spsr advocacy toolkit
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This is the SPSR advocacy toolkit, built to help students grow into successful medical advocates.TRANSCRIPT
SPSR
STUDENT PHYSICIANSFOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Preventing what we cannot cure
Student Medical Advocacy Toolkit
A training guide for future health professionals
NATASHA GHENT-RODRIGUEZ
NEETHU PUTTA
JESSIE DUVALL
TOVA FULLER, PH.D.
Table of Contents Acknowledgements 3
Part I: Mission & Vision 4
Strategic Priorities 5
Part II: What is Advocacy? 7 Medical Advocacy 8
Part III: Building Your Chapter 9
Step 1: Getting Started Step 2: Organization & Structure Step 3: Resources Step 4: Building rapport Overall Goals
9 10 11 11 12
Part IV: Advocacy Strategies 13
Strategy 1: Reaching Congress Strategy 2: Reaching the media Strategy 3: Hosting events Strategy 4: Building partnerships
13 15 17 19
Appendix 20
Citations 25
Page 2
"Physicians have an obligation to consider the entire public as their patient. Even without prior activist experience, medical students can make a huge difference in their own community through student groups, while building the skills necessary to tackle threats from government legislation. SPSR is a great starting point for those who have the desire to create change."
Marie Kim, President of SPSR University of Iowa Chapter
ence. As health professional students, you are fortunate to have each other. Your energy and fresh ideas are an inspiration for the rest of us. Thank you so much for embarking on this journey with
Dr. Peter Wilk, Executive Director PSR
Page 3
Acknowledgements We would like to thank the following individuals for their continued support: Marie Kim for her helpful edits, Craig Levoy for his diligent, prompt work ethic, and Molly Rauch and Rebecca Abelman for their revisions and advice.
Page 4 Part I: Mission & Vision
Part I: Mission & Vision
Who are we? Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR), founded in 1961, is the medical and public health voice working to prevent the use or spread of nuclear weapons and to slow, stop and reverse global warming and thetoxic degradation of the environment. PSR is the U.S. Affiliate of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), the recipient of the
clinic a physician must be concerned about the greater good of mankind. As a health professional, your work extends beyond the hospital or clinic you are an advocate for implementing and changing policies to protect the rest of the population. PSR has over 50,000 members and 31 PSR chapters, all committed to the same mission. You are a part of PSR! Student Physicians for Social Responsibility (SPSR) is a program of PSR
SPSR has 41 chapters and is headed by two national student representatives who both sit on the Board of Directors for PSR and guide SPSR as a whole.
SPSR MISSION:
Student Physicians for Social Responsibility is a group of student health professionals working to promote
environmental justice, address social disparities, and advocate for a peaceful and secure world.
Page 5 Part I: Mission & Vision
SPSR has three different focus areas:
These focus areas each have a few or goals that drive the overall mission. Social Justice Fairness for all Guided by the values and expertise of medicine and public health, PSR seeks to protect human life worldwide from the impact of social injustice and structural violence. The root causes of social injustice are many and include a widening gap between rich and poor, unequal distribution of resources worldwide, discrimination, and the disenfranchisement of individuals and groups from the political process. SPSR is committed to highlighting the disproportionate negative effects that issues like environmental degradation, war, and nuclear waste have on poorer communities of color both nationally and internationally. Equal Access to Healthcare Whether it is through promoting legislature for equal access to healthcare or providing the homeless with healthcare services, student PSR chapters support universal access to basic health services.
SPSR
Social Justice
Environmental Justice
Peace & Security
Page 6 Part I: Mission & Vision
Environmental Justice Individual and community health are intrinsically linked to the environment; in order to improve our own health, we must develop a more sustainable relationship with the environment. Environmental degradations such as the use of environmental toxins and consequences related to climate change disproportionately affect the poorest communities and communities of color. Student PSR aims to raise awareness of the health effects of environmental destruction and their effect on communities, and to act in support of a verdant and just world. Through education and advocacy, SPSR addresses a wide range of issues such as climate change, toxins, clean energy, and greening healthcare at the local, national, and international level. Peace & Security Supporting a nonviolent and fair world War threatens the health and livelihood of military personnel and civilians alike. Modern warfare takes a direct toll on the physical and mental health of those involved. Furthermore, war is expensive, leading to the diversion of considerable amounts of resources from worthy endeavors including healthcare and education. Student PSR recognizes that peace is the precursor to a better world, and supports the promotion of a truly secure global environment. Nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament Nuclear weapons pose the single greatest security threat to our global existence. The use of a nuclear weapon would completely overwhelm the public health infrastructure, rendering any current strategies ineffectual. In facing the nuclear threat, SPSR's motto is especially relevant: we must prevent what we cannot cure. SPSR seeks to minimize this danger through global disarmament and by lobbying for steps toward zero nuclear weapons. Safe Energy SPSR is committed to promoting research of and use of alternative energy sources. Coal-fired power plants are not only the leading climate change culprit in the US,
been linked to cardiovascular and respiratory compromise. Nuclear energy is economically unsound and mired in unresolved safety issues that pose a threat to public health. SPSR advocates for focusing on real energy solutions from renewable, efficient sources.
Page 6
Page 7 Part II: What is advocacy?
Step 2: Organization & Structure
There must be a hierarchy within your SPSR chapter in order to successfully propel your ship forward. Here is an example:
Knowing who is responsible for what tasks in your chapter will help ensure and improve the efficiency of your advocacy work. Also, by giving your core leaders titles and specific responsibilities it will help maintain the stability of your chapter. Draw your own structure and list the main responsibilities of each position:
Step 2: Organization & Structure
Part II: What is advocacy?
Guru: Now let me teach you the ways of ad-vocacy, young one!
Four Step Problem Solving Process:
1) Identifying problems 2) Finding solutions 3) Planning advocacy strategies 4) Finding the common ground between those three steps
Advocacy
Identifying Problems
Finding Solutions
Changes in policies & programs
be. We must identify problems, find so-lutions, and plan advocacy strategies, and ultimately create change in policies and programs.
Advocacy is not just identifying problems or solutions. While identifying problems and finding solutions are both integral parts to the process, advocacy is an independent action dedicated to changing policies, positions or programs of an institution.1 Advo-cacy is only one part of a four step problem solving process, as illustrated below.
Part II: What is advocacy?
What is medical advocacy? Medical advocacy aims to change policies that are relevant to medicine. Student Physicians for Social Responsibility (SPSR) concentrates on three sectors: Environment & Health, Peace and Security, and Social Justice. For example, nuclear disarmament is a medical issue, as nuclear weapons can potentially cause many health-endangering consequences, such as radioactive contamination. SPSR advocates for complete nuclear disarmament. You are a SPSR medical advocate! Most SPSR groups choose a few issues that they are passionate about and focus on
in at least one of its main program areas Peace & Security, Environment & Health, and Social Justice. Communicate your ideas with your National Student Representatives (NSR). You can also focus on other areas of interest; for example, Philadelphia SPSR groups mainly focus on gun violence. Which issues will your SPSR chapter focus on? Plan in the box below:
E-mail [email protected].
Page 8
Dr. Peter Wilk, Executive Director PSR
Page 9 Part III: Building Your Chapter
Part III: Building Your Chapter
what medical advocacy is, you are ready to build your own SPSR chapter! In order to construct a united front to advocate for a change in a specific policy, you must have a cohesive, organized and strong group of energized advocates. This section provides helpful advice for building a successful SPSR chapter.
Step 1: Getting Started
1) Register as an SPSR advocate on the PSR website: http://www.psr.org/chapters/student-chapters/join-student-psr.html
2) Contact PSR National at [email protected] and your local PSR
chapter. Find your local PSR chapter: http://www.psr.org/chapters/ 3) Identify three to four core helpers who are interested in starting this
SPSR chapter with you. 4) Hold a kick-off event. See below and Part IV: Advocacy Strategies for
details on holding events. 5) Make a plan or start an initiative, and then request a mini-grant from PSR
National. Ex. Design a campaign that asks Congress to get rid of environmental toxins. Write up a concise, yet well explained grant request for this campaign.
Part III: Building Your Chapter
Step 2: Organization & Structure There must be a hierarchy within your SPSR chapter in order to successfully propel your organization forward.
Knowing who is responsible for each task in your chapter will improve the efficiency of your advocacy work. Also, giving your core leaders titles and specific responsibilities will maintain the stability of your chapter. Draw your own structure and list the main responsibilities of each position:
President
Vice President Secretary Treasurer
Page 10
Page 11 Part III: Building Your Chapter
Step 3: Resources You will need some help building your chapter or organization.
1) Knowledge of school assistance: What does your school offer to
student groups? Make sure to ask! Sometimes student groups are provided free office space, conference reimbursements, free poster printings, etc.
2) Email [email protected]: This e-mail address is for any questions or
initiatives. 3) Contact your local PSR chapter: Use the PSR website (http://
www.psr.org/chapters/) to find your local PSR chapter. Perhaps you can hold a joint event or share some of their resources.
Step 4: Building rapport within your chapter This step is essential to building a strong, cohesive chapter.
1) Use a social media network, such as Facebook, to create a group or
fan page. You can have members post relevant articles or thoughts on that page, creating a living space for your group!
2) wiki.
time. Some wikis are moderated, meaning someone reviews the changes before they are made. A wiki can be a useful tool for information sharing. Visit www.wiki.com to read more and create one today!
3) Create an e-mail listserv to facilitate shared communication by using a
Yahoo or Google group. This allows you to send an e-mail to all members by just e-mailing one Yahoo or Google group address.
Where we need to be
Overall goals for your chapter: How do you gauge the success of your chapter? This is what every chapter should strive for:
1) Events: Events are essential to maintaining a successful chapter. They are what attracts members and keeps members, as events tend to be both informative and fun and students love free food! Successful chapters should be hosting at least two large events as well as three fundraisers per year.
2) Funds: PSR offers mini grants for SPSR chapters for specific initiatives
that an SPSR chapter is launching. For example, if an SPSR chapter launches a campaign on environmental health and sends an advocacy plan to PSR National, PSR consider sending a grant to that chapter. Furthermore, try to keep a target amount of around $500 to hold events and for meetings.
3) Members: There is power in numbers: members may have useful
contacts, draw attention and thus generate more members, and give your SPSR chapter credibility. Extending invitations to public health, pre-medical and dental students helps increase awareness, resources, and funds, and as an added benefit, you may gain potential members! Aim for a core group of 20-25 dedicated members.
Part III: Building Your Chapter Page 12
Page 13 Part IV: Advocacy Strategies
Part IV: Advocacy Strategies How do you implement your advocacy agenda? Detailed below are some strategies that you and your SPSR chapter can use in order to be successful advocates.
Strategy #1: Reaching Congress
One of the most important aspects of advocacy is meeting with those who impact policy. These meetings are used to persuade lawmakers to take a course of action that you support. This is called lobbying. Your congresspersons are there to represent the views of their constituentsexpect to be contacts and need to be contacted in order to perform their duty well. Elected officials and their staff regularly meet with constituents to hear their views, though the majority of visitors are paid lobbyists representing industry and corporations. The corporate interest is not always
it is critical to counterbalance those voices with opinions of concerned citizens like YOU!
Tactics:
1) , either in your district or in Washington, is the most effective lobbying strategy. This way, one gains face-to-face contact and can build rapport with the congressperson. First, call and make an appointment with your member of congress. If you cannot get an appointment, ask to meet with the staff person that is most qualified to talk about the issue in which you are concerned.
2) Before the meeting:
Gather an interested group of people to show that this issue affects more than one person. Establish your agenda and goals.
Lobbying is the action of attempting to influence a
especially in terms of voting.
3) During the meeting:
Be concise and to the point, as you have to remember that your member of congress does have a busy schedule. Press for commitment; do not let your member of congress evade the issue. Ask specifically for his or her position on the issue. Stress why this issue concerns you and others. Cite local statistics and give examples of those who will be most affected.
4) After the meeting:
Make sure to thank the member or the staff person for his or her time. Provide a follow-up e-mail or fact sheet, or perhaps schedule a second meeting. Keep in touch, so you can eventually build a relationship. Share the knowledge you learned
and tell the PSR national office.
Best Practices
Prepare a convincing argument.
Explain the problem, and then explain your solution thoroughly.
Pick a few throw too many at them!
Explain why it is important for the community.
Bring a business card or contact information with you.
Bring PSR resources or fact sheets if relevant.
Part IV: Advocacy Strategies Page 14
Strategy #2: Reaching the media
The media is influential in educating the public and shaping public policies. If you want Congress to pass clean air legislation or ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, you have to keep those issues in the public eye. As a SPSR advocateheard above voices of the high-priced lobbyists for the coal and oil industries, military contractors, or pro-gun lobbyists.
Tactics:
2. Letter to the editor These are among the most popular and widely read
parts of every daily newspaper. Most importantly, elected officials carefully monitor this section of the newspaper along with the editorial page to discern local opinion. (For example, see Appendix C.)
3. Ask local media sources to come cover your events By covering your
events, you will be keeping the public informed and keep SPSR issues in the spotlight. This will attract attention from the public, other advocates, and elected officials.
Format One page at maximum with a brief headline Print "MEDIA ADVISORY" in the top left corner Provide contact names, phone numbers and e-mail. Highlight the date, time and place. Briefly describe the purpose, speakers and if there will be photo opportunities. Indicate the end of the page by placing a "###".
Page 15 Part IV: Advocacy Strategies
1. Write a media advisory A media advisory is written to media outlets before an event, alerting them of an upcoming event. It only includes the very basics of the event of a media advisory is to persuade the media into coming and covering the event. Present your event as worthy of coverage!2 (For example, see Appen-dix A.)
The media is a means of communication that is designed to reach vast amounts of people.
There are four basic types:
1. Television 2. Radio 3. Newspapers & magazines 4. Internet
4. Write a press release A press release is a report written for press to read during an event. It is generally 1-2 pages describing the basic findings of a report, sometimes including quotes by speakers, and is released on the day of the event. Press releases should be distributed during the event. Sometimes press releases are used to issue statements in reaction to news events. For example, PSR might issue a press release in support of proposed gun control legislation. Make sure to send PSR National a copy of the release! (For example, see Appendix B.)
Best Practices
Be concise and keep press releases short.
Be sure to include a contact person.
Always have the date of the event on all materials.
Call to confirm that your press materials were received and maintain a relationship with the media source.
Part IV: Advocacy Strategies Page 16
Format Two pages maximum, double-spaced, one-sided Brief headline Highlight the release date Provide contact names and numbers Indicate the end of the page by placing a "###". Include a sentence or two about your organization.
5. Editorials and op-eds An op-ed is an opinion piece that generally runs in a daily newspaper showcasing a specific issue that an authorized individual feels passionate about. Op-eds can raise the profile of an important issue, establish your group as a player in the solution of a problem, and encourage citizen action. (For example, see Appendix D.)
6. Facebook and other social media
networks Social media networks, such as Facebook, are great tools and resources to use in order to get a message out to a large mass of young people. Facebook has many potential SPSR advocates take ad-vantage of the opportunities and networks that social media gives you access to.
Strategy #3: Hosting events Events are a perfect way to invite outsiders to learn more about your issues and the mission of your group. Planning events also gives your group members the opportunity to have a greater involvement in the activities of the organization. Ultimately, by holding events, you will be expanding your support base and educating your local community.
Tactics: 1. Book signings Book signings are a great way to attract new, potential SPSR
advocates as well as current ones. By having a popular and knowledgeable author (a sort of celebrity) speak about an issue that SPSR focuses on, i.e. nuclear proliferation, you can draw current as well as potentially new members to unite for an interesting event. Offering discounted books, personally signed by the author, may be a magnet as well.
Best Practices
Always provide food and beverage.
Provide biographies of speakers or panelists,
Keep a sign-in sheet available to keep track of all attendees. Include space for
Be sure to follow up with attendees via e-mail or phone call.
Page 17 Part IV: Advocacy Strategies
2. Panel discussion Panels with experts in a relevant field speaking about SPSR issues draw many students, as students are gen-erally interested in gaining contacts and networking. By hosting these panels, you may be able to expand your SPSR chapter!
3. Campus organization fairs These fairs are a perfect way to introduce your chapter to the rest of your college cam-pus. Generally, each club will be assigned one table that they can use to advertise their group. Make fliers or brochures, and
Make sure to have a few sign-up sheets handy with fields for names and e-mail ad-dresses.
4. Movie screenings Movie screenings are generally centered around a
movie that is relevant to your specific issue. For example, if you are interested in nuclear disarmament, you could have a movie screening in
Hold a reception afterwards that involves a discussion and some free food to allow members to discuss how they felt about the movie! Movie screenings increase awareness in an entertaining way, and thus can be really popular and well attended events.
5. Grand Rounds on Medical School Campuses This is generally a
presentation delivered by an expert, often based on a specific patient or case, with a question and answer session at the end. Before the presentation, give a short summary of your SPSR chapter and its recent activity, and after the presentation, make sure to encourage the medical students present to attend
next meeting, and persuade them to come.
Part IV: Advocacy Strategies Page 18
Strategy #4: Building partnerships Working on climate change? Safe energy? There are probably dozens of other organizations that are working on the same topic. Research other local groups that seem like good matches. Partnering with these other groups such as civic groups or academic programs may be helpful as you will be able to pool resources. Attend their events, network, look for opportunities to partner, and be sure to support their campaigns, because they are likely to support yours! PSR leaders are a unique contribution to the advocacy movement because they add the medical perspective to an otherwise policy-only advocacy strategy. Tactics:
Best Practices
Consider the list of organi-zations that PSR has histori-cally worked with, and find a local chapter.
If the event was a success, stay in contact with the group, inviting them to your SPSR meetings or other events.
Always write a thank you note to the officers of the club and anyone else who helped make your event a success!
Page 19 Part IV: Advocacy Strategies
1) Engage your local government office
Chances are if you get someone from local or national government to attend an event, the media will cover it. This puts
bly will attract more members! Maybe
an SPSR chapter. 2) Co-chair events with other campus
organizations Be sure to participate in campus events that can give your chapter exposure to the student body, and find groups that are interested in the same top-ics as your group. This way, you can co-host your events with them, and have each
3) Media Outreach Build relationships
with your local media. The stronger the relationship, the more likely they will come cover your events. You can never have enough media contacts!
Appendix A Example of Media Advisory
TO: Oregon media Contact: John Smith 202-666-6661 RE: Media Advisory for Feb. 26, 2010 Joe Schmoe 202-666-6662 Jane Doe 202-666-6663
DOCTORS WARN THAT GLOBAL WARMING WILL HAVE SEVERE IMPACT ON HEALTH IN OREGON
Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) releases
EVENT: At a press briefing in Portland, Oregon, PSR speakers will present key findings from Degrees of Danger: The Health Effects of Climate Change and Energy in Oregon, a new report alerts Oregon residents to the health effects of climate change. DATE/TIME: Tuesday, February 26, 2010 10:00 am PLACE: The Galleria, 921 SW Morrison St, Room 533 SPEAKERS: John Smith, Ph.D., Board member of Physicians for Social Responsibility.
Joe Schmoe, MD, is an Internal Medicine physician at XYZ University and Board member of PSR.
Jane Doe, MD, is an Oncologist in California, and Board member of PSR.
Degrees of Danger will be posted on-line on February 26. An embargoed press release and report can be viewed by request prior to the release.
###
Appendix Page 20
Page 21 Appendix
Appendix B Example of Press Release
Defeat of Dirty Air Act represents a big win for safeguarding public health
June 11, 2010 Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate defeated, 47 53, the Murkowski Dirty Air Act
to control carbon pollution. By rejecting this resolution, the majority of the Senate voted to base U.S. climate policy on the burgeoning scientific evidence that climate change is underway, that human activity is a major driver of carbon pollution, and that urgent action is needed to protect human health and the environment.
established the legal basis for establishing rules to limit carbon pollution from large emitters of CO2, including coal-fired power plants, heavy industry and motor vehicles. Physicians for Social Responsibility Executive Director Dr. Peter Wilk had the following response: "The Clean Air Act is our most successful environmental law on record and it has effectively controlled many dangerous air pollutants for the past forty years. We must use every tool available, including EPA authority under the Clean Air Act, to limit greenhouse gas emission from large sources immediately. The vote today echoes the call heard across the country for action to limit carbon pollution. In an ongoing effort to delay capping these dangerous pollutants, Senator Murkowski attempted to obfuscate her protection of Big Oil and Dirty Coal, claiming that EPA regulators should not be setting climate policy. This vote against her resolution demonstrates a resounding rejection of her intent to place corporate and private interest politics before the health of our nation. PSR is grateful to all the Senators that voted to protect current and future generations. And we thank all our PSR members whose calls to the Senate helped make this happen." Contact: Kristen Welker-Hood, kwelker-[email protected], 202-587-5244 ### PSR is the medical and public health voice working to prevent the use or spread of nuclear weapons and to slow, stop and reverse global warming and the toxic degradation of the environment. For more information on the work of the largest physician led organization in the country, please visit www.psr.org.
Appendix C Example of Letter to Editor
Dear Editor, As a citizen who believes that nuclear weapons are the greatest threats facing our country, I am pleased that Senator Corker, as a critical member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined the bi-partisan consensus (from Sam Nunn to Robert Gates) and voted in support of the New START Treaty. It is reassuring that we have leaders like Senator Corker who put national security over partisan politics and provided bi-partisan support for New START. I hope that Senator Alexander
floor of the Senate. Now is the time to confront the dangers of nuclear proliferation head on and we
the New START agreement to be held hostage by the reactionary measures and bitter Senate politics that have characterized other issues. Now we need Senator
START comes to the floor of the Senate. Sincerely, [Your name] [Your address]
Appendix Page 22
Page 23 Appendix
Appendix D Example of Op-Ed
Lessons from the Gulf for nuclear reactors By Dr. Jeffery Patterson, president of Physicians for Social Responsibility - 07/16/10 12:09 PM ET One crucial lesson from the BP oil spill is that measures to speed licensing, cut corners on safety and undermine regulation can lead to tragic consequences. Yet Congress appears on the verge of repeating mistakes that led to the environmental catastrophe in the Gulf.
Federal lawmakers are weighing a BP-type deregulation of new nuclear reactors the one energy source in which damage from a major accident could dwarf harm done by a ruptured offshore oil well.
In this effort, the nuclear industry's backers are working both sides of the street. On one hand, they proclaim that the current nuclear regulatory system is so superior it could well serve as a model for regulating the petrochemical industry.
At the same time, those nuclear proponents are working behind the scenes for regulatory rollbacks that would dramatically reshape safety and environmental requirements for new reactors. These provisions might be incorporated into a climate bill, or into a narrower "energy-only" bill that could be voted on by the Senate as early as this month.
The result of the changes making the rounds of Capitol Hill would further undermine Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) safety reviews by truncating the licensing process for new reactors, scaling back environmental-impact reviews, and limiting public transparency in reactor licensing decisions. All are bad ideas.
Here are a few of the problematic provisions proposed in draft legislation that should not be included in a final climate or energy bill:
The NRC would not be authorized to prevent startup of a new reactor, even if fundamental safety components already inspected were later compromised in the construction process.
The NRC would be required to propose and implement an "expedited procedure" for issuing construction and operating licenses for new reactors under certain conditions.
An impossibly high standard would be set for including an evaluation of the need for power, the cost of the new reactor, and alternative energy sources within the NRC licensing process.
The NRC could no longer hold a mandatory hearing to do an independent safety and environmental review in new reactor licensing.
Appendix
Appendix D-2 Example of Op-
Nuclear reactors already have the most streamlined licensing process of any type of industrial facility in the United States. What is delaying the review of reactor applications isn't the licensing process, but the fact that the industry has been unable to submit adequate design proposals for reactors or to respond to the NRC in timely fashion.
Rather than weakening reactor safety rules, Congress should send the NRC the right message safety over speed by strengthening them.
For example, the NRC should be required to take into consideration "worst-case" accident situations. The NRC has resisted pressure to analyze risks posed by terrorist attacks on spent fuel storage casks, although such an attack could cause a severe release of radiation. As with the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig, mere assurance that the worst-case situation won't happen is a hollow promise.
The notion that lack of a recent major reactor accident makes such an occurrence a "remote possibility," therefore justifying lax safety regulation, is the same illogical and irresponsible thinking that set the stage for the BP disaster.
As the oil spill illustrates all too well, the more complex the technology, the greater the chance of catastrophic failure. Because of human error, technological failure or unforeseen events, it is virtually guaranteed that there will be other major disasters. The catastrophic effects of these on human health and our environment will continue for generations. As we have seen at Chernobyl and are seeing in the Gulf, our environment cannot sustain this continued onslaught.
We must drastically change the direction of our energy future. This is possible through the use of clean, renewable and sustainable technologies. When it comes to disasters caused by technologies such as deep offshore drilling or nuclear power, even one accident is one too many.
Patterson is president of Physicians for Social Responsibility and a professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison.
Page 24
Citations Page 25 Works Cited
1Sharma, Ritu R.. "What is Advocacy?". An Introduction to Advocacy, SARA/AED Advocacy Training
Guide. 2"The Press Advisory." Physicians for Human Rights. 2009. <http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/toolkit/
media-and-publicity/the-press-advisory.html>.