PSR Monitor

Webinar Training on Harms from Gas Stoves

PSR invites you to attend our new webinar training, "Cooking With Gas: Health Harms from Gas Stoves." This training exposes the harmful air pollutants produced by gas stoves, their negative impacts on the human body, the exacerbated impacts on vulnerable populations, and how health professionals can help their patients reduce their risk. CME credit will be offered: this activity is approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit TM. Please join us on Tuesday, March 8th at 12pm EST. Contact Zach Williams (zwilliams@psr.org) with any questions regarding this training.

Fracking with "Forever Chemicals" in Colorado

PSR's newest report documents the frightening use of PFAS "forever chemicals" in oil and gas operations in Colorado. These chemicals are toxic, carcinogenic, and highly persistent in the environment. Not only that; gaps in the state's disclosure rules prevent the public from knowing how widely PFAS — or other toxic chemicals — have been used in oil and gas drilling and extraction. The report names names and provides maps pinpointing where PFAS have been used in Colorado, plus PSR's recommendations for policy reform to redress this toxic situation.

PSR Urges Delaware River Basin Commission to Ban Wastewater Dumping

Clean, safe drinking water is indispensable for life. And the cleanup of the Delaware River, which runs through New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, has been hailed as one of the world's top water-quality success stories. So why is the Delaware River Basin Commission waffling on protecting that vital watershed from fracking wastes? PSR has submitted comments to the Commission urging them to ban the importation of fracking wastes into the Basin, whether for dumping or for treatment.

Tell Congress to Take Climate Action Now

The most consequential climate legislation in U.S. history, the Build Back Better (BBB) Act, continues to languish in the U.S. Senate as the climate change health crisis worsens. The climate provisions in BBB would accelerate the deployment of renewable energy resources and invest in environmental justice communities, helping to foster an equitable clean energy economy. But without buy-in from our senators, our best chance at climate action will vanish. Therefore, PSR is calling on our members to act: Urge Congress to seize this opportunity at passing necessary climate legislation.

Join PSR's #DemandAccess Campaign!

PSR has launched a #DemandAccess campaign that seeks equitable access to health and justice for all people by demanding access everywhere it is currently being denied. This campaign centers on the principle that for as long as we fund violence to "keep the peace", our access — to healthy minds, bodies and environments — is denied to our communities.

As part of the #DemandAccess Campaign, PSR is reaching out to young health professionals aged 18-35 interested in working at the intersection of nuclear weapons and social justice issues from a health perspective, to take our #DemandAccess Survey. This survey is especially for those interested in joining a steering committee to lead our efforts in advancing this campaign and help make a positive impact in this world.

PSR on Ukraine: Diplomacy, not war!

In February, tension and danger persisted over Ukraine. As of this writing, warfare is a distinct possibility. We've endured weeks of threats and counter-threats, accusations and counter-accusations of propagandizing, hysteria, hidden motives and broken pledges. But satellite images do not lie. Of course, military tension between nuclear-armed adversaries increases the possibility of nuclear weapons coming into play. While we work to abolish all nuclear weapons, PSR encourages diplomacy to dial down the angry rhetoric, and allow cool heads to prevail.

No Place to Hide: Nuclear Weapons and the Collapse of Health Care Systems

The atomic bombing of Hiroshima devastated the city’s health care infrastructure. Hence PSR’s motto: “Prevention is the only cure.” On February 10, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) — recipient of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize — released a brand new report: No Place to Hide: Nuclear Weapons and the Collapse of Health Care Systems, which estimates the immediate impact of the detonation of just one modern-sized nuclear weapon over ten cities around the world (all the nuclear-armed states plus Germany, which hosts American nuclear weapons.) The result would be a humanitarian catastrophe: their health care systems would be completely overwhelmed. Please read ICAN's new report, get it into the hands of decision-makers, and when you are ready to take further action with PSR’s Nuclear Weapons Abolition Program, reach out to its director, Martin Fleck ~ mfleck@psr.org.

Enhanced Self-Service Options

The PSR member portal has been enhanced with features that allow you to:

• Update your contact information
• Update email preferences and interest areas
• View contributions (and print contribution history)
• Update payment information (for recurring contributions)

Visit www.psr.org today and click "Manage My Account".

Upcoming Events

Ukraine - Listening & Discussion Hour
Wed. Feb. 23, 6:00 - 7:00 pm PST
Hosted by Washington PSR. Register

SFPSR Racial Equity Reading Group
Wed. Feb. 23, 7:30 pm PST
Join San Francisco Bay Area PSR to discuss: "Structural Racism in Historical and Modern US Health Care Policy". To register for the discussion, please email info@sfbaypsr.org.

Health & Environment Series: Making the Connection 2022
Wed. Mar. 2 , 7:00 pm CST
Wisconsin Environmental Health Network and PSR Wisconsin present their annual environment and health educational event as an online lecture series for 2022. CME/CE credits available. Register

Member Training: Discussing Effective and Health Centered Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Programs in CA
Thu. Mar. 3, 6:00 - 7:00 pm PST
PSR-Los Angeles Member-Only Event. Members are invited to join a 1-hour briefing on California's greenhouse gas emissions program and whether or not it is meeting the needs of impacted frontline communities. Register

Improving Public Health in California through Emission Reduction Strategies
Sat. Mar. 5, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm PST
PSR-Los Angeles Health Ambassador Program Training - all physicians, nurses, and publich health professionals are invited to join. Register

Greater Boston PSR Monthly Meeting
Mon. Mar. 7, 7:00 pm EST
Greater Boston PSR’s monthly meeting – open to all. Please contact Anna Baker at abaker@gbpsr.org for Zoom information.

Cooking With Gas: Harms to Health from Gas Stoves (PSR National Webinar)
Tue. Mar. 8, Noon - 1:00 pm EST
This training exposes the harmful air pollutants produced by gas stoves, their negative impacts on the human body, the exacerbated impacts on vulnerable populations, and how health professionals can help their patients reduce their risk. CME credit available. Join here

Fossil Fuel Companies' Increasing Use of Trade Agreements to Attack Climate Initiatives – and How We Stop Them
Fri. Mar. 11, 1:00 pm EST
PSR-Pennsylvania Webinar featuring speaker Arthur Stamoulis, Executive Director of the Trade Justice Education Fund. Register

Health & Environment Series: Making the Connection 2022
Wed. Mar. 16, 7:00pm CDT
Wisconsin Environmental Health Network and PSR Wisconsin present their annual environment and health educational event as an online lecture series for 2022. CME/CE Credits available. Register

PSR Actions

Tell Congress to Take Climate Action Now

Show Support for Victims of Nuclear Weapons this Downwinders Day

Tell EPA: Tighten up Rules on Oil and Gas Wells

In the news

Ukraine conflict reminds Vermonters we can make a difference
John Reuwer, MD, PSR Committee to Abolish Nuclear Weapons member, VTDigger - Feb 16

Preventing nuclear wastewater dumping
The Martha's Vineyard Times - Feb 16
Mentions Greater Boston PSR

Nuclear Security for Who?
Arms Control Wonk Podcast - Feb 15
Podcast featuring PSR's Jasmine Owens

Why I'm Firing My Gas Stove
Chatelaine - Feb 15
Quotes Andee Krasner of Greater Boston PSR

Physician's Group Sounds Alarm About Toxic Chemicals Being Used In Colorado
CBS Denver - Feb 14
TV clip featuring Dusty Horwitt, author of PSR's fracking in Colorado report

Transportation plan can move Washington ahead
The Everett Herald - Feb 13
Quotes Annmarie Dooley, MD, of Washington PSR

There's still time for the US to avoid a catastrophic war with Russia in Ukraine
The Real News Network - Feb 12
Recording of news conference including PSR's Martin Fleck

Curbing methane emissions is critical to Ohioans' future well-being
Alan Lockwood, MD, FAAN, FANA, PSR Past President, Cleveland Plain Dealer - Feb 11

L.A. Just Banned Oil Drilling. Now Comes the Hard Part.
Curbed - Feb 10
Quotes Eric Romann of PSR-Los Angeles

It's the Beginning of the End for Oil Drilling in Los Angeles
Sierra Club - Feb 10
Quotes Eric Romann of PSR-Los Angeles

42 Orgs Challenge Biden's NDAA Signing Statement
Government Accountability Project - Feb 10
Mentions PSR

Frank G. Wells Clinic Faculty File Amicus Brief on Behalf of Law Professors in California Restaurant Association v. City of Berkeley
Legal Planet - Feb 10
Mentions San Francisco Bay Area PSR

Oil and Gas Companies Routinely Frack With "Trade Secret" Chemicals, Including PFAS
Sierra Club - Feb 9
Mentions PSR's fracking in Colorado report

The Essence of the Black Church: Spiritual Resistance & Moral Reimagination
Los Angeles Sentinel - Feb 9
Mentions PSR-Los Angeles

Ukraine and the Threat of Nuclear War
Ira Helfand, MD, PSR Board Member, The Nation - Feb 8

Hazardous "forever chemicals" used in Colorado for fracking, report says
Denver Post - Feb 7
Coverage of PSR's fracking in Colorado report

Susan Donaldson: Hopes S. Hadley joins effort to stop gas plant
Daily Hampshire Gazette - Feb 7
Mentions Greater Boston PSR

Environmental group says analysis shows oil and gas companies have used 'forever chemicals' to frack wells across Colorado
Colorado Public Radio News - Feb 3
Coverage of PSR's fracking in Colorado report

100 Groups Demand That Biden Stop Escalating Tensions Over Ukraine
The Nation - Feb 3
Mentions PSR

Colorado oil and gas companies can hide some chemicals used in fracking if they claim 'trade secrets'
9News (NBC) - Feb 1
Coverage of PSR's fracking in Colorado report

The Time to Act on Nuclear Disarmament is Now
Jasmine Owens, Lead Organizer and Policy Coordinator, PSR Nuclear Weapons Abolition Program, Inkstick Media - Jan 27

Fracking proximity tied to early death in elderly
The Hill - Jan 27
Quotes Martha Dina Argüello of PSR-Los Angeles

Los Angeles moves to end oil drilling in the city
Los Angeles Times - Jan 26
Quotes Martha Dina Argüello of PSR-Los Angeles

Washington tax-cut bill Senate hearing draws passionate support, opposition
Washington Examiner - Jan 26
Mentions Washington PSR

Los Angeles weighs phasing out oil and gas drilling
AP News - Jan 21
Quotes Martha Dina Argüello of PSR-Los Angeles

San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace joins National Radioactive Waste Coalition
Lompoc Record - Jan 20
Mentions PSR-Los Angeles

Lawmakers want to ensure there’s lead-free water at Florida public schools
Florida Politics - Jan 19
Quotes Dr. Howard Kessler of PSR Florida