A PRESS RELEASE in April by  our parent organisation ISDE called for a total ban on the use of artificial food additives in children’s food and drinks. It said

Recently published research in the Lancet [1] has shown conclusively that certain artificial colourants and flavourings can induce behavioural changes in children consuming them. Professor Vyvyan Howard of the University of Ulster, President of ISDE and an internationally recognised toxicologist, said “The UK FSA is to be congratulated on acting on the results of Professor Stephenson’s research by asking for the EU-wide banning of six food colourants from infant foods. These chemicals have no nutritional value. A number of the colourants are in fact aniline dyes made from coal tar. ISDE supports Professor Stephenson’s recent statement calling for the removal of these additives in foods destined for consumption by children but ISDE feels that this is an opportunity to examine the whole topic of food additives in children’s food. On a purely precautionary basis they should be discontinued. We personally don’t feed any of these to our 2 year old daughter, Hannah”.

by David Shearman. A personal view

I was not at the 2020 summit, nor did I apply. Therefore my comments relate entirely to the written report, the submissions and the press comments of others who were there

My attention was attracted by a comment from Tony Windsor, Independent member for the Federal seat of New England     On AM he said “I'm glad I was here, slightly disappointed in the terms of the climate change debate. I think we could have probably done a bit more, particularly in terms of renewable energy, those sorts of issues. I think there was probably a greater expectation out there in terms of the urgency and really pushing the issue”. Then he added something about conflict between persons representing renewable energy and Extrata Mining at the meeting. The latter was excluded from the RN AM transcript and audio.

Doctors for the Environment Australia has had many requests for help from members regarding sustainability in their hospitals. Most say that it is difficult to find sources of information.

In relation to greenhouse emissions from public hospitals, this is a state responsibility and i have been unable to find any overall strategy from the Federal government. Some states seem to be taking the matter seriously, others do not. Overall it is not clear what is happening in private hospitals and this needs to be explored further.

In South Australia I was told that  all engineering options in energy saving had been instituted and the next advance would be the building of the large new hospital in Adelaiade which would have energy saving features. Of course this statement worries me for  the greenhouse cost of a huge new building must be includied in the equation and I am not sure that it has.

Our parent organisation International Society of Doctors for the Environment has some expertise in this area through other national groups. Cathy Falvo of the USA Physicians for Social responsibility has supplied a list of sites worth reviewing  for what ideas are available outside Australia.

If members have other sources of information please send them to me and i will add them to this article.

Useful sites

Healthcare Without Harm

by Dr Sue Wareham, President, Medical Association for Prevention of War (Australia)

Editors note
We are very pleased to be able to publish this article. The twin pillars of destruction that threaten our lives are war and ecological collapse and they are intertwined in their causes and effects. Within DEA's sphere of expertise, climate change, Bill Castleden has pointed out in a 2020 submission that "The US Defence Department is that country’s largest single consumer of energy, and is probably the single largest consumer in the world." and  "A global movement to reduce the carbon emissions of the military and to cut arms spending could make the global quest for carbon emission reductions a harbinger of more peaceful co-existence."

There is so much bad news on the environmental consequences of climate change that it is difficult to remain positive. Martin Williams sets a good example in positivity in his article below
This mornng I was approached by two young ladies from Jehovah's Kingdom who told me that armageddon was approaching because of global warming. When I said '"I agree" they were stunned and had no more to say. If I had read Martin William's article I would have been more positive. I feel a retrospective guilt!
This article will appear on the blog so please let us have your views
Editor

The interim report of the Garnaut Climate Change Review is a landmark. (for review see  "Desperate Times Call for Tough Leadership"” ABC News Opinion "http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/25/2171204.htm"

Professor Garnaut is an economist immersing himself in the scientific findings of the IPCC reports and writing that we need a 90% reduction in emissions by 2050 if we are to have a 50/50 chance of avoiding serious consequences.  Garnaut has suffered the same shock that comes to all those who spend many weeks going through the evidence.  He recognises that several consequences of climate change that were not predicted to occur 'till later this century are now upon us and global emissions are still accelerating. Action is now urgent.

by David Shearman

Doctors for the Environment Australia is in the business of educating and attempting to understand the human mind so we can enhance human health and wellbeing. One of our most difficult tasks is to understand the psyche of our closest ally the US. It is not a waste of time to put 'pen to paper', because strange as it may seem some of our articles and material is picked by web sites in the US.

The Bush era has been written off as the Dark Age for American contribution to the advancement of humanity but will it be any better after November 2008? Will the assault on North American biodiversity be curtailed and will the US government’s inaction and indeed obstruction of action on climate change be reversed? Wilderness areas and parks have been opened to oil exploration and logging; environmental protection has been rolled back.