Mapping

Putting Breast Cancer on the Map - Review 2003

Below are a selection of useful links to organisations, groups or coalitions either working on the connection between the environment and breast cancer, using geographic information systems (GIS) in connection with the environment and/or health, or using mapping or other participatory methods to give communities a voice.
State of the Evidence: What is the Connection between Chemicals & Breast Cancer? Written by the Breast Cancer Fund and Breast Cancer Action in the US a very useful, up to date account of what we know, what we don't know and what we'd like to find out.		Breast Cancer Action Montreal (BCAM) is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the issues surrounding breast cancer.
The Breast Cancer Prevention Coalition. The aim and focus of the project is to ensure that primary cancer prevention ranks equally with efforts to treat and cure this disease.		Canadian Auto Workers Prevent Cancer Campaign works with local unions and workplace union leadership, lobbys government and trains workers to eliminate carcinogenic substances from the workplace.
The Canadian Labour Congress prevent Cancer Campaign looks at preventing cancer in the workplace and the community.		Common Ground (Canada) is a community-based mapping project providing resources for communities wishing to undertake sustainable development projects.
Many people have come together to chart the things which are important to them. A Parish Map can lead you to the heart of a place.		What's in my backyard? Find out what's in your backyard.
Friends of the Earth map polluting factories linked to income levels indicating tendency for factories to be located in poorer areas.		Green Map System is not strictly GIS, but interesting idea to create maps of identifying sites of environmental significance using an internationally recognised set of icons.
Hazards magazine do-it-yourself resource section contains information on participatory research techniques and on trade union safety training, education and action. Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project. Potentially looks interesting but maps not available yet. They plan to use interactive maps to look at environmental and demographic information about Long		Leeds University Geography Dept. site has example of 3 sites which used GIS to 'enhance public democratic involvement': i) 3d map of local area created and locals placed different coloured flags to identify 'problems'. Info fed back to community and government bodies. ii) Yorkshire Dales project to involve local community and tourists in reforestation decisions. iii) Aims to enhance public participation in the planning of disposal sites for Britain's low to intermediate level nuclear waste.
The National Toxics Network Click on resources on their home page to see their computerised Geographic Information System (GIS) which provides a communication and information exchange link that can rapidly disseminate mapped spatial data, databases and text reports to all participants in the National Toxics Network across Australia.		MAIGIS (Multi-Agency Internet Geographic Information Service) This is a three year pilot project to establish an interactive map based web service providing health and health related data at the regional level, funded by the Public Health Development Fund. West Midlands has been selected for pilot and site provides loads of different data sets to map including incidence of many cancers and maps showing differences in incidence rates.
Organization dedicated to finding the causes and stopping the epidemic of breast cancer. They pursue community-based research and education with a focus on creating a healthy environment.		Aim to provide the data, tools, knowledge and expertise to empower all in their efforts towards improving environmental and social conditions where you live, work and play (USA).
A project intiated by the Environmental Working Group Site allows you to enter zip code - calls up a map and identifies how close location is to a nuclear waste route, population within locality etc.		Researches the environment and Women's Health. Uses GIS to look at Cape Cod Breast Cancer and Environment Study. Map showing breast cancer incidence in Cape Cod.
The Cancer Prevention Coalition. The Stop Cancer Before Its Starts Campaign fights for a safer environment at home, in the community and at work. CPC is a unique nationwide coalition of leading independent experts in cancer prevention and public health, together with citizen activists and representatives of organized labor, public interest, environmental and women's health groups.		The Toxic Links Coalition United for Health and Environmental Justice - organise the yearly Industry Tour of San Francisco.
United Nations Environment Programme. Global map showing difference between targeted and projected emissions.		West Midlands Cancer Intelligence Unit. Connected with MAIGIS site - not interactive, but simple and informative about how they want to use GIS.
The Windsor Cancer Prevention Coalition is a collective of concerned citizens from diverse backgrounds. Environmentalists, labour and occupational health activists, students and professionals, among others, are represented in the coalition.		These are examples of school projects using GIS. Because they're school projects the maps are quite basic, but they're good examples of communities doing their own mapping. (Part of ESRI Community Atlas Project) Project charting growth and impact of wireless communication towers on their area Project showing impact of acid mine drainage Project charting how oyster population in local bay area is threatened

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