June 2021

Undark Magazine, which is supported by t he Knight Foundation through its Knight Science Journalism Fellowship Program, published an article last Thursday co- written by 7 members of the ITRC federal policy team that you might find of interest . It explains the urgent need to expand the U.S. approach to mental health to authorize and fund community-based initiatives to prevent and heal the individual and collective traumas generated by the climate emergency among the entire population. The...

By Katie Surma, Inside Climate News, June 22, 2021 A panel of 12 legal experts from around the world on Tuesday released a proposed definition for a new international crime called “ecocide” covering “severe” and “widespread or long-term environmental damage” that would be prosecuted before the International Criminal Court in the Hague, alongside genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression. The panel’s announcement was seen by environmentalists and international...

By Bob Doppelt, Undark, June 24, 2021 I T WAS 80 DEGREES outside in Oregon’s Southern Willamette Valley, the record drought continued, and a red flag warning had been issued to alert residents to beware of wildfires. No, it was not autumn, when wildfire season has historically occurred in the region. It was April 16, when it should have still been cool and pouring rain outside. The surprising wildfire warning seemed to have everyone on edge, fearful about what might happen to them, their...