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9 The Future Belongs To You 9 Contributed by ACMI (WA Branch) 'Midwives Role in the Environment' Midwives by their very na- ture are nurturing people and are well fitted to care for the environ- ment and to nurture the earth for posterity. There is not much future in as- sisting to create healthy families and contented mothers and babies if the environment in which they are to live is not safe, pleasant, infinite and compatible with reproduction of the species. As midwives we have a duty to care for our clients, our profession and most importantly to ourselves. Each hospital is a microcosm of the society in which we live and we must all take a long and responsible look at our workplace and the world at large. The environmental issues we must address are: 1 Education 2 Safety 3 Conservation 1 Education - first we must raise our own awareness of environ- mental issues and only then can we confidently educate our peers and our clients. 2 Safety - we must maintain safe workplaces and look hard at the pollutants there and how they may affect ourselves, colleagues and clients. Examples to consider are: Self-administered - tobacco, including side stream smoking, alcohol and other drugs. Industrial - X-Rays, cleaning materials, use and disposal of toxic, antiseptic and antibiotic materials and exhaust anaesthetic gases. Atmospheric emissions: - motor vehicle exhausts and indus- trial gases Damage to ozone layer- use of fluorocarbons in pressure pack sprays causing the greenhouse effect Nuclear disaster - be it industrial or war time. Note here that adolescents per- ceive a very pessimistic view of the future of this world due to the threat of nuclear war and the greenhouse phenomenon and this has been cited as a cause for the rapid increase in teenage suicides. We ask you to think of how raising of a family in this environment is therefore per- ceived by this group, our future clients. 3 Conservation- examine the paper we waste every day, as in single sided photocopying, for ex- ample. Think of the trees that it takes to create this waste. Set up your own workplace Environmental Awareness group to examine use of "disposable" items, plastics and non-biode- gradable products, recycling of newspapers and efficient use of paper, water and other finite resources. Plan a tree-planting program within each hospital, perhaps in co-operation with a children' s group such as the Boy Scouts, or your local school so that by association, they see adults who care for their future. Take pleasure in your environ- ment, evoke an emotional and psychological response with the earth. Join forces with others who share concern for these issues and shout loudly when your voice is needed. Sheila Kitzinger said, "The right environment for birth is exactly the same as the environment in which to make love." There are so many environ- mental factors that affect the mother in the childbearing years that it would be impossible to adequately cover them in this simple statement - seek them out, become informed and active. The Future Belongs To YOU ACMI (WA Branch) acknowledges the following midwives for their contribution toward formulating this statement: 9 Liz Hearnden 9 Ruth Abberly 9 Coralie Hill 9 Di Hathaway 9 Reggie Lamb _ _ . 9 _Rob!!. I F'_flth Products 198S FEET-uS '~aF.. S'~L~- Co~NaCTE'b "To 'YouR. LE~c~-U~ ~N'b Se...F_r~ , "To BE IN PF._P.FEC"T CONI)IT, O~)t.! 9 Page 14 ACMI Journal, SEPTEMBER 1989
