News from the Secretary, November/December, 2004

The River Murray
Well, the election is over, and what has changed in our sphere of health and the environment? Probably nothing! Perhaps the overriding memory of the election was the billions of dollars, which were promised for numerous causes and policies for short-term electoral gain. Yet environmental necessities had little mention.

Despite the photo opportunities on the banks of the River Murray and the announcement of a modest $200m to replace 500 billion litres over 5 years, the river continues to deteriorate. The recent reports of many thousands of dead river red gums raises important issues of ecological collapse and whether democratic governance is able to deal with such a crisis.

It is important that environmental decisions are based on sound science. Unfortunately ecological science cannot tell us whether an ecological system has reached the point of collapse. In a paper published in Nature, October 11 2001, studies on deforestation, endangered species and eutrification of lakes all showed resistance of these systems to gradual environmental damage and then collapsed suddenly. If the River Murray was at this point of collapse we would not know. Therefore it would be difficult to find a scientist who would not recommend a return of significant flows immediately. Yet this need seems to be delayed by another Commission and wrangles over the use of States’ money. To serve the community in its wish for environmental survival, democratic systems will have to recognise ‘the commons’ as more important than individual and property rights. To date, liberal democracy has not demonstrated that it is able to do this. It has the same difficulties with other major environmental threats.

It often takes an observant outsider to enlighten the locals and the Guardian’s environmental writer, David Fickling’s view is worth consideration. In “Plunder Down Under” published on November 8, 2004 he reviews Australia’s water policies. He points out that scientific opinion asserts that 1500 billion (gigalitres) litres (three times that on offer) is needed to stem deterioration, yet rice growers on the Murray use 2000 giglitres per year and cotton growers, mainly based around the Murray, use 2900 gigilitres per year. His conclusion is that the Murray is dying so that Australia can export rice to China. As one enlightened caller said on Australia Talks Back, “The problem would be solved if the government spent part of its election money on buying out such and such a station.” Liberal democracies can act, at the stroke of a pen, to declare pre-emptive war or rescue financially ailing industries, but there is a “cultural maladaptation” to action on environmental crises, as defined by Stephen Boyden in his book recently reviewed on this web page.

Taking all factors into consideration, there must be doubt whether the River Murray will be saved as a functional ecological entity. What can Doctors for the Environment do? We are open to your suggestions but meanwhile we will continue to operate by contacting and briefing our representatives, for our advantage is to present to them unbiased scientific facts from the perspective of human health and wellbeing. We have found that many of our politicians, on both sides of the House do not have what Boyden has called ‘bio-understanding” and hopefully we can help them achieve this.

DEA reorganisations
The past month has been one of internal reorganisation resulting from decisions made at the AGM in October. With the move of Treasurer from Peter Mansfield to Sarah Morton, the membership database has been reorganised under a centre separate to the previous link with Healthy Skepticism. As an Incorporated Institution, we are obliged to keep our membership lists up to date. In this regard we have a large number of individuals who asked to go on our mailing list but have not become members. We would like to hear from these doctors as to their wish to join or not.

Also as a result of decisions at the AGM, you will find that our Annual Report is on the web page as well as additional Policy statements and the revised Constitution.

Thankyou for your support during 2004. Your DEA Committee wishes you a happy and fulfilling holiday season.