I'm writing this post to alert CSH members to this motion (#370) which is on the agenda of the British Medical Association's Annual Representatives' Meeting tomorrow morning, on climate advocacy and divestment from fossil fuel companies.  The BMA will be voting on whether or not to divest from the world's major fossil fuel companies. Myself and a couple of others have drafted this 2-page briefing document, and it would be fantastic if you could share it with anyone you know who'll be voting at the meeting. 

Should the BMA commit to divestment, this would help set a valuable precedent for other groups, building on the momentum created by the Fossil Free campaign internationally. A 'yes' vote would make the BMA the first ever national medical or nursing organ isation to divest from fossil fuels!

For those on twitter, please take a few minutes to tweet before 11am if tomorrow, using the #ARMlive hashtag and the URL for the briefing (http://tinyurl.com/divestmentbriefing). Below are some example tweets to save you time - though feel free to come up with your own of course!

• Fingers crossed that @TheBMA members will vote to #divest from fossil fuels & tackle #climate change!http://tinyurl.com/divestmentbriefing #ARMlive  
• Calling voting members @TheBMA #ARMlive, please vote for a healthier, low CO2 future! Briefing (for motion 370): http://tinyurl.com/divestmentbriefing
• #ARMlive members: agree that @TheBMA's investments shouldn't worsen #climatechange & #pollution? Please support M370! http://tinyurl.com/divestmentbriefing

The briefing document summarises the various arguments - both health-focused and financial - in favour of such a move, as well as giving some wider context (an argument made succinctly by Bill McKibben here, and in Alistair Wardrope's recent blog on the topic for Healthy Planet UK).

Please do get in touch if you're interested in starting up discussions about divestment within organisations you're involved in, such as Royal Colleges or even NHS Trusts, it would be great to hear from you.

Hi,

This year's Green Nephrology Summit was held at Guy's Hospital in London on 25th September. Once again, we were a good mix of clinicians (docs, nurses, physios), technicians, patients, industry representatives and interested others...

The Department of Health and the National Institute for Health Research Devices for Dignity Healthcare Technology Co-operative (NIHR D4D HTC) are collaborating to launch a new Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition to find innovative technology based solutions in Kidney Care. The focus is on technologies that can make a difference to patients over the whole spectrum of kidney disease ranging from earlier diagnosis and prevention through to treatment of advanced stages of kidney failure. An important goal would be to promote patient empowerment and/or sustainable practices throughout the patient care pathway. 

The 2013 Green Nephrology Award (for sustainability initiatives in kidney units) went to joint winners, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and Bradford Teaching Hospitals. Both kidney units demonstrated significant environmental as well as financial savings, while maintaining the quality of care for dialysis patients. 

This is the yearly get-together of the Green Nephrology Network, where ideas and experiences are exchanged for sustainable kidney care. Everyone is welcome. This year's programme covers best practice examples such as laboratory eGFR screening and exercise programmes in CKD, as well as debates on how to get your clinical director on board, building patient networks, and whether to abandon plastic cannisters of acid concentrate in favour of bulk systems.