TWENTY-SIX Herefordshire family doctors have signed a letter to the Hereford Times expressing their dismay at politicians' response to what they describe as "looming environmental disaster.
Although they say they will not be taking part in protest strikes being held today and next week, they support those taking action and encourage others to join them.
In their letter the doctors say that as caring professionals they oppose policies that push the world towards "environmental catastrophe".
"We are particularly alarmed by the risk of damage to physical and mental health on an unprecedented scale."
They add: "Our unchecked consumption, dependence on fossil fuels and decimation of ecosystems continue. The diagnosis is clear and the treatment urgent. Yet politicians prevaricate and global emissions still rise."
The doctors' letter in full:
Dear Editor
We, the undersigned, are all family doctors of Herefordshire, and we are united by our distress at the lack of response to looming environmental disaster.
On Friday 20th and Friday 27th September, millions of people across the world, including many in Herefordshire, will walk out of their workplaces and homes to join young climate strikers on the streets and demand an end to the age of fossil fuels and climate justice for all.
As health care workers we are not taking an active part in the climate strikes but we stand in solidarity with those who are taking this action, and encourage all those who are able to join this action themselves.
As caring professionals we oppose current policies that push the world’s most vulnerable towards environmental catastrophe. We are particularly alarmed by the risk of damage to physical and mental health on an unprecedented scale.
Present policies and responses are woefully inadequate. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that we have only 11 years to halve global emissions to meet their 1.5C target, yet last year our global emissions rose yet again. It will be a massive task to avoid catastrophic warming and we need radical action now. Our unchecked consumption, dependence on fossil fuels and decimation of ecosystems continue. The diagnosis is clear and the treatment urgent. Yet politicians prevaricate and global emissions still rise.
Our Governments are failing to take proper responsibility and currently are pursuing grossly inadequate policies that risk environmental collapse. Non-violent direct action then becomes the reasonable choice for responsible individuals.
We urge government and media to respond immediately and proportionately.
Yours sincerely
Dr Amy Larkins
Dr Andy Watts
Dr Cath Laird
Dr Clare Jones
Dr David Milsom
Dr Debra Corbett
Dr Diana Majeed
Dr Dominic Horne
Dr Erica Sibley
Dr Esther Scotland
Dr Geoff Corbett
Dr George Hobbs
Dr Jeremy Gray
Dr Jessica Powell
Dr Jill Goodfellow
Dr John Stevenson
Dr Laura Handscombe
Dr Mark Turnbull
Dr Mark Waters
Dr Paul Harris
Dr Sarah Newey
Dr Sarah Schofield
Dr Simon Lennane
Dr Sue Clegg
Dr Val Goodger
Dr Verity Wilkins
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