blogs
Populate and perish
Submitted by David Shearman on Sun, 09/09/2007 - 18:43.This must be the silly season but I wish I could laugh about it. Addressing a business luncheon at the Brisbane Club on Tuesday, September 4th, Mr Beattie said Australia’s current ageing population of 21 million was too small to meet future needs. The credentials of the Queensland government to make any statement on this issue are surely very poor. It has failed to plan for the large numbers of Australians attracted to SE Queensland when climate change data suggested that they could not be sustained. In South Australia there are “aspirational” targets for a large increase in population in the face of continuing water shortage. The pressure comes from commerce, the building and real estate interests. Governments worry about the increasing numbers of elderly Australians and reason that we need more young people to pay for them. How naive, population growth in perpetuity!
Climate: the key issue for the next Federal Government
Submitted by David Shearman on Fri, 07/09/2007 - 20:19.from Dr John Coulter, President Sustainable Population Australia, Former Australian Democrat Senator, member of DEA
It is very possible that within the term of the next Federal Government southern Australia will be exposed to the hottest climate on record with massive failure of food production, the Murray/Darling basin a dustbowl, uncontrollable bushfires and insufficient water to service even minimal needs in capital cities.
This possibility emerges from work of the highly regarded Hadley Centre on Climate Research in the UK and published in the journal Science on August 10.
Public Transport, Health and Climate Change-- A DEA initiative
Submitted by David Shearman on Thu, 16/08/2007 - 17:03.Submitted by David Shearman on Thu, 16/08/2007 - 15:57. Reports on Climate Change
Doctors for the Environment Australia is involved in a national initiative to promote public transport. We have written to all Members, Senators and Ministers in federal parliament seeking their recognition that public transport is a climate change and a health issue. Greenhouse gases from transport are expected to grow (according to the Federal Government’s own Bureau of Transport and Resource Economics) by 68% between 2000 and 2020. This means it is the area of greenhouse emissions least under control in Australia.
Off-Setting Carbon Emissions
Submitted by he45188 on Thu, 28/06/2007 - 23:44.Hi!
I'm Sue Taylor, a general surgeon in West Leederville.
Tonight, I've just got home from an exciting meeting with a group of like-minded locals who want to raise awareness of our need to change our lifestyles.
We are part of the committee of the West Leederville Residents Association, and have met with a representative from Carbon Neutral (Men of the Trees) to develop a plan for encouraging more residents to off set their carbon emissions - whether they are from the car, or from home. Or perhaps from their place of work.
We all agreed that the current publicity is notable for it's scare tactics, and that many feel despondent and helpless in the face of such a huge problem. However, there is some hope if we all decide to reduce our energy use, buy (and work) local, and offset what we can't help with.
The Green Clinic Initiative by ACF and DEA
Submitted by David Shearman on Mon, 25/06/2007 - 18:27.Submitted by David Shearman on Mon, 25/06/2007 - 17:22. Reports on Climate Change
The GreenClinic initiative by the ACF and DEA has now been in existence for some time, yet I meet many doctors who have not heard of it. We also know that some of our members look at our web site but not those of the environmental groups. So this communication is to summarise the recommendations and enourage you to look at the ACF GreenClinic web site which says
Please Buy Environmentally and Health Friendly Copy Paper for your Practice!
Submitted by David Shearman on Thu, 24/05/2007 - 22:32.Rarely can one have a simple, easy choice that has a simultaneous impact of reducing the use of electricity and water, enhancing biodiversity and reducing atmospheric pollution. The choice is to purchase the appropriate copy paper for your practice. yet nearly all paper consumed in Australia is made using chlorine that creates dioxins that are discharged into the environment and uses the timber of native forests.
This article is written because my supplier of Canon paper, OfficeWorks, has dropped it. This environmental battle is being lost as detailed by the ACF, "in the 2001-02 financial year, Australians used 1.23 million tonnes of writing and printing paper. This equates to over 30 million
Parliamentary responses to a briefing from DEA
Submitted by David Shearman on Fri, 18/05/2007 - 12:04.Members of Doctors for the Environment Australia will be aware that an important part of our work involves periodic briefings of all members of the Federal Parliament. We do not regard this activity as lobbying, rather it is a briefing within the sphere of our expertise. A recent briefing covered important implications of climate change for human health. The letter was personally addressed to each Member and Senator of Parliament at their constituency offices. The briefing was headed “Health aspects of Climate Change”.
Here I summarize the responses we received for your interest and comment. Your blogs will be appreciated and indeed please express your opinion on topics that are within our policies that you feel might be raised in future briefings.
A carbon neutral country. What would it take for Australia to become a leader in greenhouse?
Submitted by David Shearman on Tue, 01/05/2007 - 18:15.
By Professor Peter Newman
Murdoch University
Carbon neutral is becoming the policy for innovative companies, individuals and even football teams. Can it be applied to a country? What would it mean for Australia?
I have recently returned from a 6 month study trip which coincided with the remarkable increase in global awareness on climate change due largely to Al Gore and the Stern Report. Of course there was considerable work over 20-30 years by NGO’s, scientists and European politicians that laid the foundation for this awareness. Nevertheless the world tipped into carbon politics over the past 6 months.
Climate Change and Environmental Refugees
Submitted by David Shearman on Tue, 01/05/2007 - 12:13.
Draft discussion paper for Doctors for the Environment Australia
By Bryan Furnass.
This paper will be developed into a Policy and members of DEA are invited to comment here.
Summary
1) Climate change is an established scientific fact, and DEA should plan policies to help the Australian community adapt to its effects
2) Over coming decades, southern Australia is likely to experience continuing droughts, fires, heat waves and threats to food security in inland areas, with rising sea levels and storms threatening human habitation in low-lying coastal areas. Water security will be an on-going priority problem nation-wide. Although at risk from increasing cyclone activity, northern Australia may expect greater than average rainfall, particularly during La Nina events
Commentary on the second part of the IPCC Report on Climate Change
Submitted by David Shearman on Fri, 20/04/2007 - 17:43.by David Shearman
My January news letter was devoted to the first part of the IPCC report which dealt with the science of climatic change and its certainty. The second part of the IPCC report, just published, describes the existing and predicted effects of climate change on the life support systems of humans and other species. The specific human heath aspects are described
The report is a shocker. A badly needed outcome of the report is US recognition of the problem. To date the US press has been defensive and skeptical. However the latest findings are reported in detail e.g. New York Times April 6
