November E-News
 

Included in this edition:

  • Event 9/21: The Critical Role of Healthcare Professionals in the Climate Crisis
  • Op-Ed: We Must Resist the Strident Voices Calling for a New Nuclear Arms Race
  • Rep. McGovern to Lead Special Nuclear Weapons Discussion in Congress
  • Americans Who Tell the Truth Portraits on display in Lewiston
  • 2024 Report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change
  • NEJM Call for Climate + Health Images
 
A note from the Executive Committee of PSR Maine about the recent Elections:
The recent federal elections did not yield the outcomes we and our planet hoped for, underscoring that our nation remains deeply divided. For those of us who see these results as a dangerous step backward, the path forward feels uncertain. As we take time to reflect, collaborate with coalition partners, and care for those most at risk, we wanted to share our November eNews with key steps for this month.
 
We invite you to share your thoughts on priorities for the coming four years by reaching out to us at director@psrmaine.org.
 

Your Role, Our Planet: The Critical Role of Healthcare Professionals in the Climate Crisis
Join the Alliance of Maine Health Professionals for Climate Action and PSR Maine on November 21, from 6-7pm for an important conversation, "The Critical Role of Healthcare Professionals in the Climate Crisis". As consistently trusted messengers, now more than ever health professionals have a crucial role to play in raising public awareness of the health threat posed by climate change and catalyzing action through direct conversations with their patients and through advocacy.
 
In this hour, learn about a recent study of Maine physicians and their belief and actions around climate change and hear from a pediatrician who puts climate change front and center in her work. The webinar is open to the public, so please feel free to share this registration link with colleagues who may be interested. 
 

We Need Your Help to Protect Workers from Extreme Heat!

Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings
Proposed Rule by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

 

SUMMARY:

OSHA is proposing a new standard: Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings.

 

This standard would apply to employers in all general industry, construction, maritime, and agriculture sectors under OSHA’s jurisdiction, with some exceptions. The proposed rule would require employers to develop and implement a plan to evaluate and control heat hazards in their workplaces. It aims to clarify employer responsibilities and outline measures to effectively protect workers from dangerous heat. OSHA invites public comments on all aspects of the proposed rule.

 

READ MORE about the Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings proposed rule here.
Read a Fact Sheet about the proposed rule: Fact Sheet.

 

TAKE ACTION
Submit a comment about the proposed rule. The deadline is December 30, 2024.
SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS HERE.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT IDEAS
OSHA is seeking input from those who have firsthand knowledge or expertise related to heat injury and illness. If you are a health professional, academic, employer, or employee, OSHA wants to hear from you about the proposed rule, which aims to “prevent and reduce occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities caused by exposure to hazardous heat.”

 

In about 800 words, you can submit a comment that includes:

  1. Who you are: health professional, academic, employer, or employee.

  2. Support for the rule: Express your support for OSHA’s proposed rule to prevent heat injury and illness.

  3. Your perspective: Share why the heat rule is important from your experience.

  4. Suggest changes: For example, some suggest lowering the "High Heat Trigger" from ≥ 90°F to ≥ 80°F, as heat-related illnesses can occur at lower temperatures.

 You can also upload any relevant documents such as published articles or reports on hazardous heat exposure. Comments can be submitted anonymously if preferred.

 

Please reach out to our Executive Director Marj Plumb at director@psrmaine.org if you would like support in making a comment or to share a copy of the comment you made.
 

NEW Op-Ed: We Must Resist the Strident Voices Calling for a New Nuclear Arms Race

Last month, PSR Maine members Kathryn Bourgoin, MD and Geoff Gratwick, MD successfully had an op-ed published in the Bangor Daily News. The piece urged Senator King to resist strident voices calling for a new arms race, and to call for reevaluation of the president's sole authority to launch US nuclear missiles. 

"There will be no winners in a nuclear war, only losers. There is no medical response to the detonation of even one nuclear bomb... the decision to countries, including ours, into radioactive wastelands should not be left in the hands of one person." Read the full piece here. Image credit below: George Danby / BDN
 

Rep. McGovern to Lead Special Nuclear Weapons Discussion in Congress 

Do you think Congress should pay more attention to nuclear weapons policies? So does PSR and the Back from the Brink Coalition! Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA) has been granted a "Special Order" 60 minute session, scheduled for Wednesday, November 13, specifically to discuss nuclear weapons policies on the House Floor. McGovern has control of the Special Order, can invite other Representatives to speak, and says he wants these topics covered in the discussion: "why the US should 1) not engage in a new nuclear arms race, 2) reduce and eliminate nuclear weapons, 3) return to negotiations, and 4) discuss related issues such as the Sentinel missile program and nuclear modernization."

More information on the special orders session can be found here.
 

Americans Who Tell the Truth on Display in Lewiston  
For the second time ever the entire collection of Americans Who Tell the Truth portraits, by Robert Shetterly, will be on display from November 15 to December 15 in Maine. This special exhibition at the Bates Mill features over 270 portraits of American figures—ranging from historical icons to contemporary activists—who have acted to confront injustice and advocate for change. Exhibit opening event will be on Friday, November 15, 5:00-7:00 pm, at the Bates Mill, 35 Canal Street, Lewiston, ME, featuring a conversation and panel with Robert Shetterly and several portrait subjects.
All are welcome!
 

2024 Report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change

Last week, the 2024 Lancet Countdown on Health & Climate Change was released. This report highlights how, across many indicators, the health impacts of climate change are reaching record-breaking levels. From increases in heat-related mortality to tree cover loss and all-time high levels of global carbon emissions, the science shows that the threats from climate change continue to persist and will grow without bold action.

 

There were a few positive findings. The share of electricity from clean renewable energy is growing, more countries are developing health adaptation plans and, good news, the amount of air pollution deaths from fossil fuels declined between 2016-2021.

 

In addition to the global report, there’s an accompanying US Brief. This year’s brief highlights three priority opportunities for decision makers to center health in its approach to climate action:

  • Rapidly reduce fossil fuel production and use while accelerating the transition to clean, non-combustion renewable energy to improve health and health equity.
  • Build resilient, adaptable communities and support public health to protect people from climate impacts.
  • Build U.S. global leadership through scaling up global investments and support for climate and health action.
 

NEJM Call for Climate + Health Images
For “Earth Month” (April 2025), the New England Journal of Medicine Images in Clinical Medicine section will place a spotlight on images displaying the clinical health impacts of the climate crisis. We invite image submissions that capture clinical manifestations of climate change. Examples might include – but are not limited to – radiographic images of the effects of smoke inhalation from wildfire exposure, images related to climate-sensitive vector- or water-borne diseases, or images showing the pathophysiologic effects of extreme heat exposure. We welcome these and other images reflecting your clinical experiences. 

 

How to Submit: 

1. Follow the standard Images in Clinical Medicine submission process. 

2. As part of the submission process, please select the “Climate and Health Images” when prompted about special series selection. 

Images may be submitted through 1/1/2025 and will be screened on a rolling basis. 

 

For more information, please visit: https://www.nejm.org/event-info  
 

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