PSR Monitor

20 years ago, Rep. Barbara Lee cast the sole "no" vote to invading Afghanistan

On September 14, 2001, with Americans still reeling from 9/11, U.S. Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) rose to address her colleagues in the House Chambers. The House was debating the Authorization to Use Military Force to pave the way for the invasion of Afghanistan. Lee explained that she would vote her conscience and oppose the AUMF; in the end, she was the only Member of Congress to do so. After the vote, Lee received death threats and was maligned by the popular press. We would benefit from a political system that is more open to principled dissent.

Joining together to abolish nuclear weapons: Red Cross, Rotary International, IPPNW and UN

These powerful international organizations are partnering to express support for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons—as a public health imperative—in a September 30 virtual event, 11:00 am Eastern time. Panelists are: Izumi Nakamitsu, UN Under Secretary General; Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross; and Shekhar Mehta, President of Rotary International.

Thank you, E&H Summer Interns!

Environment & Health enjoyed the support of three stupendous summer interns this summer. View the fruits of their labor: a PowerPoint on PFAS chemicals in fracking, a resource kit on building electrification, and a speech on the Mall!

There's still time to make your mark!

PSR is proud to dedicate the month of August to commemorating the anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki through our Day of Peace campaign. Through our tax dollars, Americans spend over $2 million dollars per hour on nuclear weapons. This is an outrageous waste of resources. With your help, we can educate more members of the public about the horror of nuclear weapons and the dangers of building and maintaining them.

If you haven't donated already, please consider making a gift toward the Day of Peace campaign today.

Save the Date!

PSR National's Virtual Gala will take place on Thursday, November 18th from 6:00 - 7:30 pm EST. Please mark your calendar and plan to join us as we celebrate PSR's accomplishments and look ahead to the challenges of a new year.

Upcoming Events

GBPSR Monthly Meeting
Mon. Sep. 13 at 8:00 pm EDT
Greater Boston PSR's monthly meeting – open to all. Please contact Anna Baker at abaker@gbpsr.org for Zoom information.

Fractured: The body burden of living near fracking
Tue. Sep. 14 at 6:00 pm EDT
PSR Pennsylvania webinar with speaker Kristina Marusic, who will discuss her groundbreaking work on the body burden of chemicals associated with fracking. Register

Book Launch: Maladies of Empire
Tue. Sept. at 14 at 6:00 pm PDT
Join San Francisco Bay PSR and City Lights Bookstore for the launch of Maladies of Empire: How Colonialism, Slavery, and War Transformed Medicine by Jim Downs in conversation with Allyson Hobbs. Register

International Day of Peace
Tue. Sep. 21 at 4:00 pm CDT
Downtown Iowa City, IA
PSR Iowa and partner groups will gather to present a proclamation to be signed by the mayor, identifying major threats faced around the globe: Covid, Climate, and inequality which will only grow more deadly so long as we define security in military terms. The event will include music and the installation of a peace pole. For more info email mickiq@earthlink.net.

San Francisco Bay PSR's Annual Gala
Wed. Sep. 22 at 6:00 - 8:15 pm PDT
SF PSR's virtual annual gala, featuring keynote speaker Daniel Ellsberg, awards for three young health activists, and a silent auction. Get tickets

NorCal Symposium for Climate, Health, and Equity
Fri. Sep. 24 at Noon – 7:00 pm PDT
The NorCal symposium is designed by and for health professionals and students concerned about the climate crisis and invested in climate justice. San Francisco Bay PSR members are included in programming. Details coming soon.

GBPSR Virtual Concert
Sat. Sep. 25 at 7:00 pm EDT
Greater Boston PSR (GBPSR) and International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) are pleased to host a very special fourth annual event to address the twin existential threats of nuclear war and climate change. More information

Eliminating the Existential Threat of Nuclear Weapons
Fri. Sep. 30 at 11:00 am EDT
Virtual event discussing the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, sponsored by International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW, PSR's international affiliate), and featuring panelists from International Red Cross, Rotary International, and United Nations. Register

Racial Equity Reading Group: Maladies of Empire
Thu. Sep. 30 at 7:45 pm PDT
Join San Francisco Bay PSR for a special discussion of Maladies of Empire: How Colonialism, Slavery, and War Transformed Medicine by Jim Downs. To join please email tara@sfbaypsr.org.

Nuclear Weapons: A Public Health Issue
Mon. Oct. 4 at Noon EDT
Greater Boston PSR and the Massachusetts Medical Society co-sponsor this one hour virtual forum, moderated by Dr. Jennifer Leaning from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and featuring speakers from across the country. CME and risk management credit are available. More details and registration link coming soon.

PSR Actions

Open Letter from Local Officials to Biden: Reduce Nuclear Dangers

In the news

Hundreds of Groups Sign Letter Opposing Nuclear Subsidies
Public News Service - Aug 26
Mentions PSR

Too Much Fracking Waste & Too Many Unanswered Questions
Patch - Aug 23
Cites PSR's fracking Compendium

Joining fight against Line 3 Pipeline, health professionals urge Biden to block project
Red Green and Blue - Aug 23
Mentions PSR

"A Complete Failure of the State": Authorities Didn't Heed Researchers' Calls to Study Health Effects of Burning Sugar Cane
Palm Beach Post - Aug 19
Quotes PSR Florida's Ron Saff, MD

Hiroshima/Nagasaki Week 2021 – Recap in Photos
Mass Peace Action - Aug 18
Photos from remembrance co-hosted by Greater Boston PSR

Inside the decades-long fight over an Ohio Superfund site
The Center for Public Integrity - Aug 18
Cites PSR's hexavalent chromium fact sheet

People Power: How networking won a vital air pollution fight
East Bay Express - Aug 18
Mentions San Francisco Bay PSR

CA PFAS Pollution Widespread in Disadvantaged Communities
NRDC - Aug 17
Mentions PSR-Los Angeles

Physicians stand up with indigenous leaders against the Line 3 Pipeline
KPFA - Aug 16
Radio interview with PSR's Dr. Laalitha Surapaneni and SF PSR's Dr. Jeff Ritterman (starts at 1:34:00).

As Fires Rage Outside, Indoor Air Risks Could Also Be Lurking
San Juan Islander - Aug 16
Quotes Washington PSR's Mark Vossler, MD

Why Are We Still Building Nuclear Weapons? Follow the Money
Forbes - Aug 10
Cites PSR's nuclear famine report

Blacklock: What does the climate crisis require of health professionals?
The Sudbury Star - Aug 7
Op-ed mentioning PSR

Nuclear Weapons Still a Clear and Present Danger 76 Years After Hiroshima
Robert Dodge, MD, PSR-Los Angeles, Common Dreams - Aug 6

Fracking in Pennsylvania used toxic ‘forever chemicals’ as Pa. officials maintain willful ignorance
The Philadelphia Inquirer - Aug 5
Editorial on PSR's fracking chemicals report

Tampa City Council Adopts 100% Renewable Energy Resolution
Food & Water Watch - Aug 5
Quotes PSR Florida's Lynn Ringenberg, MD

Nobel Prize winner and first Samaritan Health physician retires after nearly 60 years
Corvallis Gazette Times - Aug 4
Profile of PSR co-founder Stan Nudelman, MD

To protest nuclear war and honor those who died
WORT - Aug 4
Radio interview with PSR Wisconsin's Ann Behrmann, MD and Hannah Mortenson

Dumpster fire: Baltimore burns 20 times the plastic it recycles
The Real News Network - Aug 4
Quotes Chesapeake PSR's Dan Morhaim, MD

Doctors Ask DeSantis to Change Course Amid COVID-19 Case Spike
WMFE - Aug 3
Quotes PSR Florida's Howard Kessler, MD

Delta Variant Surges In South Florida To 90% Of Jackson-UHealth Patients
NBC Miami - Aug 2
Quotes PSR Florida's Howard Kessler, MD

Gov. Wolf should have negotiated with the GOP on election reform
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Aug 1
Editorial on PSR's fracking chemicals report

EPA Approval of PFAS for Fracking May Spell a New Health Crisis for Communities
Truthout - Jul 30
Coverage of PSR's fracking chemicals report

Study finds just 2.2% of Baltimore’s trashed plastic is recycled, while 47% is burned
Baltimore Brew - Jul 30
Quotes Chesapeake PSR's Dan Morhaim, MD

Fracking puts its industry over your health
Altoona Mirror - Jul 28
Editorial on PSR's fracking chemicals report

How the US could help Australia develop climate action
The Hill - Jul 28
Mentions PSR

Following North America's Hottest June on Record, Senators Markey and Padilla Introduce Legislation to Combat Health Risks of Extreme Heat, Provide $100 Million in Heat-Fighting Financial Assistance
Sen. Ed Markey Press Release - Jul 28
Mentions PSR

Heat-related deaths, B.C. wildfires spur Greater Victoria doctors’ call to end pipeline construction
Saanich News - Jul 27
Mentions Washington PSR