Major Projects and Activities 1990-2009

Environmental Health

• Sponsor seminal 1992 conference on Human Health and the Environment at MIT - support for publication of "Critical Condition" and launch at United Nations and IPPNW World Congress Mexico
• Housing of the Project on Global Environmental Change & Health - (predecessor to Harvard Center)
• No Room to Breathe: Health Effects of Air Pollution project - one of first on New England
• Develop and house PSR's Military Environmental Defense Network (MEDNet) on military base contamination
• First New England Citizen's Forum on Military Base Contamination
• Co-organize Boston's first Environmental Justice conference
• Medical Waste and Health Project - co-author first report and co-found Health Care Without Harm
• 1996 - Generations at Risk: Reproductive Health and the Environment - MA report with MASSPIRG - used in medical schools as text. 1999 - Book published (MIT Press), translated into Japanese and Czech
• GAR reports specific to California, New Jersey in conjunction with sister PSR chapters
• Medical presentation developed for grand rounds etc. - over 100 presentations nationwide
• Help co-found MA Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow and participate in many other coalitions
• 2000 - In Harm's Way: Toxic Threats to Child Development report (translated into Spanish, Thai, Japanese, Arabic) - over 7,500 distributed on request over 8 years
• 2001 - In Harm's Way - medical courses (CMEs) for health professionals nationally (over 200 including 7 daylong at medical centers from New York Academy of Medicine to Stanford Medical School)
• 2004 - Pediatric Environmental Health Toolkit - clinical tool developed, pilot tested and evaluated at 17 practices in CA and MA
• Toolkit trainings and evaluations in 5 states funded by EPA - over 200 primary and 1700 secondary health professionals trained, incorporated into medical trainings across the country
• Over 10,000 health care professionals trained by GBPSR environment and health courses by 2008
• On Line Toolkit CME course developed in partnership with ATSDR/CDC
• Conduct early scoping work and support for Reproductive Health Toolkit (now in progress at UCSF)
• 2008 - Environmental Threats to Healthy Aging report released on Today Show to 5 million viewers

Security, Nuclear Weapons and Health

• 1992 - Organize and convene the Network for Nuclear Abolition group of MA peace groups (recently revitalized as the MA Disarmament Action Network that meets monthly)
• Manhattan Project II - events, ads, activities (including w/ Daniel Ellsberg) on abolition of nuclear weapons
• Many major Hiroshima Day Events - including a Boston Public Library exhibit/reception for Robert del Tredici Dismantling the Idea of the Bomb with "Atomic Age Film Series"; "Call to Disarm" at State House/Boston Common
• Twilight's Last Gleaming - Major 10 day public art exhibit on nuclear waste on Boston City Hall Plaza and opening ceremonies featuring Helen Caldicott and the nuclear legacy performance group
• 2002 - Forum This is not a Test on Terrorism, Health and Security - Major event at Faneuil Hall
• Organize international letter writing campaign to local papers in the 5 nuclear powers
• Op-ed in Boston Globe on "Stealthy Steps to a New Nuclear Arms Race"
• 2006 -Prescribing a World without Nuclear Weapons event with IPPNW - Daniel Ellsberg, James Taylor
• 2007 - Medical Consequences of Iraq War conference at Old South Church
• Advocacy efforts opposing war in Iran - signature ad, support Boston leg of Iranian physician's tour
• 2008 - Iraq war Veteran's health project

Community Violence

• "Myths about Violence" slide show for medical professionals
• Handbook on conflict resolution for health care providers
• Working with the MA Governor's Commission on Domestic Violence on standard of care assessment
• Mobilizing the Medical Community Against Violence conference at Harvard School of Public Health
• Guns for Teddy Bears event at Boston Children's Hospital

About Greater Boston PSR

GBPSR 2010-2012 Steering Committee