Last month, Moms and 60+ youth activists from across the country converged on Capitol Hill to call on lawmakers to sign two House Resolutions that would support youth mental health and comprehensive climate education in schools.
- “We know that climate change is impacting our mental health,” Senior Policy Analyst Elizabeth Bechard said at the press conference, highlighting the importance of giving youth access to the mental health resources they need. Hear more of her speech on KCBS News or the presser recording.
- Both resolutions were written by youth, for youth. Resolutions do not become law, but they do lay the groundwork for future legislation. The Reporter, the Times-Herald, Mercer Me, Gen Dread, Lake County Record Bee, and a press release from Congresswoman Barbara Lee outline the significance of these resolutions.
- Mental health support is especially critical in Latino communities, where youth are disproportionately impacted by air pollution and climate change. EcoMadres Program Manager Carolina Peña-Alarcón speaks more about this with El Pregonero.
IN OTHER NEWS…
Moms Climate Hope: Prevention names Moms as one of the reasons to be hopeful about the future of climate change. The article traces our history from its inception 12 years ago to the 1.4+ million member-strong organization that it is today.
- “Moms will do everything to keep our children safe,” our Director and Co-Founder Dominique Browning (above) tells Prevention. This commitment to protecting our families is what drives our work at the local, state, and federal levels.
Petrochemicals are everywhere: As petrochemicals and plastics become more and more ubiquitous, so does the risk of petrochemical disasters.
- The recent disaster in East Palestine, Ohio, is a stark reminder that our reliance on petrochemicals comes at a cost. Last month, East Palestine Mom Misti Allison traveled to DC to share her family’s story in testimony before the Senate. Excerpts from her testimony are printed in the Morning Journal.
- This isn’t just a threat to residents of rural areas. Just two weeks ago, Philadelphia residents were advised to drink bottled water when a latex plant spilled a toxic chemical into a tributary of the Delaware River. Watch EcoMadres Program Manager Carolina Peña-Alarcón’s interview with Telemundo 62.
- For those who live near petrochemical plants, the threat of disaster is ever-present. Ohio River Valley organizer Rachel Meyer lives a few short miles from the Shell ethane cracker plant in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. She talks to Vox about a recent malfunction that forced operators to burn chemicals into the air to prevent an explosion.
Honorable mentions: A couple news hits that deserve a shout-out!
- Pennsylvania Moms is one of the groups urging Governor Shapiro to “stay the course” on the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)—a regional carbon credit compact that advocates argue will cut carbon pollution and protect public health. Pennsylvania Capital-Star and Wellsboro Gazette report on a joint letter these groups sent to the Shapiro administration.
- The Nevada Indepdendent’s political roundup includes Nevada Moms’ recent clean cars press conference with Congressman Horsford.
- Green Energy Consumer Alliance’s recent blog post on school bus electrification in Massachusetts uses photos of Kids Clean Air Force members.
- Ohio River Valley organizer Rachel Meyer’s statement on EPA’s newly proposed chemical manufacturing rules ran on PA Environment Digest Blog.
SEND A MESSAGE TO CONGRESS TO SUPPORT YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND CLIMATE EDUCATION