Oakland, CA— Sierra magazine’s November/ December edition is now on newsstands and arriving at subscribers’ homes. This is a themed issue focused on gender, equity, and the environment—and this special edition was produced entirely by female writers, photographers, and illustrators. Highlights in this themed issue include:
Oakland CA-- Today, Sierra Magazine launched its new sustainability advice column “Ms. Green,” written by Jessian Choy-- green lifestyle professional, Earth Island Institute board member and fighter for equal rights. Jessian’s series will replace over 14 years of columns by Mr. Green, and was announced with the magazine’s rollout of its latest themed issue on gender, equity, and the environment.
In her opening column, Jessian Choy writes:
San Francisco, CA-- Twenty-one women who are leading climate solution efforts across the country will meet at a collaboratory to address pressing environmental and climate challenges, and ways to transform their own work into scalable solutions for the United States. The collaboratory is a part of a four-month program-- the US Climate Accelerator-- where women leaders work to expand their community successes on climate mitigation and adaptation to a national level.
Washington, DC-- This morning, the Trump Administration issued a veto threat for the House of Representatives National Defense Authorization Act of 2020 (NDAA), citing two provisions that would improve safeguards against contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in our communities.
Washington, DC-- Today, Sierra Club chapters, members and supporters across the country participated in a nationwide day of action to protest the recent abortion bans proposed and signed into law across the country. Several states-- including Alabama, Missouri and Georgia among others-- have proposed some of the most restrictive laws on abortion and women’s right to choose in recent memory. Read more about the day of action and hundreds of social justice organizations who joined the events here.
Washington, DC-- Today, Rep. Lee and Sen. Hirono introduced the Women and Climate Act of 2019-- legislation aimed at developing coordinated strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change on women and girls around the world. Women make up 70% of the world’s one billion poorest people, and these women comprise the majority of our globe’s agricultural workforce, which is especially vulnerable to the effects of climate disruption. The bill would establish a Federal Interagency Working Group on Women and Climate Change within the U.S. Department of State.
Washington, DC-- Today, the Sierra Club Gender Equity Program and Women’s Earth Alliance (WEA) launched the U.S. Accelerator for Grassroots Women Environmental Leaders-- supporting a diverse group of women leaders working on the frontlines of environmental and climate justice.
KATOWICE, POLAND -- Today, on Gender Day at the COP24 UN climate negotiations and following yesterday’s 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Sierra Club and UN Women released a new report, Women on the Move in a Changing Climate: A discussion paper on gender, climate and mobility. The report examines how gender informs the needs, challenges, roles, decision-making responsibilities, and leadership in the context of climate-related mobility.
Today, 51 non-governmental organizations from around the globe sent letters to Amazon and eBay, calling on them to stop marketing dangerous and illegal mercury-based skin lightening creams. The groups testing identified 19 skin products sold by these companies that contain illegal mercury levels. Most products had mercury levels thousands of times higher than the legal limit of 1 part per million, established in the United States and many other countries.
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, Politico reported that EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt's top aide met with chemical industry representatives just after news broke about the agency suppressing a study on health effects of two common chemicals-- perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, The Hill reported that EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt plans to repeal key parts of the Chemical Safety Rule meant to inform the public of chemical hazards before disasters happen. The decision would also rescind a one-year deadline for chemical incident reports. The Chemical Safety Rule applies to 12,500 facilities, including chemical manufacturers, refineries and fertilizer plants.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Energy Secretary Rick Perry made heinous comments suggesting that expanding fossil fuel development will decrease the incidence of sexual assault.