Since the beginning of his time in office, President Trump has made a significant effort towards deregulating many concerning toxins and chemicals. One of his most recent targets is asbestos. On June 1st of this year, the Significant New Use Rule was put in place by the EPA, allowing the government to now evaluate asbestos use on a single case basis. Additionally, a new evaluation process has been implemented that does not include the effects of asbestos exposure in the air, ground, or water. 
 
Asbestos is a useful chemical in construction. It has been used as a reliable insulator and can help strengthen other materials. However, it is well known for being one of the most dangerous chemicals towards public health. Oftentimes it cannot be seen or smelled, making exposure relatively easy. Accumulation of asbestos fibers in the body can lead to lung cancer and other diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For this reason, the chemical has been banned in a significant number of countries and was previously heavily restricted in the United States. 
 
It is believed that President Trump’s relationship with Russia may be playing a role in this deregulation. Russia still uses asbestos in many of its industries and building materials and is one of the main exporters of the chemical. In fact, the packaging of Russia’s asbestos is stamped with Trump’s face, making it clear that this deregulation is tied in U.S.-Russia politics. 

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In Puerto Rico, a new bill called “Public Policy Law on Energy Diversification through Sustainable and Alternative Renewable Energy in Puerto Rico” has been proposed that would put Puerto Rico on the playing field toward reaching a renewable-based electric grid. The proposed bill aims to achieve 100% renewable energy in Puerto Rico by 2050. This is following nearly a year without full electrification of the island as a result of damage to the grid from the 2017 hurricane season. 
 
While this is exciting news, concerns are being raised about both the feasibility and timing of the bill. Skeptics are noting that the Puerto Rican Energy Power Authority (PREPA) declared bankruptcy in early 2017, and since the devastation of the hurricanes last year, the Authority has been selling off parts of the grid to private, foreign developers as a means of getting the island back online. In many instances, these investors are not concerned with much else than getting power back as quickly as possible. This could mean that expensive, non-renewable energy development projects will take hold before Puerto Rico can start truly moving towards renewables, making the transition more difficult in the future. Regardless, renewable microgrids and rooftop solar have been popping up all over the island, and the current state of Puerto Rico’s electric grid provides a unique opportunity to build the island up better than it was before. 

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Commercial harvesters have found a decrease in four significant species of shellfish, the eastern oysters, northern quahogs, soft-shell clams, and northern bay scallops, between the coast of North Carolina to Maine. Clyde MacKenzie, a shellfish researcher for NOAA predicts the decline to be the consequence of warming ocean waters, which has increased their predation rate, being preyed upon earlier and longer into the fall. The fall in harvesting has led to stock falls, putting the U.S. at economic risk of increasing dependence on shellfish exports from other countries. Shellfish play a valuable role in the ecosystem and their population decline can lead to further environmental stresses that hurt more fishing industries, which is why clammers are currently seeking to adopt ‘new strategies, such as shellfish farming, for the fisheries to survive’.

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What is NEJRC?

The Northeastern Environmental Justice Research Collaborative is a multidisciplinary research collaborative made up of scholars engaged in political ecology and environmental justice initiatives. Based at Northeastern University in Boston, the collaborative works on a wide range of local, regional, national, and international topics and issues. Professor Daniel Faber, a long-time researcher and advocate around environmental justice, serves as the Director.

Find more information here.

Boston Good Food Purchasing Policy Hearing

Thursday, December 6th 
1-3 pm 

The Good Food Purchasing Policy -- already implemented in four cities from Los Angeles to Chicago -- would bring local, nutritious, sustainable, and ethically sourced food to BPS and all other public institutions in Boston. It would redirect significant city resources away from the unsustainable, giant corporations at the root of our broken food system and toward food providers with nutrition and social justice as core values. And as the first city on the East Coast to pass the policy, it would set a powerful precedent for other cities, toward building the sustainable, local, healthy food system we need.

Community members will have the opportunity to share public testimony as to why nutritious, sustainable food is necessary in Boston Public Schools and beyond. Or if you prefer not to speak, simply join in solidarity with other activists and Boston community members supporting this ordinance.

Check out Environmental Working Group (EWG) on YouTube!
This channel contains short videos that can help you live a cleaner, healthier life.

Call Boston’s 311 to order your recycling bin today! Although the bins aren’t distributed until April, you can order your free recycling sticker to place on a temporary bin! (You can call the Sanitation Department at (617) 635-7573 for temporary bin dimension specifications) 

Click here for more information!