The recent Poznan meeting on climate change produced thousands of statements but little progress. In sifting through the deluge of words, one fundamental issue emerges, the conflicting views of developing and developed nations. This has human rights and ethical connotations. To illustrate the issue I will discuss statements from Evo Morales, President of the Republic of Bolivia, from representatives of the Pacific countries and from a US ethicist representing Western thought. 

Climate Change: Save the Planet from Capitalism a statement delivered to the meeting in Poznan by Evo Morales Ayma, President of the Republic of Bolivia.

David Shearman

Telling words were uttered on the ABC TV 7.30 Report, 11 December. Asked about a forthcoming government statement on greenhouse gas emissions Mr Rudd said,

“And I'm sure when this is delivered, early next week, we'll get attacked from the left, from the right, we'll get attacked by various radical green groups saying that we haven't gone far enough because we haven't closed down the coal industry by next Thursday.”

O’Brien: I think that's a little unkind, but ...

 Mr. Rudd modified by saying

These principles must be put at the heart of any deal on global warming

Printed with permission of The independent Newspaper UK.
Wednesday, 10 December 2008

Sixty years ago today, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the cornerstone document created in the aftermath of unimaginable atrocities. This declaration, and the legal documents that stemmed from it, have helped us combat torture, discrimination and hunger. And now, this venerable document should guide us in the fight against one of the greatest challenges ever to face humankind: climate change.

By Gerard Ingham, Hepburn Springs

Editors note.  We receive many messages from our members asking what they can do to alleviate climate change and we frequently make suggestions to you for example GreenClinics shown on the DEA web page. We have a further suggestion for you based upon Hepburn a town of one hour north –west of Melbourne.  In 2005 the Hepburn Renewable Energy Association decided to establish a community owned wind farm that would help match the electricity needs of the Hepburn Shire. Permissions have now been granted for two 2 megawatt wind turbines with a total capacity of 4 megawatt of power, enough electricity for 2,300 homes, in Daylesford and Hepburn Springs.

The world of human endeavour has changed in the past few weeks and these few words, my own opinion, take stock of what this means for the natural environment. The new factors to be thrown into a revised equation of human health and survival are the financial crisis and the likely control of capitalism, the US election result and the emerging realism of China. It is possible to be very positive about these happenings. During the past fifteen years of unparalleled growth fuelled by consumerism, the ecological crisis has accelerated as evidenced by recent WWF and other reports. The journey towards catastrophe was unlikely to be arrested under an uncontrolled market economy. The excesses of capitalism have now brought unemployment and financial difficulty to the West and will increase poverty and famine in the less fortunate countries. Indeed, evidence for these sequelae is emerging already. Five months ago the international community promised $12 billion for the global food emergency but today less than $1 billion has been delivered. Contrast this figure with the $70 billion that the New York bankers will pay to themselves this year in blithe indifference to their recent deeds!

In September, the International Society of Doctors for the Environment (ISDE), Physicians for Social Responsibility and International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War presented a workshop at the UN Department of Public Information in Paris.

Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) is a member of ISDE and Graeme Horton, member of DEA Management Committee presented a paper on Climate Change. Below are the summaries of the presentations

Introduction - Cathey E. Falvo, MD--Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights addresses the rights to health (a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (WHO)) and emphasizes the special care that is necessary for motherhood and childhood. Health and well being of the population and especially children can not occur in the face of environmental degradation.  Environmental health threats come from many sources, some of which will be addressed by the workshop.