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PSR Monitor

December 17, 2019

Environment & Health

LNG boat

New Report on "Climate and Health Risks of Liquified Natural Gas"

In the face of the Trump administration's efforts to promote the use and export of fracked or so-called "natural" gas, Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) has released a white paper detailing the ways that gas processed for export endangers human health and lives.

   Download the report   
NEJM

The False Promise of Natural Gas

The New England Journal of Medicine recently featured an article by Greater Boston PSR's Philip J. Landrigan, MD, Howard Frumkin, MD, DrPH, and Brita E. Lundberg, MD on the health hazards of methane and why its use as a "transitional" fuel is dangerous. Congrats to the authors on this important article.

   Read the article here  
Fracking field

PSR and Other Health Groups Oppose EPA Proposal To Roll Back Limits on Methane Emissions

PSR, the American Lung Association, 10 PSR chapters and 15 other health organizations submitted comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) opposing the agency's proposal to roll back limits on leaks and emissions of methane from oil and gas wells.

The EPA's proposal would virtually eliminate regulation of methane—an especially potent greenhouse gas—as well as the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that escape into the atmosphere with the methane. Those VOCs include carcinogens, neurotoxins and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs).

   Read the comments here    
My Green Doctor

Help Your Patients to be Healthier by Saving Energy

When your patients use energy wisely there is less air pollution created by the burning of fossil fuels to make electricity and for other uses. This means cleaner air, less asthma, less cancer, and less heart disease. This month, PSR's My Green Doctor has a short guide for your patients, "Helping Children to Save Energy: A Guide For Parents". You might print copies to share with your office colleagues and waiting room patients.

My Green Doctor is a free donor and membership benefit from Physicians for Social Responsibility that is saving money as offices adopt wise environmental practices and share these ideas with their patients. Hundreds of offices use My Green Doctor. It adds just five minutes to each regular office staff meeting. My Green Doctor explains what to say and do at each meeting so there is nothing for the office manager to study or prepare. Ask your office manager to register here. Your patients will be impressed!

   Learn more  

Peace and Security

Keeping Up with the Kardashians

Kim and Kourtney Kardashian team up with PSR-LA to sound the alarm about Santa Susana Lab's Toxic Legacy

One of the most popular current reality TV shows explored a harsh reality unknown to most of its viewers and fans: the toxic legacy of the notorious Santa Susana Field Lab. During the episode, the Kardashian sisters met with a group of activists seeking to clean up the site, including parents of children with cancer, and Kim spoke with Denise Duffield, Associate Director of PSR Los Angeles.

    Continue Reading    
Fruits and Vegetables

After cutting 700,000 people off food stamps, the U.S. provides excessive funding to programs that enable human destruction

On December 4, the Trump administration approved a rules change around Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP benefits—commonly referred to as food stamps—which will remove up to 688,000 adults from participating in the program unless they find part-time work. Meanwhile, the recently passed National Defense Authorization Act includes allocations for a new "easier to use" submarine launched nuclear warhead, and full funding for virtually every other element of the Trump administrations $1.7 trillion, 30-year plan to replace the entire nuclear weapons arsenal.

   Continue Reading  
Montgomery County Maryland Activists

Montgomery County, MD becomes becomes first county to pass a Back from the Brink resolution

On Dec 10, 2019, Montgomery County Council in Maryland passed a Back from the Brink resolution, becoming the first county council in the United States to do so. The resolution calls on Maryland's congressional delegation to take commonsense steps to prevent nuclear war. This milestone was achieved thanks to the hard work of Maryland Peace Action, local activists with Pax Christi Metro-DC and Sandy Spring Friends Meeting, and Chesapeake PSR board member Art Milholland, MD.

   Continue Reading  

PSR Actions


Tell Congress: Pass Clean Energy Tax Incentives Now!


In the news


Maryland jurisidictions join "back from the brink" nuclear war movement
David Grosso, Bill Henry and Tom Hucker, Baltimore Sun - Dec 16

 


The Recent Natural Gas Blowout in South Texas Highlights the Need for Strong Regulation
Hasan Seede, Texas PSR, Common Dreams - Dec 13

 


Springfield City Council needs to speak out against nuclear weapons
Ira Helfand, MD, PSR board member, and Sean Meyer, MassLive - Dec 12

 


U.S. should build trust, join Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons
Bert Crain, MD, PSR member, The Hickory Daily Record - Dec 10

 


On Human Rights Day, Let's Abolish Nuclear Weapons
Martin Fleck, PSR Nuclear Weapons Abolition Program Director, The Progressive - Dec 9

 


Calling for 'Climate President,' 500+ Groups Demand Next Administration Take Immediate Action
Common Dreams - Dec 9
Features plan endorsed by and references PSR

 


Health concerns driving force behind Scenery Hill mom's environmental tours
The Observer-Reporter - Dec 9
Mentions Ned Ketyer, MD, Philadelphia PSR

 


The Nuclear Waste Dump Hiding in LA
NRDC blog - Dec 9
References PSR Los Angeles

 


Greeley Mother sends an Open Letter to Governor Polis after benzene exposure at local school
The Yellow Scene Magazine - Dec 8
Features letter supported/co-signed by organizations including PSR

 


Update on the Seattle Income Tax Creating a pathway to a progressive income tax
NWFacts.com - Dec 8
Mentions Washington PSR as co-signer of amicus brief among other groups

 


SF Climate Strike at BlackRock and March to Senator Feinstein's Office
Indybay - Dec 7
References San Francisco Bay Area PSR

 


Environmental Groups Gear Up to Fight Toll Road Projects
Law.com - Dec 6
References PSR

 


As Petrochemical Industry Extends Along Ohio River, Pollution Follows Close Behind
WOSU - Dec 6
Quotes Ned Ketyer, MD, Philadelphia PSR

 


No Roads to Ruin Coalition forms to fight new Florida toll roads
The Orlando Sentinel - Dec 5
References PSR as part of coalition

 


Students Plan Climate Strike Around Arizona, World
Public News Service - Dec 5
References PSR

 


Kardashians' TV show features families affected by the Santa Susana Field Lab – and residents feel 'grateful'
The Los Angeles Daily News - Dec 2
Quotes Denise Duffield, PSR Los Angeles

 


Collapse of arms control
Donald Storey, MD, PSR member, The Spokesman-Review - Dec 2

 


The Environment Is Us
Robert Gould, MD, PSR board member, and Steve Heilig, MPH, San Francisco Marin Medicine (Journal of the San Francisco Marin Medical Society) - Nov/Dec 2019, p. 6

 


Public health, environmental groups slam federal government's latest proposed cleanup plan for Hanford Nuclear Site
Washington PSR coalition press release, Indian Country Today - Nov 29

 


Hollywood, palm trees and urban oil fields
The Raw Story - Nov 28
Quotes Martha Dina Arguello, PSR Los Angeles

 


A call to action on nuclear weapons
The Catholic Messenger - Nov 28
Quotes David Drake, DO, PSR board member

 


The 'Climate Crisis Is a Health Emergency': New Report Warns US Fracking Boom Making People and Planet Sick
Common Dreams - Nov 27
In-depth coverage of PSR's report on climate and health risks of LNG

 


Physicians for Social Responsibility Releases Report on "Climate and Health Risks of Liquified Natural Gas"
PSR press release, Common Dreams - Nov 26

 


26 Health Organizations, Led by Physicians for Social Responsibility and American Lung Association, Submit Comment to EPA Opposing Rollback of New Source Performance Standards for Oil and Natural Gas Industry
PSR press release, Common Dreams - Nov 25

 


Washington state deals setback to massive methanol plant
Associated Press - Nov 22
References Washington PSR and other groups' lawsuit

 


Democrats move to take 100% clean energy push national with new bill
Utility Dive - Nov 22
References multi-organization letter led by PSR

 


Activists Deliver Thousands of Petitions Calling for Stronger Safeguards for Los Angeles County Urban Oil Field
Sierra Club press release - Nov 21
Quotes Martha Dina Arguello, PSR Los Angeles

 


Rebutting Tory attack lines: Trident nuclear weapons
Morning Star Online - Nov 21
References PSR's Nuclear Famine report

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