News from the Secretary and the Chairman, April 2005
How does Doctors for the Environment operate?
This question is frequently asked by members and by others. Some may have the impression that we are trying to be yet another environmental NGO that operates by press releases, lobbying and the media. This is not so. It is our role to describe, using scientific and medical data, the impact on human health of environmental degradation and pollution. We explain these impacts to our colleagues and students, to the public, to industry and commerce and to our elected representatives and to government. This must not be confused with “lobbying”. We are not “lobbying” our students or any of these groups. Rather we provide briefings based on our scientific and medical expertise. The definition of lobbying (New Oxford Dictionary of English) is “a group of people seeking to influence politicians or public officials on a particular issue” Yes we are a group of people and we are briefing politicians on health issues. But so do the Cancer Council, the nutritionalists, geriatricians and other groups with specialist expertise. All provide important information that politicians can use in making their decisions The definition of lobbying implies influence on voting...This is not our role. Doctors for the Environment is non party political. Our membership includes members of the Liberal, Labor, Democrat and Green Parties. We have no difficulty in working together to prepare policy for the agenda is environmental health, not a political one!
Then how do we operate with government and politicians?
We prepare policies, which you can find on out web page. We try to work within this policy framework. We prepare briefings based on scientific data for Members of Parliaments and Ministers. We try to meet them informally and we do not quote them or put out press releases. To give one illustration, we prepared a short briefing for some rural Federal members prior to the recent Federal election. This reviewed the likely effect of climate change on the Members’ constituents and outlined some of the expected consequences on health and wellbeing. Having heard our briefing one of these Members insisted that we see a senior minister about this issue and arranged the appointment! After some of our meetings we have been asked to provide further information or references which suggests that our work is welcomed.
Essentially our role is facilitatory. Government has policies to reduce greenhouse emissions. Green house is an important health issue. We make suggestions to governments that may or may not improve the efficacy of their program. The decisions are theirs.
How do we operate with colleagues and students? No differently to above. Medical and environmental science is a universal truth, On the second of May some of our student members at ANU organised a wonderful meeting on health and environmental sustainability with three international speakers. THIS IS THE AGENDA OF DEA, explanation, education and commitment to the health and well being of all Australians.
How do we involve ourselves with the community? We believe that individuals must take some responsibility for their health and much of health education promotes this. Of course this responsibility must extend to care of the environment in which we all live. The same principles extend to energy saving to reduce greenhouse in order to provide a healthier world for our children. Doctors for the Environment is actively seeking funds to commence an education program in Doctors waiting rooms that explains to the general public the links between environment and health and aims to influence personal behaviour
At our Annual General meeting in Brisbane last October he secretary was asked to prepare a statement on our modus operandi for the web page. Pressure of DEA work has prevented this from happening so far. However please regard this statement as the forerunner of that modus operandi statement. Please send comments and suggestions to either of us before we prepare the final document.
David Shearman, Hon. Secretary
Bill Castleden Chairman