Native Plants and Other More Natural Gardening: Under-appreciated opportunities in public health, environmentalism and happiness.
by Ed Wrenn, MD.
I am writing this because I have found a fascinating hobby which is also a major opportunity for environmental action. It is a tangible way to address huge systemic problems.
“Healing the earth one yard at a time.” That’s the motto of the national organization Wild Ones Native Plants, Natural Landscapes. Last July, I co-founded the Western PA Area Chapter. I am also a member of the PA Native Plant Society and other mission aligned gardening and environmental organizations.
Wild Ones “promotes environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration and establishment of native plant communities.” Landscapes can not only be attractive but also build rich ecosystems that support wildlife and humans alike. You can learn more about our mission and our work in Pennsylvania on our website.
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Contributors Wanted:
A journalist and soon to be pediatrics intern, is working on a story investigating the relationship between fracking and adverse neonatal outcomes. Specifically, he’s looking into cases of low birth weight, premature birth, congenital anomalies, and miscarriage/stillbirth in children of women who live in close proximity to fracking sites.
If you’ve seen families who have struggled with these issues, consider connecting with him so we can raise awareness around this too-often-devastating, and rapidly growing, problem.
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Support the EPA's proposed safeguards and tell #MyMethaneStory
In the U.S. oil and gas production is the largest industrial source of methane pollution. This pollution is accelerating the pace of climate change and harming the health of our families and communities, and it’s only getting worse.
While EPA's proposed methane safeguards are an important step in the right direction, they do not go far enough, and must be strengthened in order to protect communities on the frontlines of oil and gas development, and confront the climate crisis head-on. EPA must strengthen their proposed rule to protect public health and the climate, through a supplemental rulemaking or other action.
We cannot miss out on this opportunity to cut methane pollution, safeguard public health, and act on climate.
As part of PSR PA's work to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas development we are collecting stories from impacted residents, and advocates, to share on social media.
Please participate by submitting your video today. You are welcome to share this video request with others as well.
Please retweet Laura's video to help amplify this video and urge EPA to enact the strongest methane safeguards possible!
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Support Whole Home Repairs SB1135 to help families fund health-sustaining home repairs
The Whole-Home Repairs Act is a bipartisan bill that creates a one-stop shop for home repairs and weatherization while building out Pennsylvania’s workforce and creating new family-sustaining jobs in a growing field. The Whole-Home Repairs Act is the first bill of its kind in the nation, making it so that Pennsylvanians can stay warm, safe, and dry in homes they can afford.
For more information, contact Linnea Bond, PSR PA's Health Educator and Campaign Coordinator, at Linnea@psrpa.org.
See more actions to take here.
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Air Quality in SWPA Still Threatens the Health of Our Most Vulnerable Residents |
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PSR PA Board Chair, Ned Ketyer, MD, FAAP, is quoted in this press release from The Breathe Project on the American Lung Association’s “State of the Air” 2022 report.
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Cooking With Gas: Health Harms from Gas Stoves |
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When: May 13, 2022, 1-2PM
As a part of our PA Health Check Up series, this training exposes the harmful air pollutants produced by gas stoves, their negative impacts on the human body, the exacerbated impacts on vulnerable populations, and how health professionals can help their patients reduce their risk.
Physician CME: this activity is approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Pharmacy CEU: this program is approved for 1 CEU (1 hour). ACPE # 0097-9999-22-003-L04-P. Nurses who attend will receive a certificate for 1 hour at the conclusion of the program. Pharmacy and Nursing credit is only available for individuals with a Pennsylvania license.
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Asthma Awareness Month
Clean Stoves, Healthy Families: How Indoor Air Affects Childhood Asthma Confirmation
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When: May 16th, 2022, 11 AM
PSR PA, along with PennState Institute of Energy and the Environment, Forward Dining Solutions Global Building Network, and PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center invite you to "Clean Stoves, Healthy Families: How Indoor Air Affects Childhood Asthma."
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Climate Emergency Film Club Part I: Introduction |
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When: May 19th, 6 to 7 PM
Join Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania for the first of five intriguing panel discussions as we delve into the Climate Emergency: Feedback Loops.
With captivating illustrations and interviews with leading climate scientists, this 5 part series, including documentary and panel discussion, explores how human activity is setting off earth’s own warming loops. These warming loops are pushing the climate to a point of no return—from the melting ice and snow in the Arctic to the atmospheric jet stream to the thawing of permafrost. Learn what we can do to stop them.
The panelists for this session are Bill Moomaw, Professor Emeritus of International Environmental Policy at the Fletcher School, Tufts University, Nichola Minott, Visiting Scholar in the International Studies Program at Boston College, and Adrienne Hollis, Senior Climate Justice and Health Scientist at Union of Concerned Scientists, and moderated by Julie Becker, PhD, MPH.
Physician CME: this activity is approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Pharmacy CEU: this program is approved for 1 CEU (1 hour). ACPE # 0097-9999-21-023-H04-P. Nurses who attend will receive a certificate for 1 hour at the conclusion of the program. Pharmacy and Nursing credit is only available for individuals with a Pennsylvania license.
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Past Events
Climate Change and Health: Indicators and Pathways. Watch Here
Fossil Fuel Companies' Increasing Use of Trade Agreements to Attack Climate Initiatives - and How We Stop Them. Watch Here
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When: May 4th, 2022
Civil Society Equity Review (CSER) invites you to "An Equitable Global Phase Out of Fossil Fuels," as a part of their "Amplification Day" which will focus on the findings and recommendations of our most recent report. Learn more on their website.
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When: June 11-13, 2022
Where: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Join Pennsylvania Climate Convergence as advocates, activists, and concerned residents will converge on Harrisburg to tell our governor, lawmakers, and regulators that they are having the wrong conversation on climate and need to change their stance.
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PSR PA supports a number of actions throughout the year. Below are a few of the recent letters we've signed on to. Please click the titles to see the full letter.
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Have questions or suggestions for PSR PA? Email us at info@psrpa.org. |
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