|
Dr van Steenis Dishes the Dirt on Dust! |
 |
 |
 |
|
Written by Pauline
|
|
Tuesday, 08 December 2009 11:31 |
|
 As expected, this international Coal Pollution Expert's visit to Caroona did not disappoint.
Dr van Steenis calmly explained the threat to health caused by small particle dusts generated by coal mining, processing, transport and coal-fired power plants. It's a real, demonstrable threat to our community's health backed by an increasing number of peer-reviewed studies and the health statistics coming out of The Hunter. The danger particles are those smaller than 2.5 microns of which the mining process produces billions. These tiny particles get into the lungs and with repeated exposure lead to chronic lung disease and lung cancer. We now know why chronic lung problems (eg. chronic pulmonary obstructive disease COPD) are endemic in the Hunter Valley. The science shows that babies and children are affected the most and we know that the NSW government has only just started to collect the data on this particle size, preferring in the past, despite the mounting evidence, to concentrate on the less-hazardous 10 micron sizes. Armed with the facts, the science and the indisputable evidence that coal costs our community, it is clear that health resources can never meet the growing casualties of coal-based pollution, no matter how much money is poured by these polluting businesses into healthcare. Lung problems are just the tip of the dirty coal-health iceberg that Dr van Steenis revealed. Coal production adds to NSW revenue - but now the spotlight will be focused on how much it COSTS too. Stayed tuned....... |
|
Last Updated on Tuesday, 08 December 2009 12:34 |
|
|
International Pollution Expert visits Caroona to Warn of Coal Health Impacts |
|
|
|
|
Written by rod
|
|
Friday, 04 December 2009 19:22 |
 Hear him speak: Monday 7th December at 7.00pm Caroona Hall, all welcome.
One of the world’s leading experts in the health impacts of industrial pollution, Dr Dick van Steenis, is visiting Caroona to highlight the harmful impacts that coal-related industries have been shown to have on human and animal health.
Dr van Steenis, who studied pollution science at Harvard and authored the UK Coal Health Study, has been researching the causes of death and chronic disease from dusts generated by coal mines, power stations and incinerators for over 15 years.
His ground-breaking research on coal mining in Wales in the early 1990s found that the rate of asthma puffer use in children was directly proportional to how close they lived to a coal mine.
SOS Liverpool Plains invites you hear this medical doctor and scientist give the FULL story of how coal mining causes health impacts on young and old. [Full press release] |
|
Last Updated on Saturday, 05 December 2009 14:05 |
|
Senate Enquiry into Food Production Reports |
|
|
|
|
Written by Pauline
|
|
Sunday, 29 November 2009 11:45 |
After 153 submissions and numerous public hearings across the country, Chairman of the Senate Food Production Enquiry, Senator Bill Heffernan, tabled three interim reports from this Enquiry today. The second report discusses concerns raised in relation to proposed coal and gas exploration and mining/drilling on the Liverpool Plains area of NSW and the potential for these developments to adversely impact on agricultural activities in the area.
 In a balanced and perceptive review of all the submissions, the committee stated it "believes that prime agricultural land needs to be protected from mining developments." Further, "preservation of these productive lands and finite water systems is clearly of national significance."
The committee makes the following recommendation: "..that the NSW Government investigate the total prohibition of mining under the floodplains of the Liverpool Plains and other areas of the state where similar conditions prevail, especially where evidence indicates that there will be damage to the floodplain or aquifers and the agricultural productive capacity of the floodplain in question."
We would like to thank all the Senators involved in this Enquiry for their support in maintaining our highly productive food bowl for the future of all Australians. |
|
Last Updated on Sunday, 29 November 2009 17:59 |
|
|
NO GAS in Murray Darling Basin Water |
|
|
|
|
Written by Pauline
|
|
Sunday, 29 November 2009 17:10 |
A new report into the CSG fields of the Surat Basin in QLD shows that CSG-associated water removal can lower water levels in adjacent aquifers depleting supplies to other users; increase inter-aquifer transfer of groundwater as the coal measures are depressurised and impact surface water unless strict management controls are imposed. No surprises there!
Importantly, it also states "Inclusion of the impacts of other neighbouring CSG producers should be done to quantify the cumulative impacts on the system" which is precisely what a catchment-wide water study will ensure here rather than the current, environmentally-catastrophic project-by-project assessments. They've suggested it but will the QLD government listen?
The Warrah Creek area will be having one of its Upper Mooki Landcare meetings on Thursday 3rd December at the Warrah Creek Hall at 5.30pm. Particular attention will be paid to the threat to agricultural water supplies from gas mining (including current exploration activities) at that meeting. All welcome. |
|
Last Updated on Sunday, 29 November 2009 17:24 |
|
Just Transition Tour visits Blockade |
|
|
|
|
Written by rod
|
|
Friday, 27 November 2009 21:23 |
A busload of 25 enthusiastic and articulate young people converged on The Blockade on Saturday evening after visiting a series of coal-affected communities throughout The Hunter and Gloucester regions. The stalwart Clift and Duddy families were there to greet them and to explain why this community had no choice but to take direct action. On their way to State and Federal Parliaments, these informed campaigners for green jobs saw for themselves the devastation visited upon communities, water resources and previously prime agricultural land by this polluting industry. 
We are grateful for their support and wish them well in raising awareness of how renewable energy solutions can save jobs, enhance the Australian economy and do away with dirty, filthy never-will-be-clean coal. See here for a blog following their visit. |
|
Last Updated on Friday, 27 November 2009 21:43 |
|
|
|
|
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next > End >>
|
|
Page 7 of 25 |