One world. One civilization
Authors: K Weber
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (1999)

2025. In all countries, it will exceed 50 years.The Research brings closure to the Cardiovascular Conundra improvement in world health is due to many factors: Series.The thoughtful contributions of scientists who economic development; water management, including contributed minireviews on topics of the day are gratefully sanitation facilities; improved health services, such as acknowledged.It has been a privilege to serve as Series control of infectious diseases in children, immunizations; Editor.and more effective therapies, particularly the management In this the Series finale, editor Michiel Janse has granted of cardiovascular diseases and such complications as me the opportunity to share personal reflections for the myocardial infarction.coming millennium.Opinions expressed herein are not With more older people the world over, disease patterns necessarily those of the editor, his editorial team or those are likely to change.Diseases affecting the heart and of the publisher.vasculature and those featuring neoplastic cell growth will Closure of this millennium naturally draws one to revisit become more prevalent worldwide and more common in achievements in biomedical science and to look to the countries where infectious diseases were once dominant future, hopefully with wise vision -wisdom gained.We and determined life expectancy.have witnessed a deciphering of structural and chemicalAs people continue to live longer, will they live bases of disease.Recent decades have seen this body of healthier?We should not simply presume this the case.We knowledge enriched with technologies of molecular and should ensure it is so.As scientists and clinicians and in cellular biology that will bring the genetic basis of disease our role as members of various professional organizations, into closer perspective.The 20th century spawned the we must broaden our perspective.We must continue to evolution of disciplines within the basic sciences.In advance biomedical science while promoting global health.medicine it gave birth to an age of specialization thatIn so doing we foster international cooperation and educaserved to enrich cognitive assessment and accommodate tion.We should subscribe to global citizenship shedding technologically driven diagnosis and management of or-the mantle of colonialism and its mandate of exclusivity.gan-based diseases.Such specialization created identityIn fostering goodwill, peace and understanding between and proved useful for political agendas and postdoctoral peoples of the world, we position ourselves as dedicated to training.However distinctions between disciplines, often-the progress of mankind.As an asset to humanity and in times artificial, promoted chauvinism at the expense of the spirit of altruism, we would not expect to receive, but interdisciplinary communication.The time is at hand for a to give.culture of cooperation -to seek common ground in our By transcending divergencies of opinions, interests understanding of disease pathophysiology and pathogene-inherent to political convictions and religious beliefs, racial sis.prejudice, social elitism and conflict, we overcome ac-An even broader perspective and common purpose is tivities destructive to the common good.We must seek the possible -to address international health.The world's high road -the welfare of society -through research, population reached 1 billion in 1804; 100 years later it was shared knowledge and assistance of one another while 2 billion.Current estimates suggest it will exceed 6 billion mindful of differences in culture, religion, political and in 2004 and 8 billion in 2025.Our world's population will social structure.We should work toward a common effort live longer in the 21st century.Global life expectancy, to meet common problems of health and well being.We currently 66 years, will continue to increase to age 73 in should build relationships that recognize and promote