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To: State and Federal Environment Ministers

Environment ministers: adopt the strictest air pollution controls possible

My husband died from air pollution. He died in my arms.

Air pollution is killing us. It kills 3000 Australians every year, and coal is the main contributor. Toxic PM 2.5 and PM 10 particles get in our bodies. They makes us sick and they cost lives.

These toxic particles get in through your lungs. Through your eyes. Through your pores. They will find any weak spot in your capillaries and make them weaker. It's getting inside us and destroying our veins and arteries.

We know the conditions our state environment ministers want to implement are inadequate, dangerous and a total sell-out to the coal industry. It will not save lives. These negotiations have taken ten years to come around and it looks like we are about to waste them.

Next week on December 15th, environment ministers from each Australian state and territory will meet to discuss new particle pollution standards, and to finalise a new Clean Air Agreement.

Ministers must stand up to the mining industry and adopt the strictest possible standards for toxic PM 10 and PM 2.5 particles.

-- I am part of an organisation called Voices of the Valley, who work to protect and inform the LaTrobe Valley community. You can join us at http://www.votv.org.au/ --

Why is this important?

Air pollution is a silent and invisible killer, directly responsible for the premature deaths of 3000 Australians each year, and afflicting thousands more. Even at levels that are undetectable by smell, noxious gases and particles in the air can impact your health.

Air pollution is a direct cause of many common life-threatening illnesses including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary cancer, leukaemia, birth defects and immune system defects, cardiovascular problems, heart disease and stroke, liver and other types of cancer.

Currently, communities like mine in Morwell, state governments, and the public health care system are unfairly left to bear the burden of air pollution-related illnesses and environmental problems. Polluters like GDF Suez Energy, the owners of the Hazelwood mine, have shown that they won't clean up their act on their own - we need a strong legal framework in order to enforce our rights to a clean environment free of pollution.

Please sign the petition and lend your voice to all individuals and communities who are impacted by air pollution.

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Updates

2015-12-12 20:46:17 +1100

10,000 signatures reached

2015-12-11 15:45:16 +1100

5,000 signatures reached

2015-12-11 12:51:27 +1100

1,000 signatures reached

2015-12-11 12:43:22 +1100

500 signatures reached

2015-12-11 12:38:06 +1100

100 signatures reached

2015-12-11 12:36:56 +1100

50 signatures reached

2015-12-11 12:36:25 +1100

25 signatures reached

2015-12-11 12:35:30 +1100

10 signatures reached