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Doctors for the Environment (Australia) - DEA

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DEA PowerPoint, The Science & Health Impacts of Climate Change

DEA with Professor Garnaut

Doctors for the Environment Australia Management Committee met with Professor Ross Garnaut author of the Garnaut Climate Change Review in Adelaide, November 5 2009.
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Things To Do

How to make your household and business carbon neutral
Click here. A charter for all medical practitioners by Bill Castleden

DEA in the Community

GreenClinics

This initiative by ACF and DEA assists doctors and practice managers to identify simple changes they can make in their clinics to save energy and water, reduce waste, and help their patients and communities to live more sustainable and healthy lives. download...

Public Transport is a Climate Change and Health Issue

To read DEA's "A Public Transport and Green City Manifesto for the Federal Election" Click Here and to read "Moving Australians Sustainably, transport policy in the national interest" courtesy of the Public Transport Users Association. Click Here

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News from the Secretary 31 October 2004

Submitted by David Shearman on Tue, 02/11/2004 - 20:32. News about DEA

This report will summarise the main decisions and issues at the Management Committee Meeting and the Annual General Meeting held on Saturday 16th October at the Medical School, Brisbane.

Changes to the Management Committee
Peter Mansfield resigned as Treasurer and Linda Selvey as Committee Member. The meeting expressed thanks to Peter and Linda for their service and contributions. Sarah Morton and Nick Towle had joined the Committee and Sarah Morton agreed to take on the role of Treasurer. It was agreed that the Committee would otherwise remain unchanged. Glen Morris attended the meetings as web master.

Decisions by the Management Committee and AGM
The accounts were approved. Income exceeds expenditure but since October 16th 2994 we have been informed that our insurance will increase and it is clear that we must maintain our recruitment of financial members to pay for this impost.

The revised Constitution was approved. This will be posted on the web site and Members will find that it is simpler and more readily understood than the previous Constitution. The categories of membership are clearly defined and Medical Students are admitted as full Members without payment of dues.

The Secretary reported on a large number of activities undertaken by the Management Committee. It was agreed that this report would form the basis for an Annual Report to be posted on the web page for open access.

The Children’s Health Policy is nearing completion and a draft for discussion will be posted on the web page soon.

The establishment of a Merchant facility for membership payments was approved thus allowing upgrading of the Membership application page.

The web page www.dea.org.au
The quality of the new web page will be improved in the near future with more information and graphics . The student section will be organised by Sarah and Nick who will be responsible for uploading educational items.

To improve communication and interaction between Members, e-lists will be established. An initial e-list for the Management Committee will be established. Thereafter, a list will be set up for discussion of the Childhood Health Policy. Finally an e-list for the members of each State will be established to facilitate their interaction.

State committees.
A State Committee had been successfully established in WA by Bill Castleden but the Management Committee felt that there was now urgency in establishing these Committees in the other States. These Committees would have the task of liasing on State Government matters, for example by introducing themselves to the State Department of the Environment and thereby seek membership of Committees. Their second task would be to recruit members for DEA from that State. It is important that Members wishing to be involved identify themselves to their State Representative.

Medical Student Initiative.
The need to continue to recruit student members would be a priority. In this regard we were very grateful to Professor Ian Lowe for his excellent lecture give after the AGM. There was an encouraging attendance of medical students enthusiastic both for the stimulating lecture and possibly also the wine and food courtesy of DEA! Quite a number of student members were recruited.

Community Education
Your Management Committee agreed that it would be important to develop a small initiative which could then develop gradually depending on resources and effect of the initiative. There was support for community education in waiting rooms. Material would not be released generally but would be circulated initially through contacts. Funding would be necessary for this project and we seek skills from within the Membership to assist with this proposal.

Media proposals
In general it was agreed that the modus operandi of DEA should continue to be one of direct contact with and briefing of politicians. We should not compromise this by getting into the media release and press article arena. In any event these offer little advantage and have distinct possibilities for inaccurate or adverse comment. There was general agreement with the proposal that we should make overtures to utilise programs on say Radio National to pursue some of our aims and other similar avenues would be considered.

Conclusions
It is three years since the incorporation of DEA and the Management Committee believes that DEA is now securely established and is making progress in making national contacts to influence the environmental and health debate. Our briefing of Ministers and Members of Parliament suggests that we are well received and are gaining access where other organisations may not have succeeded. With your assistance, we will build upon these beginnings. The Committee is enthusiastic about our prospects and would like to thank Members for their continued support.

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