help improve health.

This clip is excerpted from Episode 4 of "UNNATURAL CAUSES: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?", a ground-breaking documentary series that looks at how the social, economic and physical environments in which we are born, live, and work profoundly affect our longevity and health. The series broadcast nationally on PBS in spring 2008, and can be bought on DVD from California Newsreel, www.newsreel.org

Visit www.unnaturalcauses.org to learn more.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• diabetes
• native
• american
• indian
• rights
• diet
• empowerment
• reservation
• government
• commodity
• food
• program

[cinderskenney]

Only when the last tree has died

and the last river been poisoned

and the last fish been caught

will we realise we cannot eat money

[lastardriver]

Once again, the natives get screwed.

[ysemadrid74]

like all of indians specially my best wishes for my best friend marshall sunna him live in gila river arizona . i miss you mr sunna

[mr3nos]

SHEEEE He says the used to get commodities . . . I know many families who still live off them.

[darkangelenslaved]

Thank you for putting this video up. It does help people be aware of the situations that our and most reservations face.

[StasiaD14]

thanks for sharing my friend sarah20xoxo!

[ceomeye]

commodity is like welfare program, no self sufficiency and more poisoning of the indigenous people..

[minutemenAREcowards]

thanks 4 sharing this with me sarah!!! I will share it!!!

THANKS 4 posting unaturalcausesdoc!! NO MORE INJUSTICE!!!!!

[skettcharmstrong]

Thanks for sharing. I can't believe that this actually happened in my own backyard. So sad thats the way it had to be.

[audioslave93072]

it be that way sometimez