Dear Friends of PSR Philadelphia / Pennsylvania,
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We thank you for your long-standing and dedicated
support
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October 29, 2018
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As United States citizens, we all possess the powerful right to vote and participate in our government, a privilege that many people internationally still fight for each day. We often hear about how our vote effects equality and economics, but it is sometimes overlooked how voting effects our health and wellbeing.
Politicians are lawmakers, and laws influence every facet of our lives; They control what foods are deemed safe to eat, what information must be printed on a label, who has access to health insurance, which chemicals and pollutants are allowed in our environment. PSR educates the community and policy makers in hope that everyone will make informed choices, and understand how to protect the health of citizens.
Help us protect you, and defend the health of your loved ones.
Advocate for health.
Please Vote in the Mid-Term Election on November 6, 2018.
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On October 21, PSR Philadelphia hosted the 14th Soul of Medicine brunch. A full room of medical students along with seasoned clinicians gathered to share wisdom and stories amongst their peers. Strategies on how to provide patients with unwavering respect and unconditional love, while avoiding professional burn-out were also discussed. The keynote speaker was Ken Ginsburg, M.D, M.S, ED, who specializes in Adolescent Medicine at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and is the Health Services Director at Covenant House Pennsylvania. We thank everyone who joined us!
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PA Health Checkup on Fracking
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The first event of the three-part advocacy series on the Health Impacts of the Unconventional Gas Development Industry was a huge success! The event was hosted by PSR Phila on October 13 and its focus was to provide health care professionals with the most up-to-date knowledge on fracking. The impact of these issues on patients and how to mitigate the consequences were also discussed. The event featured speed-learning in the morning, with presentations covering the very basics of fracking, the legal atmosphere, occupational health, children's health, etc. The afternoon centered on advocacy training so attendees could learn how to take action on a political level and within their workplace. It was also live-streamed to Pittsburgh and Dublin. We look forward to the next events in this series which will be listed on our
website soon!
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UNFRACTURED Documentary Tour
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The Better Path Coalition held its Philadelphia event of the PA Unfractured Tour this past Monday, October 22. Unfractured is a documentary featuring Dr. Sandra Steingraber, a biologist and mother who becomes an outspoken activist in the environmental war surrounding the unconventional gas fracturing industry. Joining Sandra at each showing was the Director and Producer, Chanda Chevannes. Read more about the documentary
here. The PA Tour ended today, but encompassed locations across the state, such as Lehigh Valley, Williamsport, Lancaster and Pittsburgh. PSR was grateful to be able to host and attend this event.
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#1: FINAL Hearing for Appeal of SEPTA Nicetown Gas Plant Permit
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Event Date: Tuesday, Nov 13, 2018, 10:00 AM
Please join PSR in attending the FINAL hearing in the appeal of the operating permit for the SEPTA Nicetown gas plant. If allowed to operate, this plant will pollute Nicetown along with neighboring communities for the next 30 years! Learn more about
Neighbors Against Gas Plants here, the group leading the fight to protect clean air and land in this community.
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#2: Racism in Medicine Conference (RiMC)
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Event Date: Saturday, Nov 17, 2018, 8:15 AM - 4:30 PM
Attend this event, hosted by students of the Drexel University College of Medicine, to change the current healthcare narrative and address the issues of racism and discrimination with the medical field. The conference will feature keynote speakers, workshops, a community organization expo, and a spoken word masterpiece. The focus of the event will be to create actionable change against racism and oppression in medicine. Click
here to read more and
here to register for this event.
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#3: Understanding and Applying the PA Environmental Rights Amendment
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Event Date: Thursday, Nov 29, 2018, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Locati
on:
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Come to this event, hosted by Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association and Chesapeake Legal Alliance, for an interactive and engaging four-hour workshop on understanding and applying the Pennsylvania Environmental Rights Amendment. Guest speakers and presenters will include Franklin Kury, Susan Shinkman and Martin Siegel. Lunch will also be provided. Click
here for more information!
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Fracking conference and opposing tribal rally highlight competing visions for Western Pennsylvania’s future: As Pittsburgh touts its environmental progress, a massive petrochemical makeover is taking place in the surrounding region. Tribes and environmental groups are arguing against a future of pipelines and plastic production. Click
here to read more about this issue.
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Dan Grossman- What Trump's EPA chief won't tell you at the shale conference: Pennsylvania is the second largest natural gas producer in the country, but Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler won’t mention the dangers that methane pollution poses to our health and environment. Click
here to read about what information Wheeler hid from oil and gas executives at the Shale Conference in Pittsburgh, on October 24, 2018.
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Generations Yet to Come- Environmental Rights in PA: Click
here to watch a recent Environmental Rights Amendment program on TV, discussing Pennsylvania's fight for the right to clean air and a quality environment.
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PSR's Newest Student
Board Members
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Christopher (Chris) Para
Drexel University College of Medicine
"I am an MS2 at Drexel and also am involved with the Latino Medical Student Association as their VP of Community Service and I am a Patient Advocate at the Salvation Army Health Outreach Clinic. I choose to be part of PSR Philadelphia because I am really passionate about the environment especially water pollution and learning more about what physicians and students can do to advocate for a safer and healthier environment. Additionally, I wanted to learn more about how non-profits run as I hope to be part of a non-profit as a physician and be a physician-advocate."
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Benjamin (Ben) Chipkin
Sidney Kimmel Medical School
"I am a second-year medical student at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. My passions in medicine center on the intersections of the environment, nutrition, and human health. The healthcare community has a unique opportunity and responsibility to confront climate change, and by joining the PSR Philadelphia Board, I will build the capacity to transform how medicine approaches our environment."
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Publis
hed: October
29, 2018
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