PSR Monitor

Scientists and experts warn us humanity is closer to "doomsday" than ever before

On January 24, 2023, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists unveiled the new setting of their Doomsday Clock. The Doomsday Clock serves as a warning of the threats posed by nuclear weapons, climate change, biosecurity, and disruptive technologies to humanity. This year, the Bulletin moved the Clock to 90 seconds to midnight, the closest we have ever been to midnight, or, "doomsday."

Celebrating the ban treaty's "Banniversary" around the United States

Members of Prevent Nuclear War Maryland—including Gwen DuBois, MD, MPH, Chesapeake PSR President and PSR board member—celebrated the anniversary of "Entry Into Force" of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons by bringing roses and certificates of appreciation to the DC embassies of 9 nations that ratified the treaty since January, 2022.  These "positive reinforcement" visits were among a long list of "Banniversary" actions around the country, many including PSR members. To date, 92 nations have signed the Treaty, and 68 of those have ratified it.

REGISTER NOW: IPPNW World Congress in Mombasa, Kenya

International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) is hosting its 23rd World Congress in Mombasa, Kenya from April 26-30, 2023. This year, the Congress is focused on the intersections of disarmament, the climate crisis and health, and will be preceded by a five-day student bike tour from Nairobi to Mombasa. You can learn more and register at the IPPNW Africa website.

Texas' Oil & Gas Industry Drills with PFAS Chemicals. How Much?

How many pounds of toxic PFAS chemicals have oil and gas companies used as they drilled and fracked Texas wells? The industry uses PFAS but obscures the extent of that use behind trade secret designations. Unidentified trade secret chemicals used in Texas wells from 2013-2022 totaled 6.1 billion pounds. Yes, that's billion with a "b." If only a tiny fraction were dangerous "forever" chemicals, we would be worried. Get the full story at www.psr.org when we release our report on PFAS use in Texas wells on Monday, February 6.

PSR National Invited to Speak at BDC's Building Electrification Panel

The Building Decarbonization Coalition's Building Electrification Community and Consumer Awareness (BECCA) working group invited National PSR’s Health Educator and Campaign Coordinator Zach Williams to speak on their panel focused on Health and Air Quality. Join us on February 22nd at 2pm ET to learn from Zach and Ali Lee of Climate Solutions Washington about the strategies and approaches they use to educate various audiences about health and air quality concerns, especially gas stoves and other gas appliances in our homes!

PSR Welcomes a New Cohort of Next Generation Climate Ambassadors!

This past week, PSR kicked off its second cohort of Next Generation Climate Ambassadors, 36 young and emerging health professionals representing 17 states across the U.S. In this cohort, we have Ambassadors who are medical students and early-career physicians, social workers, pharmacy students, nursing and early-career students, public health students and professionals, and other health science professionals. Ambassadors met for the first time on Tuesday and will take part in various types of climate and health advocacy and trainings over the course of the semester-long program.

Free CME on Environmentally Sustainable Practices

PSR's My Green Doctor program is the focus of a free 40-minute online CME program offered by the American Medical Association to any physician, not just AMA members. Watch the webinar yourself at any time and ask your office manager to watch as well to learn how easy it is to save money with environmentally sustainable practice management.

Upcoming Events

GBPSR February Monthly Meeting
Mon. Feb. 6, 7:00 pm EST
Greater Boston PSR's monthly meeting – open to all. Please contact Anna Linakis at abaker@gbpsr.org for Zoom information.

Speaker Training
Wed. Feb. 15th from 7:00 - 8:30pm EST
Hosted by Greater Boston PSR and led by Sunstone Strategies, free and open to anyone who is interested in improving their speaking skills. The training includes an emphasis on speaking to media, though it also aims help to improve public speaking skills more generally. Please see flyer for more details including registration steps.

Building Electrification Panel: Health and Air Quality
Wed. Feb. 22, 2:00 pm EST
Speakers Zach Williams of PSR and Ali Lee of Climate Solutions Washington on the strategies and approaches they use to educate various audiences about health and air quality concerns, especially gas stoves and other gas appliances in our homes. Join here

Cooking With Gas – Health Harms from Gas Stoves
Tue. Mar. 14, 12:00 pm EDT
Join Alliance of Nurses for Health Environments and National PSR to learn about the dangerous air pollutants produced by gas stoves, what they do to the human body, and what you can do to reduce your and your family's risk of exposure. CEU/CME credit available. Register

IPPNW World Congress
Travellers Beach Hotel & Club resort, Mombasa, Kenya (virtual options)
April 26 - 30
The 23rd World Congress will focus on the intersections of disarmament, the climate crisis and health, and will be preceded by a five-day student bike tour from Nairobi to Mombasa. Learn more & register.

More events

PSR Actions

Tell EPA to Protect us from Methane Leaks from Oil and Gas Wells

In the news

Nuclear Weapons Need to be Reduced and Eventually Eliminated
Scott Allan Baker, Western North Carolina PSR, Asheville Citizen-Times - Jan 29

90 Seconds to Midnight
Bob Dodge, MD, PSR Board member, The Hill - Jan 28

The Doomsday Clock Is More Than a Metaphor
Jasmine Owens, Associate Director, PSR Nuclear Weapons Abolition Program; and Faith Gay, Win Without War, Inkstick Media - Jan 24

We must keep Doomsday Clock from striking midnight
PSR Maine members Geoff Gratwick, MD and Douglas Dransfield, MD, Bangor Daily News - Jan 24

Shapiro's environmental agenda raises hopes — but also questions
Pennsylvania Capital-Star - Jan 24
Mentions PSR Pennsylvania

Pollution inequality must stop; enforce roadmap law
Brita Lundberg, MD, Chair of Greater Boston PSR, and Adrienne Allen, MD, CommonWealth Magazine - Jan 23

The Doomsday Clock is Still Ticking
Doug Rawlings, Veterans for Peace, Sun Journal - Jan 22
Mentions PSR

Tempers flared over the idea gas stoves could be banned. It's not happening, but are there risks?
Wisconsin Public Radio - Jan 17
Quotes PSR Wisconsin's Ann Behrmann, MD

Does Massachusetts Underestimate Its Greenhouse Gas Emissions?
Dig Boston - Jan 17
Mentions Greater Boston PSR

AmeriHealth Caritas Offers Providers Training about the Dangers of Gas Stoves and Childhood Asthma
Business Wire - Jan 16
Article on gas stoves training offered by PSR and AmeriHealth Caritas

Push to phase out gas stoves over health concerns met with online anger
Fox 13 Seattle - Jan 14
Quotes Annemarie Dooley, MD of Washington PSR

Misinformation on gas stoves is swirling around the internet. Here's what you need to know
Robert Gould, MD, San Francisco Bay Area PSR, San Francisco Chronicle - Jan 13

"We are experiencing the effects of war, just not in a way that we can contextualize": WA Against Nuclear Weapons on the outcomes of nuclear proliferation
The Seattle Collegian - Jan 11
Mentions Washington PSR

Activists urge U.S. apology, fair compensation, for U.S. Pacific nuclear testing
Reuters - Jan 10
Coverage of letter signed by PSR

Nuclear weapons and the resistance to reality
Daily Hamshire Gazette - Jan 8
Letter to the editor mentioning PSR

Advocates ask Denver council to require all-electric new homes
NewsBreak - Jan 5
Quotes Sharon Montes, MD, PSR Colorado

Gas stoves are contributing to childhood asthma in Massachusetts, study finds
Boston Globe - Jan 5
Quotes Brita Lundberg, MD, Chair of Greater Boston PSR

Cold War estimates of deaths in nuclear conflict
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists - Jan 4
Cites PSR's Nuclear Famine report

A model for comprehensive climate and medical education
The Lancet (Planetary Health) - Jan 2023
Mentions PSR

Now Baldwin should focus on protecting children from F-35s
The Capital Times - Dec 27
Quotes Ann Behrmann, MD of PSR Wisconsin

Living with a gas stove? Tips for minimizing health risks
KNKX Public Radio - Dec 26
Quotes Annemarie Dooley, MD, Washington PSR

Your gas stove is an expensive chain-smoker
Pinal Central - Dec 22
Eve Shapiro, MD, PSR Arizona

We can't forget the health dangers of fracking
Pennsylvania Capital-Star - Dec 18
Cites PSR's fracking Compendium

Calif. regulators pass plan to zero out carbon emissions
E&E News - Dec 16
Quotes Eric Romann, director of strategy and campaigns at PSR Los Angeles

Retailers may not inform consumers of gas stove health risks upon purchase: report
The Hill - Dec 14
Quotes PSR's Barbara Gottlieb

Dr. Jameton remembered for medical ethics expertise, curiosity
University of Nebraska Medical Center - Dec 14
Obituary for Andrew Jameton, PhD, former PSR board member