PSR Monitor

Representative Barbara Lee is doing what COP26 didn't

For the first two weeks of November, world leaders gathered in Glasgow, Scotland for the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26), a conference dedicated to solving the climate crisis. There were countless pledges made to reduce carbon and methane emissions, to phase out the use of coal — and more. However, there was also an elephant in the room: the large impact of military greenhouse gas emissions in exacerbating the climate crisis, which have been basically exempt from international climate treaties since 1997. Rep. Barbara Lee wants to remedy this.

PSR Nuclear Weapons Abolition program kicks off new campaign focused on equity

On November 3, PSR's Nuclear Weapons Abolition (NWA) program hosted a highly anticipated virtual event with 120 participants and a diverse panel exploring "What can the nuclear weapons abolition movement learn from other social justice movements?" This event serves as the beginning of a three-part event series to launch a new campaign for the NWA program: #DemandAccess. The #DemandAccess campaign centers around the idea that "For as long as we fund violence to 'keep the peace', our access—to healthy minds, bodies and environments—is denied."

Resource: PSR Nuclear Weapons Abolition Program Legislation Tracker

Do you want to stay on top of nuclear weapons-related legislation moving through Congress but find it difficult to keep track of it all? Well, look no further! PSR's Nuclear Weapons Abolition (NWA) program maintains a legislation tracker to monitor legislation related to nuclear weapons activities happening within Congress. Updated weekly, we provide the latest information available about the progress of each piece of legislation.
 

Check out the NWA Legislation Tracker at psr.org/NWAtracker.

Webinar: Adding sparkle to your LTE

Tues. December 7, 2021, 5:00 – 6:00 pm Eastern

Submitting a letter to the editor is a good way to voice your views and educate your community. But how to write an LTE that gets published? Tune in to this training session for advice.

A PSR Doctor Speaks from COP26: A Call to Action from Island Nations

PSR climate activist and national board member Laalitha Suarapaneni, MD, attended the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland. She has provided PSR with this first-person account to share with us what she has learned and what it means — for us and the world.

Members of Congress Cite PSR's PFAS report in Letter to EPA

PSR's recent report on PFAS chemicals used in fracking was the basis for, and is cited in, a Congressional letter to the EPA asking for "information and follow-up action" on chemicals used in fracking, especially PFAS.

The PSR 2021 Virtual Gala Is a Success!

On November 18, PSR held our virtual annual gala, featuring keynotes from Ebony Twilley-Martin, Co-Director of Greenpeace, and Nola Haynes, Director of WCAPS West-Coast, as well as a special guest appearance from Rep. Ro Khanna (CA). The event also featured PSR chapter leaders from around the country discussing their local work on climate change, environmental health, and nuclear weapons abolition. The video is available to watch on our YouTube page. Thank you to all our attendees, sponsors, and speakers!

Upcoming Events

GBPSR Monthly Meeting
Mon. Dec. 6, 7:00 pm EST
Greater Boston PSR Monthly Meeting — Open to all. Please contact Anna Baker at abaker@gbpsr.org for Zoom information.

PSR Webinar: Adding sparkle to your LTE
Tue. Dec. 7, 5:00 – 6:00 pm EST
Submitting a letter to the editor is a good way to voice your views and educate your community. But how to write an LTE that gets published? Tune in to this training session for advice. Register

Cradle to Grave: The Reverberating Health Hazards of Oil and Gas Industry
Fri. Dec. 10, Noon - 4:30 pm EST
PSR Pennsylvania is excited to share a virtual, half-day conference on the impacts of unconventional gas development. Register

PSR Actions

Tell your representative: Cut military greenhouse gas emissions

Tell your senators it's time to close the deal on climate investments!

In the news

A world without nuclear weapons
Peter Metz and PSR Board Member Ira Helfand, MD, The Washington Post - Nov 22

State regulators must determine if hazardous 'forever chemicals' were used in fracking
Pennsylvania Capital-Star - Nov 17
Op-ed citing PSR's fracking chemicals report.

Nalleli Cobo: the young activist who led her LA neighborhood against big oil
The Guardian - Nov 10
Mentions PSR-Los Angeles

Environmentalists say TECO and Castor's new carbon emission plan sets Tampa's energy goals back 15 years
Creative Loafing Tampa Bay - Nov 9
Quotes PSR Florida President Howard Kessler, MD

U.S. should limit nuclear weapons
Raymond Graap, MD, PSR Arizona, Arizona Daily Star - Nov 8

We need to ban fracking; it's a matter of public health
Patriot-News - Nov 7
Op-ed citing PSR's fracking chemicals report

Nuclear Energy Industry Angles for Bigger Role in Washington State and US as Climate Change Accelerates
Inside Climate News - Nov 3
Mentions Washington and Oregon PSR

Biden Makes Climate Pledge at Glasgow While Pushing Oil, Gas Leasing in U.S.
Press Release from PSR and partner groups - Nov 3

Is Biden Taking Nuclear Policy Seriously?
Jasmine Owens, Lead Organizer and Policy Coordinator, PSR Nuclear Weapons Abolition Program, Outrider - Nov 2

New nuclear energy plants are a ‘fool’s errand’
Russell Lowes, PSR Arizona Board Member, Arizona Daily Star - Nov 2

Nuclear power poses unacceptable risks. It's not a climate change solution
Denise Duffield, Associate Director, PSR-Los Angeles, Los Angeles Times - Oct 30

Feds to give New Mexico teeth in enforcing cleanup of PFAS water pollution
Carlsbad Current Argus - Oct 29
Cites PSR's fracking chemicals report

24 Hours Of Climate Reality
WJCT (NPR) - Oct 28
Radio interview with PSR Board Member Todd Sack, MD

Forever Chemicals, Plastic Waste — The World As Industry's Toilet
Clean Technica - Oct 26
Cites PSR's fracking chemicals report

California plan to ban community oil drilling far from final
Associated Press - Oct 22
Quotes Martha Dina Argüello, PSR-Los Angeles Executive Director

Study: Radioactive elements reached neighborhoods near Santa Susana Field Lab during Woolsey Fire
Los Angeles Daily News - Oct 21
Coverage of study by PSR-Los Angeles and partner groups

How to get rid of nuclear weapons
Peter Metz and PSR Board Member Ira Helfand, MD, Boston Globe - Sept 30

We must further reduce nuclear weapons
Raymond Graap, MD, PSR Arizona, Arizona Daily Star - Aug 6