Northern European Conference on Travel Medicine (NECTM)

Don't miss NECTM in Edinburgh, June 7-10, 2006. Offering an exciting and varied programme, one focus will be on global warming, natural disasters, and other environmental issues which may affect the health of travelers. There will also be sessions devoted to:

• Looking at travel health issues in a historical perspective (and possibly concluding that many of today's problems are not as dire as they may seem).
• Counterbalancing the perception among some people that travel medicine is mostly concerned with air travel by the rich from temperate to hot countries.
• Issues specific to sea travel and issues in cold/temperate countries.
• Clinical travel medicine, including malaria, vaccine preventable diseases, and risk assessments.
• Responsibilities of various members of the travel health team.
• Comparing travel medicine practices in different countries.

Time slots have been left for important topics that will arise at the last minute.

We hope many delegates will bring friends and family to enjoy some of the sites in Scotland. With this is mind, there will be two 'Welcome to Scotland' sessions and a family evening of light-hearted talks. Refreshments will be provided.

James Willis, a general practitioner from the UK who has a deep interest in and much knowledge concerning the long term future of our planet, has summarized the messages from his opening talk at NECTM. "Scientific evidence tells us that global warming is already having a dramatic effect on our world. And the warming is accelerating. Yet far from slowing down the known causes of this acceleration, mankind is making it more serious year by year. If some key policymakers pride themselves on their ignorance of scientific concepts such as positive feedback, their children are going to be the ones who are affected.

"Every single one of us carries a responsibility to tackle the issue and to show politicians where their duty lies. We either start putting on the brakes now or we go over the precipice. Never has "short term-ism" and self interest been more obviously foolish. And while the tourist industry clearly has a lot to lose in the short term, in the long term travelers and those who stay at home are all in the same boat.

"We are not talking about necessarily returning to the Stone Age. In fact, it is quite possible for all of us in the global village to have a rich and rewarding life in a way which is ecologically sustainable. But we have to start now and make substantial changes in the way we conduct our affairs in relation to our environment. It would be wonderful, and appropriate, if the tourist and travel industry were to take a responsible lead."

NECTM Edinburgh is now open for registration and abstract submission at www.nectm.com. The full conference program, venue and accommodation information are also available at that address. ISTM looks forward to seeing you in Scotland - you will be made most welcome.