June 18, 2026

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THANK YOU FOR READING AND SHARING WITH YOUR NETWORK

Two Months Out:

Our symposium is coming up soon, so be sure to grab your tickets! Stanford's Mark Z. Jacobson (one of the world's leading researchers on 100% renewable energy) will be speaking, along with Dr. Yazan Alwadi, a researcher behind the recent Harvard studies linking nuclear plant proximity to increased cancer mortality, plus many more! This is a rare chance to hear directly from the folks shaping the national conversation. Join policymakers, scientists, and energy experts for discussions on nuclear waste, clean energy, and the future of San Onofre. Seats are limited, register now.

Email nadia@samuellawrencefoundation.org for sponsorship inquiries!

When: August 20, 2026

Where: Scripps Seaside Forum, La Jolla

Time: 9 AM - 4 PM (lunch included)

SLF Pushes for Transparencey and Safety in Regulations for Nuclear Microreactors

This month, we submitted comments responding to the NRC’s Rulemaking “Licensing Requirements for Microreactors and Other Reactors with Comparable Risk Profiles.”

We pushed back on NRC diluting and defanging existing safety frameworks for untested microreactors. Even pro-nuclear industry groups requested an extension to the rulemaking because the NRC proposed so many simultaneous changes. Without adequate public and expert input, the resulting framework lacks transparency and does not provide the level of safety the public should demand for any nuclear reactor.

VIEW COMMENTS

Floating Schools Featured in FairPlanet

FairPlanet published a new article featuring the F loating Schools of Bangladesh, a program SLF proudly fiscally sponsors. The piece follows students and teachers aboard solar-powered classroom boats, and includes interviews with founder Mohammad Rezwan and longtime teacher Rowshon Ara Parvin. It also highlights the program's recent international recognition, including the 2025 UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy.

It's a thoughtful look at the program's reach today: 58 boats serving about 2,300 children daily. Read and share with your network.

READ THE ARTICLE

Defend Radiation Standards

A May 2025 executive order directed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to overhaul the radiation protection standards that govern nuclear safety, including ALARA ("as low as reasonably achievable") and the linear no-threshold model, the scientific basis for limiting public radiation exposure. Weakening these rules would mean more radioactive pollution in our air, food, and water, less cleanup of contaminated sites, and worse health impacts for women, children, and marginalized communities.

To strengthen our efforts, we are a founding member of a newly-launched coalition, Protect Better: No Radioactive Communities. Alongside Physicians for Social Responsibility, Beyond Nuclear, Nuclear Information and Resource Service, and more, we are pushing back on weakening radiation protection standards.

These rules will govern nuclear safety for generations, but the public gets only 30 days to comment once it opens on July 2. To prepare, join the No Radioactive Communities webinar on Tuesday, July 7 at 5:30 PM PT.

Policy Director Peter Jones

on Breaking Green Podcast

Peter Jones, our Director of Nuclear Waste Policy, joined the Breaking Green podcast to discuss how AI's growing power demands are reshaping nuclear safety policy nationwide.

The conversation covers the proposal to repeal ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable), a 50-year-old radiation safety standard, in order to fast-track Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Peter discusses how SMRs, often marketed as a climate solution for AI's energy needs, can actually be less efficient and use more dangerous fuel, and how San Onofre's stranded waste illustrates the risks of moving forward without solving the underlying waste problem.

LISTEN HERE

SLF Arts Advisory Council:

Two Calls for Artists

Our Arts Advisory Council has been busy putting art at the center of the San Onofre conversation, and right now there are two ways for artists to get involved.

First, the billboard project: We are placing billboards across Southern California to raise awareness about the 3.6 million pounds of nuclear waste stored 100 feet from the ocean. We want an artist's vision behind that message. Selected artists receive a $200 stipend, with bonus consideration for work that engages radiation or San Onofre. Deadline is June 23rd at 8 PM PST. Email nadia@samuellawrencefoundation.org to get involved.

Second, our Student Arts Challenge, "From Hazard to Hope: Arts in Action," is open to students and recent graduates ages 18–23. Submissions are coming in and the deadline is approaching fast. Submit now! Know a young artist? Send this their way.

SUBMIT YOUR WORK

SLF at the Oslo Freedom Forum

Earlier this month, our Director of Programs, Nadia Khawja, attended the Oslo Freedom Forum in Norway, a three-day gathering of human rights defenders, journalists, and dissidents. Speakers included advocates and community leaders addressing human rights challenges across the globe.

Why does this matter for SLF? Environmental crises and human rights are deeply connected. The communities hit hardest by environmental disasters are often the ones with the least power to speak out. From the floating schools of Bangladesh to environmental justice work in Uniontown, Alabama, we support people facing exactly these pressures. The event deepened our understanding of how to protect communities and equip them with the tools to be heard. We came home with new connections, new perspectives, and renewed resolve.

LEARN MORE

Harnessing the Power of the Sun

on Your Balcony

Thanks to your advocacy, the Plug and Play Solar Act (SB 868) passed the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee 18-0 on June 10. This bill will allow Californians to use small-scale solar systems that will lower electricity bills and provide more clean energy. We are proud to be part of the Environmental Working Group's coalition supporting this bill.

Next up: Assembly Appropriations, chaired by Assembly Member Buffy Wicks, followed by a full floor vote expected in late August. Keep contacting your Assembly Member. The pressure is working!

Using Your Creativity For Change

Last Sunday, we hosted our first-ever community zine night. Friends, family, and student volunteers came together around a common goal: showcasing the power of environmental advocacy through artistic expression. Participants created their own “zines” (mini handmade booklets) to raise awareness about the San Onofre nuclear waste crisis. This hands-on experience sparked discussions as people unfamiliar with the issue began asking questions and highlighting the facts they found most alarming. This newfound knowledge was transformed into art, as volunteers used funny drawings and relatable messaging to emphasize that advocacy is meant to inspire, not bore.

Hear about more creative ways to engage by joining our upcoming “Boosting Engagement with Creative Activism” virtual workshop on Wednesday, June 24 from 2:00-3:30 PM PT.

Thank you to our friends from the Center for Artistic Activism for the powerful work they do. And an additional thanks to our co-sponsors Women Forward, who inspire us to vote on the things we care about (Did you know that ionizing radiation is more harmful for women than men?)

Volunteer with us!

We are gearing up for a big summer and we're looking for people to join us. We need volunteers in San Clemente to represent the foundation's goal of moving the waste off the coastline. We are also looking for volunteers to table at events, help with our August Symposium at Scripps Seaside Forum, and support our youth education and art programs. There's a role for everyone. Reach out and let's get to work.