September E-News
 

Upcoming Event: Oppenheimer, Nuclear Victims & Preventing Nuclear War Now
The War in Ukraine, Oppenheimer and the anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have us all thinking about current risks of nuclear war. What are you thinking?
 
The Maine chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility and other Maine groups working for nuclear disarmament are inviting you to participate in a Zoom group discussion to share your thoughts about the movie and how Mainers can help to prevent nuclear war.
 
We will consider the following questions: 
Does Oppenheimer have lessons for us today? What harm was done to people around the world to build and test these weapons? What can we learn from the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings? How do we respond to nine nuclear-armed nations with almost 15,000 nuclear weapons? What is being done in Maine, the United States, and internationally to end the threat of nuclear weapons?
 
Kicking off the conversation will be: Midori Morrow, an artist and activist whose grandmother survived the Nagasaki bombing, and Doug Rawlings, a veteran and activist who leads Maine Veterans For Peace.  

Divesting Public Assets from Fossil Fuels
In addition to many other positive developments in Maine during the 2021 legislative session, the Legislature and Gov. Mills approved a landmark environmental bill that made Maine the first state to commit to divest its state pension system from fossil fuel companies. In spite of this, the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) is refusing to take the steps to divest fully from fossil fuels because leaders argue it would violate their fiduciary duty — which, as written within the Maine Constitution, requires the fund to act in the best financial interests of pension holders.  Similar debates have arisen in states like California, New York, and Massachusetts.
The PERS investment managers greatly exaggerate their ability to predict the future. There is a large movement in the US, led by 350.org, for individuals and companies to divest from fossil fuel companies. If the movement gains momentum and more investors divest from these companies, their stock prices will face downward pressure due to reduced demand and market sentiment.
From a financial standpoint, investing in companies facing such risks raises valid concerns about long-term fiscal stability. There may be safer investment options available that offer better prospects for consistent returns without the associated volatility and risks linked to industries undergoing significant transitions, such as the fossil fuel sector. Maine PERS investment advisors should consider these long-term implications and divest now.
 
Action: Please consider sending an email to Dr. Rebecca Wyke at ceo@mainepers.org asking MainePERS to follow through on LD 99 and commit to no new fossil fuel investments and to fully divest their public assets from fossil fuels.
 

PSR Maine Supports Clean Truck and Clean Car Rules

PSR Maine joined other health and environmental groups and signed onto two letters to the Maine Board and Department of Environmental Protection to adopt the Advanced Clean Trucks Rule and Advanced Clean Cars II Rule. The passing of these rules is critical to the state meeting its 2030 climate goals and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. A reduction in harmful emissions and transition to zero emission vehicles also has significant health and economic benefits. A further recommendation is for Maine to continue ramping up zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) requirements toward 100% ZEVs for 2035 and beyond.  Both proposed rules can be found here.
 

More Upcoming Events!

NYC March to End Fossil Fuels

When: September 17th at 1pm

Where: New York City, New York

 

Fossil fuel pollution harms our health, our families, and our lives. It’s never been more clear than this summer, with wildfires and heat waves choking us – fossil fuels are driving the climate crisis, and the impacts are getting worse and worse.

PSR Maine invites our members to join PSR PA in coming together with other healthcare professionals to fight for something better: a future free of fossil fuels, powered by just and resilient clean energy, with good jobs, clean air and water, and healthy planet for all.

Join PSR PA at the March to End Fossil Fuels in New York City on September 17, 2023! In the largest climate march since the pandemic, thousands will take to the streets to demand President Biden take bold action to #EndFossilFuels.

Questions? Please reach out to PSR PA Director Tonyehn Verkitus at tonyehn@psrpa.org

Please let us know if you are planning to attend! Send a quick note to PSR Maine Director Marj Plumb at director@psrmaine.org 
 
A Global Challenge: Modeling the Effect of Nuclear Weapons on Climate and the Effect on Nuclear Weapons
Friday, September 22, 1-2pm ET
 
This webinar will focus on how the deployment of nuclear weapons would create disastrous effects on climate. In turn, climate change not only increases the likelihood of war due to competition for resources (water, air, soil) and therefore increased violence on a warming planet, but also is directly affecting vulnerable nuclear weapons sites and legacy nuclear waste from weapons development, with disproportionate health effects on local populations.
 
PSR Maine members can enter the code GBPSR25 to receive a reduced rate for registration.
 

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