Climate Change a Worry for Doctors
The Weekend Australian, Dec 6, 2008.
"Although the public accepts that climate change is a major issue that must be addressed in the interest of the world's environment and future economy, many health professionals have asked: what has climate change to do with health?"
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Coal is a Health Hazard
Coal is an expensive form of energy. The costs of its pollution will be paid for by this and future generations. Its pollutants affect all major organs in the body and contribute to four of the five leading causes of mortality - heart disease, cancer, stroke, and chronic respiratory diseases.
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Doctors on Global Warming: It’s About Health and Security 2009
The advertising campaign of the coal industry could be described at best as disingenuous and against the public health interest. Coal burning is the main cause of the rise in global greenhouse gas emissions, and the health impacts of climate change are now a priority of the World Health Organisation.
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A People’s Bank Needed to Save the Rural Sector. 2009
Although the Australian banks have not soiled their nests and everyone else’s, like many international banks, pragmatic reform is needed.
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The Medical Profession and Environmentalism
This paper was written in 2002 soon after DEA was formed and was intended as a summary of the reasons for our formation.
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Populate and Perish
"We have to move to 21st century thinking. Governments must look at what science can offer in determining the ecological carrying capacity of our rapidly changing environment."
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Climate change: How do we lead the blind?
"The reality is that climate change of the order and time frames predicted by climate scientists poses fundamental questions of human security, survival and the stability of nation states which necessitate judgments about political and strategic risk as well as economic cost."
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Climate change and the failure of the democratic system
ISOS conference, Canberra 2003.
"Humanity has difficulty responding to threats that will impact beyond a lifetime. Our individual psychological mechanisms of denial of major threats and the ideology that prevents collective action have been reviewed. Despite these impediments many in the community have recognised the threat."
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Climate change, is democracy enough?
"Perhaps the most significant news last week on the climate change front was the announcement that plastic shopping bags will be banned in China in six months' time. Let me analyse why this is so significant."
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Kyoto: One tiny step for humanity
"Last month has seen a celebration of the commencement of the Kyoto Agreement to reduce greenhouse emissions. It would be equally appropriate to have a wake for the past decade of argument needed to introduce this tiny step. Its target is a few per cent reduction compared to the scientific consensus of a 60 per cent reduction needed if greenhouse emissions are to be stabilised."
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Democracy and climate change: A story of failure
"It seems that some of the most perceptive brains in society have given up on an effective response to climate change. Stephen Hawking infers that mankind should colonise distant planets. James Lovelock thinks the remnants of humanity will seek refuge on the tropical shores of the Arctic."
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Time and tide wait for no man
British Medical Journal, 2002 325:1466-1468
"Humanity is making little progress in solving the global issues of war, famine, poverty, environmental destruction, population overload, and climate change that increasingly threaten its wellbeing, health, and survival. The national and international responses to all these major problems are totally inadequate, and the medical profession should be active in seeking remedies."
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