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February E-News |
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Included in this edition:
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Middle East Conflict: Demanding Peace & Health |
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The board of PSR Maine reaffirms its stand against war, violence, and terror, and again calls for actions and dialogue that protect the health, safety, and security of the Israeli and Palestinian people. PSR Maine endorses the following statement from Washington PSR: "As an organization, we maintain our strong stance against hatred on the basis of religion, race, ethnicity, or national origin. We advocate for justice for all in Israel and the occupied territories, believe in Palestinian rights, deplore Islamophobia and antisemitism, and oppose the extremist policies of Israel’s current far-right government that are breaches of international law. We also condemn, in the strongest way possible, acts of terrorism and the holding of hostages, as well as the intentional targeting of civilians, healthcare workers, and all those engaged in humanitarian efforts. As advocates for health and well-being, we call for immediate humanitarian intervention to ensure the swift delivery of essential supplies, including food and medicine, to Gaza, which has experienced a total collapse of its healthcare system."
Please consider signing onto APHA's Peace Caucus call to action. The goal of this Call is to create a unified health professionals’ voice urging an immediate end to the violence. 25 PSR Maine members have already signed, add your name here today!
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2024 Legislative Priorities |
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PSR Maine is excited to announced our priorities for the 2024 legislative session with partners in the Maine’s Environmental Priorities Coalition! PSR Maine Board President, Syd Sewall, MD joined with lawmakers, advocates, and activists from around the state to unveil a slate of policies that will advance climate action, further environmental justice, protect biodiversity and the environment, and cultivate healthy Maine communities. The coalition’s six priorities for 2024 include:
Read more about the priorities here.
THANK YOU! Several PSR Maine members already took action by providing written testimony for LD 2077: An Act Regarding Customer Costs and the Environmental and Health Effects of Natural Gas |
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PSR Maine Board President Syd Sewall, MD with State Senator Jill Duson at the EPC Priority Launch |
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ACTION NEEDED NOW: Help Get Clean Cars in Maine! |
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We still need your help getting the clean cars standards over the line. Adoption of these rules is imperative if the state has a shot at hitting its climate targets. The state’s consultant described passage of these rules as “the most critically important” policy for cutting GHG emissions from transportation. The health and economic benefits are huge.
The opposition is even fiercer than it was before. Please help us demonstrate how important these rules are.
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2024 Doomsday Clock Remains at 90 Seconds to Midnight |
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On January 23, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announced that the iconic "Doomsday Clock" would remain this year at 90 seconds to midnight, the closest the clock has ever been to midnight since its introduction in 1947.
PSR Maine advocates for a world free of nuclear weapons not from a position of fear or despair but rather from one of hope and possibility. The Back from the Brink Campaign, which we are part of, gives every one of us a voice and a way to get involved in our own communities and make a difference. Together we are building local power across the country to fundamentally change nuclear policy to reduce the risks. |
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Save the Date: Peace Walk Coming to Maine |
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Veterans For Peace (VFP) will be hosting a Peace Walk starting from the Samantha Smith statue in Augusta on April 26, and traveling to Washington DC. We encourage all PSR Maine members to join Veterans For Peace to kick off this walk. More details about exact timing will be coming soon! In the meantime, please view their website for more information. VFP will draw attention to the existential threats to life on our planet–nuclear war and destruction of our environment–and highlight the connections between militarism, the weapons manufacturers that profit from it, and climate change.
The planned route will pass through Augusta, Wallowell, West Ggerdiner, Purgatory, Litchfield, Lisbon Falls, Durham, Pownal, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Portland, Scarborough, Old Orchard Beach, Biddeford, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Wells, Hannaford, Ogunquit, York, and Kittery. |
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Truth Tellers: Robert Shetterly's Journey to Uphold Our Founding Ideals |
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Truth Tellers will begin broadcasting NATIONWIDE February 1, 2024 distributed by American Public Television. Nearly 300 stations have signed on to air the program multiple times through 2025. Truth Tellers is a new documentary film chronicling the lives of courageous Americans fighting for racial equity, climate justice and indigenous rights.
In Maine the broadcast schedule is as follows:
February 8, 2024 8pm
February 10, 2024 2pm
February 29, 2024 on the World Channel
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Give to PSR Maine |
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Thank you for your generous support of PSR Maine! To mail your contribution to us, please send a check to our mailing address: PSR Maine, 126 Western Ave #1012 Augusta ME 04330 Or point your camera at this QR code and you’ll be taken directly to our secure donor page: |
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