Global | Film Festival to Shine Spotlight on Health Costs of Coal

Global | Film Festival to Shine Spotlight on Health Costs of Coal

International health and environmental advocates will host a mini festival of award-winning short films that highlight the health and social effects of coal. As part of the festival, the Healthy Energy Initiative will be presenting three short films produced by its partners in Australia, the Philippines, and South Africa. Other films will explore coal development in Russia and China. Together, these are some of the largest coal-producing countries in the world.

The December 7th Paris event coincides with the second week of the United Nations Climate Conference (COP21). As world …

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Philippines | Health Sector Leaders Endorse Paris Platform for Healthy Energy

Philippines | Health Sector Leaders Endorse Paris Platform for Healthy Energy

Photo Courtesy Office of Senator Loren Legarda

Manila, Philippines — Few days after the 2nd anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan and 20 days before the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris this December, health sector leaders from the Philippines called for stronger commitments for climate mitigation by phasing out coal and other fossil fuels and shifting to renewable energy to protect both human health and the global climate.

Health Care Without Harm (HCWH)-Asia, together with different health sector organizations and leaders in the Philippines, launched the Paris …

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Philippines | Recent study shows health impacts of coal felt by local communities

HCWH-Asia’s Healthy Energy Initiative with residents living near a coal-fired power plant in Masinloc, Zabales

A recent study revealed that communities in the Philippines hosting coal-fired power plants are already experiencing negative impacts on their health, environmental conditions, economic situation, and over-all wellbeing. The results of this study provide solid support for Health Care Without Harm-Asia‘s Healthy Energy Initiative’s public health-driven push for the phasing out of coal and other fossil fuel-based energy sources and for shifting to healthier, cleaner, and more climate-friendly renewable …

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Philippines | Deaths of workers in Semirara show that coal mining is a health risk too

Detailed astronaut photograph of the northern end of Semirara Island (Public domain photo from Wikipedia)

The death of at least six coal mine workers in Semirara Island in Antique on July 17 served as a tragic reminder that coal mining is an inherently dangerous occupation with health risks that cannot be ignored, said environmental health organization Health Care Without Harm-Asia. Most of the time, the impacts of coal combustion on human health, such as respiratory diseases resulting from air pollution, receive the greatest attention, but …

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Philippines | Health must be considered in climate policy and energy choices

UK Embassy’s Charges d’Affaires Steph Lysaght gives his opening remarks

Health Care Without Harm-Asia’s Healthy Energy Initiative participated in a roundtable forum on the intersection of climate change, energy, and public health co-hosted by the British Embassy in Manila and Philippine Department of Health. Entitled “Opening the Human Security Lens to Climate Change and Energy,” the event aimed to launch a conversation and create synergies between the health, energy, and environment sectors to define urgent and collaborative actions needed to address climate change’s impact on …

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Philippines | HCWH-Asia and healthy energy partners laud Norway’s divestment from coal

HCWH-Asia’s Healthy Energy Initiative and students of the Asian Medical Students’ Association-Philippines joined the Defend Zambales movement in front of a coal-fired power plant in Bani Point, Oyon Bay, Masinloc, Zambales.

Together with its partners for healthy energy, Health Care Without Harm (HCWH)-Asia celebrates a major triumph against fossil fuel with Norway’s recent divestment from coal.

“Norway’s move to divest from coal is an important contribution to both mitigating climate change and protecting the public’s health,” said Dr. Renzo Guinto, campaigner of the Healthy Energy …

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Philippines | Communities Hosting Coal Plants Learn About Coal’s Health Effects, Advocate For “Healthy Energy”

Community leaders from the municipalities of Mariveles and Limay in Bataan province called for putting an end to coal use to protect human health and the environment.

As part of its latest campaign Healthy Energy Initiative, Health Care Without Harm (HCWH)-Asia, in partnership with Coal Free Bataan Movement (CFBM) and Defend Zambales (DZ), recently conducted a series of seminar-workshops on coal and health, which aimed to raise community awareness and build consensus around the impacts of coal on human health. More than a hundred …

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Philippines | Health Care Without Harm-Asia Calls for a Shift to Healthier, Renewable Energy on Earth Day

Dr. Renzo Guinto (in black), Campaigner of Health Care Without Harm-Asia’s Healthy Energy Initiative, with climate justice activists and pro-renewable energy advocates

In commemoration of Earth Day, Health Care Without Harm-Asia, through its Healthy Energy Initiative, joined hands with climate justice groups, nongovernmental organizations, and grassroots people’s movement in launching Power for People (P4P), a year-long campaign that seeks to intensify the push for Renewable Energy (REnergy) Transformation in the Philippines.

The P4P campaign builds on the Davao Declaration, which was signed by various civil …

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Philippines | Climate, Energy, and Health Sectors Find the ‘Nexus’ and Shape Common Agenda

Leaders from the Philippine climate, energy, and health sectors jointly navigate the nexus and build a common agenda

As part of its newly-launched Healthy Energy Initiative, Health Care Without Harm (HCWH)-Asia, together with its new partner OML Center for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management Foundation, convened a roundtable discussion entitled “NEXUS: Shaping a Common Agenda for Climate, Energy, and Health” on April 10, 2015.

The event gathered leaders from the climate, energy, and health sectors in the Philippines to launch a national conversation and develop a …

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Philippines | HCWH Calls on French and Philippine Presidents to Include Health in Climate Treaty

Health Care Without Harm-Asia (HCWH-Asia), called on French President Francois Hollande and Philippine President Benigno Aquino III to “not forget public health as a central element in climate action – climate justice is health justice.”

Hollande, who will be arriving in Manila on Thursday, February 26, is on a state visit to, among others, “highlight the Philippines as a partner in the fight against climate change,” according to the website of the French Embassy.

In December, France is hosting the 21st Conference of Parties …

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