Progress on Chemical Weapons in Syria

PSR advocated for diplomacy in Syria to manage the issue of chemical weapons. We’re pleased to report great progress in destroying chemical weapons stockpiles in Syria utilizing mechanisms outlined by the Chemical Weapons Convention and avoiding threatened US military strikes. Read more about the conflict and review a new PowerPoint presentation by Dr. Bob Gould of San Francisco PSR.

Protect Children's Health by Protecting States' Authority

As most parents know, kids put everything in their mouths -- including toxic toys. Read about how states are protecting children from harmful toys, and the need to preserve their authority to do so, in our latest Environmental Health Policy Institute.

Free Online Course on War and Health

PSR is proud to have contributed to a new NextGenU course on War and Health! It teaches about the consequences of war and violence on human health. The course, intended for medical and public health trainees and practitioners, provides students the opportunity to learn about and practice techniques that may reduce those tragic consequences, with the collaboration of globally-available peers and local mentors. All components of this training (like all NextGenU.org trainings) are free.

PSR Chapters Release Report on Earthquake Risks

A new report jointly produced by the Oregon and Washington chapters of PSR looks at the dangers posed by earthquakes near the Columbia Generating Station in Richland, Washington. The chapters also sent a letter to the NRC asking for the plant to be shut down until it meets adequate earthquake standards.

Health Professionals Rally for Safer Chemicals

PSR gathered at the U.S. Capitol on October 29th, along with hundreds of other parents, environmentalists and health professionals, for a “stroller brigade” rally for safer chemicals.  The Safer Chemicals Healthy Families Coalition organized the event to heighten awareness of the need for real reform of the laws that govern hazardous chemicals in the U.S. PSR is actively advocating for legislation that incorporates stronger health-protective measures.

"Fracking," Methane, and Climate Change

Does "fracking" increase climate change? Gas burns much cleaner than coal, as far as conventional air pollutants. But the extraction process known as "fracking" -- high-volume, horizontal hydraulic fracturing -- raises concerns about contamination of air, land and water, including releases of methane, an extremely potent greenhouse gas. With natural gas increasingly replacing coal for generating electricity, we need to ask ourselves if we are trading a short-term benefit against an irreversible long-term loss. Find out in PSR's latest Climate Change webinar, Wednesday, October 30. 

Air Pollution Is Carcinogenic: WHO

The air we breathe has been officially classified as carcinogenic to humans by the World Health Organization's cancer agency. An International Agency for Research on Cancer literature review concluded that air pollution in general, and particulate matter specifically, cause lung cancer and may increase the risk of bladder cancer. Frightening as it is to think that the air we breathe is carcinogenic, this comes as no surprise to readers of PSR's Coal's Assault on Human Health (cf. page 19), which flagged the same concern in 2009. Air pollution, much of it from transportation and electricity generation, also increases risks to the respiratory, cardiovascular and nervous systems.

PSR's Dr. Ira Helfand Speaks at Nobel Laureate Summit

PSR leader Ira Helfand, MD as co-president of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War spoke at the opening plenary session of the Nobel Peace Laureates World Summit in Warsaw, Poland. He presented new data on significant grain production reductions from a limited nuclear war between India and Pakistan. He was joined at the opening dais by human rights activist Shirin Ebadi, President Mikhail Gorbachev, President Frederik Willem de Klerk, and Jayantha Dhanapala of Pugwash. Learn more »

New Book Focuses on Nuclear Weapons Dangers

PSR highly recommends Eric Schlosser's new Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident, and the Illusion of Safety. This work of journalistic investigation closely examines the dangers of the nuclear age by highlighting how mistakes and misinterpretation nearly caused nuclear detonation during the cold war. PSR is gravely concerned about the potential of an accident causing inadvertent detonation of a nuclear weapon, and has warned for years about the many health and environmental impacts of nuclear war. PSR has launched a campaign to highlight the global impact of even limited nuclear war activity.

Florida PSR's Kids Klinic Serves Homeless Kids

SPSR established the Kids Klinic at a homeless shelter 5 years ago. Students had approached PSR mentor, Dr. Lynn Ringenberg, asking to work with homeless kids, since they get little exposure to pediatric patients their first 2 years of medical school.

Speak out Against Negligent Environmental Rulemaking

In 2012 federal courts forced the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to suspend all licensing of U.S nuclear facilities for at least two years to create a court-approved Environmental Impact Statement on the permanent storage of radioactive nuclear waste. The NRC will hold hearings and accept comments by email on the Waste Confidence Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement and Proposed Rule. PSR feels that the Draft EIS is completely inadequate and we encourage our members to comment at these events. 

PSR Arizona Holds Climate Conference

Climate Smart Southwest was a roaring success with 44 co-sponsors, 300 registrants and another 300 attendees the prior evening to hear Dr. Eric Klinenberg speak about Heat Waves. Plenary sessions by eminent climate scientists focused on what to expect from climate change in the Southwest, workshops by national organizations and federal, state and local elected officials showed how to take political action effectively, and afternoon workshops got everyone engaged in one of 6 areas of climate change vulnerability. People in Tucson and the desert Southwest are galvanized!

PSR Organizes Senate Briefing on Dangerous Chemicals

PSR organized and chaired a briefing for the U.S. Senate last week, highlighting the urgent need for effective regulation of dangerous chemicals in consumer products and the environment. The briefing, which featured presentations by a research scientist and two leading academicians, examined the proposed "Chemical Safety Improvement Act." The CSIA is somewhat stronger than the ineffective law that now exists, but has notable weaknesses, including a failure to protect children and pregnant women, a lack of timetables and deadlines for implementation, and an override provision that would reverse effective policies implemented at the state level.

Webinar: Climate Change and Conflict

One of the little-discussed health effects of climate change is how it increases conflict and can lead to war. Climate change is already creating "climate refugees" and increasing social tensions, especially in the poorer nations of the world.

Join us on Wednesday, September 25 at 7:30 pm Eastern to learn about this issue and what we can do about it.

PSR Comments on EPA's Radiation Cleanup Guidelines

The EPA has implemented revised radiation Protective Action Guides (PAGs) before seeking public comment. Originally devised for a terrorist attack, these guidelines now apply to any radiological event such as a Fukushima type accident or a dirty bomb. By markedly loosening radiation water standards and not providing total radiation exposure limits, PSR is concerned that this change of standards paves the way for the nuclear industry to avoid responsibility for damage after accidents and leaks and puts the public health at risk.

We are concerned that this is an attempt to make further radiation poisoning of our environment acceptable. The relaxed standards should be withdrawn.

Fukushima Disaster: From Bad to Worse

Over two years after the earthquake and tsunami crippled the reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi complex, the situation at the reactors remains toxic and dangerous to public health as PSR and others warned.  TEPCO's patchwork fixes to cool the severely damaged reactors are starting to give way, and thousands of gallons of irradiated water are leaking, prompting Japan's nuclear regulator to declare the current state of affairs at Fukushima a Level 3 serious incident, which IAEA defines as "severe contamination."  Radioactive water readings are at their highest levels since the onset of the disaster.

Video: PSR's Dr. Andrew Kanter Speaks at UN on Nuclear Testing

Dr. Andrew Kanter, immediate past president of PSR and Co-Regional Vice President for IPPNW, was a guest panelist before an informal meeting of the UN General Assembly observing the 4th International Day Against Nuclear Testing. The topic of the panel was "Path to Zero" and Dr. Kanter presented the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons, calling for a treaty banning nuclear weapons followed by their total elimination.

US Military Action: Not the Solution to Crimes Against Humanity

PSR is very concerned that unilateral military action against Syria will undermine International law, worsen the humanitarian catastrophe, and provoke severe unintended consequences. The US should present its information to the Security Council, reconvene peace talks, and take other multilateral actions to address these serious crimes to humanity and the use of chemical weapons

Humanitarian Crisis in Syria Requires Thoughtful Action

International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, of which PSR is the U.S. affiliate, calls on all parties involved in the conflict in Syria to ensure that all stockpiles of chemical weapons are placed under verifiable safeguards. To degrade the ability for the domestic factions to wage war, IPPNW also calls on countries to cease all weapons trade with Syria and to push all parties to engage in negotiations to resolve the conflict.

PSR Launching New Chapter in Michigan

A new PSR chapter is under development in Michigan, where PSR has hired Stephanie Dernek to organize, launch and lead the new statewide chapter. Stephanie, a multi-issue organizer from Chicago, will be based in Ann Arbor, where she will be housed by the Ecology Center. Stephanie will focus initially on energy and climate-related issues, including energy efficiency and coal. Over time, she will build the chapter’s membership and its capacity to address other topics. Welcome, Stephanie!