Human Health Impacts of Open-cut Coal Mining & Coal Seam Gas Mining

Video recorded at the Forum in Sydney on 9 March 2011

Introduction & welcome: - John C Thomson (Lock The Gate Alliance)

Presenters

Dr Linda Selvey - Greenpeace Australia Pacific - who talks about the inextricable links between the health of the environment and human health.
Dr Dick van Steenis - Public Health Advocate from the United Kingdom - who talks about the impacts of open-cut coal-mining and coal-fired power stations on human health.
Dr Tuan Au - Singleton Medical Practitioner - who talks about the direct impacts of air open-cut coal mine and coal-fired power station air pollution on human development and health, with a focus on the health study that he is undertaking.
Dr Helen Redmond - Doctors for the Environment - who talks about the impacts of coal-seam gas water contaminants and the impacts on human health.

Moderator: Sean Gough (Lock the Gate Alliance, WAGE)

Location: NSW Teacher's Federation Auditorium, Sydney

Issues

the inextricable links between the health of the environment & human health.
impacts of open-cut coal mining & coal- fired power stations on human health.
the direct impacts of coal mine air pollution on human health.
coal seam gas water contamination issues
impacts on mental health for communities impacted by open-cut coal mining & csg mining.

Format: Presentations by individual experts, followed by a Q & A session.

Opening Statement - John C Thomson

John C. Thomson from the Lock the Gate Alliance introduces the panel at Human Health Impacts of Open-cut Coal Mining & Coal Seam Gas Mining

Dr Linda Selvey

Dr Linda Selvey - Greenpeace Australia Pacific - who talks about the inextricable links between the health of the environment and human health.

Dr Dick van Steenis

Dr Dick van Steenis - Public Health Advocate from the UK - who talks about the impacts of open-cut coal-mining and coal-fired power stations on human health.

Dr Tuan Au - Singleton GP - talks about the direct impacts of air open-cut coal mine and coal-fired power station air pollution on human development and health, with a focus on the health study he is undertaking.

Dr Helen Redmond

Dr Helen Redmond - Doctors for the Environment - who talks about the impacts of coal-seam gas water contaminants and the impacts on human health.

Q and A Session

Moderated by Sean Gough. Panel: Dr Linda Selvey (Greenpeace) - Dr Dick van Steenis (United Kingdom) - Dr Tuan Au (Singleton GP) - Dr Helen Redmond (Doctors for the Environment) and John C. Thomson (Lock The Gate Alliance).

Related Links

The Health Costs of Coal - Ignored By Governments for Too Long
Mark Ogge, Beyond Zero Emissions' director of operations, writes in The Newcastle Herald 24-Mar-2011:
In the last days of the New South Wales election campaign, a new study has been announced to investigate the health impacts of coal mining and combustion. While the climate changing impacts of coal are well understood, the adverse health effects on the community from mining and burning the fossil fuel are not. We have not yet woven a coherent understanding of the health and social impacts of the coal cycle in an Australian context.
Controversial chemical linked to colour blindness
Its use in the coal seam gas industry remains contentious and now a study presented at an ophthalmology congress has found the chemical toluene, to damage the cells of the retina responsible for colour perception.
Toluene is a ubiquitous solvent found in numerous consumer products as well as diesel and petrol. Toluene is also used by some coal seam gas operators to help fracture rock seams to extract gas.
A Dirty Business - ABC Four Corners report by Andrew Fowler
Australia might be riding on the coal miner's back but it seems many Australians are paying a terrible price for the mineral export boom. Reporter Andrew Fowler goes to the Hunter Valley in New South Wales to document a community in crisis.