Safeguarding the health of future generations

The planet will continue to revolve in the face of declining ecosystem health and diversity, but how will the human species fare in 20, or 200, years? Is there a health framework to resist the free market call to relentless expansion, economic growth and profit? What is our role as doctors in advocating for the voiceless, future inhabitants of this planet?

These were some of the questions raised at a recent forum at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, sponsored by Doctors for the Environment Australia (www.dea.org.au) and joined by Professors Ben Marais, Elizabeth Elliott, Angus Dawson and David Isaacs. Professor Marais argued for the reimagining of the traditional framework of medical ethics to include a “third dimension”, where the rights of future generations would be considered and factored into decision making across all sectors, perhaps even warranting an advisory panel to consider their specific interests.

The event also featured an awards ceremony for Doctors for the Environment Australia’s inaugural national nature photography competition, “People, country, planetary health”. The competition was an initiative which sought to make tangible the connection between our health and that of the ecosystem in which we live. Some of the winning entries are shown across these pages.

Student first prize and Student people’s choice award – Uluru star trail
Photographer: Dan Lack

General people’s choice award — Moving house, Flores, Indonesia
Photographer: Anthea Katelaris

General first prize — Brinkley’s Bluff, 80 km west of Alice Springs
Photographer: Rosalie Schultz

General second prize — At Port Willunga Beach
Photographer: Ingo Weber

Student second prize — Plitviče Lakes National Park, Croatia
Photographer: Marie Smith