Dear Friends of PSR Philadelphia / Pennsylvania,
Giving Tuesday, the global day of giving, encourages individuals to reflect on their blessings and support a cause they believe in. Help care for your local Philadelphia community by keeping PSR Phila in mind during this charitable season.
We thank you for your long-standing and dedicated support !
Updates on PSR
On November 19th PSR Phila/PA Will Meet For Strategic Planning!
Every four years we look at where we are and where we will go to keep PSR a vital force in our community. Healthcare professionals are an important voice of health and science. As we enter our 40th year, we will take a comprehensive look at current public health risks and the work needed to address these issues. We want our membership to be a part of the discussion. Please share your priorities with us by taking this survey.

Get to know us. #1 Our Mission
Visionary Leaders Awards Reception
On November 7, 2018, PSR National hosted their third annual Visionary Leaders Awards at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC. Here, PSR recognized individuals and/or organizations for their exemplary efforts in advancing nuclear weapons abolition and/or addressing environmental risks to human health, including the catastrophic consequences caused by climate change. Click here to view the recipients of this year's award.
PSR Poses Opposition to LNG terminal in Passyunk area
On October 29, PSR testified at the recent Phila Gas Commission hearing against building a liquifaction natural gas (LNG) terminal that would take natural gas and chill it to a liquid state and then export it to New England and overseas. All of this would encourage more fracking and the burning of fossil gas as a fuel source, at a time when we need to rapidly move away from all carbon based combustion. Public testimony ends November 28 and can be sent to arowe@phlgc.net .
PA Health Check-Up Recordings
Two weeks ago, on October 13, PSR Phila hosted the first of our three-part, speed-learning and advocacy training on the health impacts of the unconventional gas development industry. This event was a huge success and we thank everyone who joined us. In case you missed it, click here to view recordings of all the trainings and topics discussed.
Community Events
#1: FINAL Hearing for Appeal of SEPTA Nicetown Gas Plant Permit
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 and 350 Philadelphia, the groups leading the fight to protect clean air and land in this community.
#2: Racism in Medicine Conference (RiMC)
Event Date: Saturday, Nov 17, 2018, 8:15 AM - 4:30 PM
Locati on: Nesbitt Hall in the Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health , 3215 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19104

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 within 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.
#3: Understanding and Applying the PA Environmental Rights Amendment
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!
#4: Air Quality Hearings for Adelphia Gateway Pipeline Compressor Stations
Event Date: Tuesday, Dec 4, 2018, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Locati ons
(1) Lower Chichester Township Municipal Building: 1410 Market Street, Linwood, PA 19061
(2) West Rockhill Township Municipal Building: 1028 Ridge Road, Sellersville, PA 18960

Please join PSR in attending the Air Quality meeting hosted by the DEP to assess impacts of the Adelphia Gateway Pipeline Compressor Stations. The hearings will afford residents and concerned individuals the opportunity to comment on the draft plan approvals, and testify orally or in writing. The Plan Approval applications, technical review memos, and draft approvals are available for review here.
#5: Better Path Coalition and Delaware Riverkeeper Network's Green Amendment Campaign!
Please support the initiative to raise awareness about Article 1 Section 27 (also called the Green Amendment) of the PA Constitution. This amendment, ratified in 1971, honors and protects Philadelphian's right to pure water, clean air, and a healthy environment. The Coalition and partners are planning two days of actions and events in Harrisburg in January, to call on elected officials to fulfill their Constitutional obligation to uphold Article 1, Section 27 by taking aggressive action to address the urgent environmental and climate challenges that confront us. Click here for more information on how you can get involved.
Check out Nature PHL for a list of events near you!
NaturePHL is a collaborative program that brings together physicians, clinicians, educators, public health advocates, park and recreation agencies, and other organizations to offer outdoor activity prescriptions for all Philadelphia families. The website simply asks for a location, and will then direct the user to a variety of different outdoor events in their area. The hope is to empower Philadelphians to achieve better health through exercise, education and the outdoors!
Current News
Large new solar farm would be built to supply electricity for Philly-owned buildings: According to a new ordinance, Radnor-based Community Energy Solar has agreed to develop a 70 megawatt solar farm, the largest in the state to supply all city-owned buildings in Philadelphia with 22% of their electricity by 2020. The farm would be located in Adams County, and the company has already formed Adams Solar LLC to operate the farm. Click here to read more about this exciting new deal.
The Clock Is Ticking on Addressing Climate Change — Med Students Can Help: Climate change is here, climate change is in our face, and climate change is just as relevant to physicians as it is to lobbyists or politicians. Click here to read this blog post explaining both environmental and health issues that will persist and worsen if climate change is not addressed. The post discusses the latest report released by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and cites that, "we have only 12 years left to keep the maximum temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius" in order to avoid environmental devastation. If current trends persist, 50% more land would be converted from savannahs to deserts and significant biodiversity will be lost. More importantly, 420 million people will be exposed to extreme temperature which could result in 250,000 additional deaths per year. Read more here about what is at stake and how the medical community can help.
Written by: Sidhanth Gugale, Drexel School of Medicine and PSR National Student Representative
Meet Tomarra Buckner
Tomarra Buckner is the newest member of the PSR team. A Drexel University graduate with a passion for helping others, Tomarra has worked with numerous non-profit agencies in the Philadelphia area and currently serves PSR as a program supervisor and facilitator of the USCAN grant which strives to increase access to green jobs for members of underserved communities and educate people of all backgrounds on the health consequences of climate change and nonrenewable energy sources. 
Publis hed: November 10, 2018