December 2021 Alumni Update
In this update…
Public Interest Network program updates: Read about campaign work across the country.
Alumni news: Babies, new jobs and awards!
Public Interest Network program updates
Photo Credit: Prostock Studio via Shutterstock
We did it: Apple agrees to make devices easier to repair
If you're among those who don't want to add your broken iPhone to the 416,000 mobile phones Americans throw away every day, we have good news: On Nov. 17, Apple, once one of the most visible opponents to the Right to Repair movement, reversed its longstanding policy against making spare parts, repair instructions and repair software tools available to customers and independent repair shops. The commitment is part of a new Self Service Repair program, and it comes just days after the company pledged to stop deactivating Face ID for iPhone screens repaired independently. "This win was made possible by years of advocacy by Right to Repair advocates — including 33,000 messages from PIRG supporters urging Apple to end its unfair repair policies," said PIRG's Senior Right to Repair Campaign Director Nathan Proctor. The commitment coincides with a PIRG-backed shareholder resolution that our partners filed with the company. Read more.
Photo Credit: ulleo via Pixabay, CC0
Build Back Better could deliver cleaner energy to millions
Americans may soon find it easier to go solar, make their next car an electric vehicle, or find other ways to use cleaner energy in our lives. On Nov. 19, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act, which earmarks $555 billion for climate and clean energy initiatives. Some of the key provisions include a 10-year extension and expansion of clean energy tax incentives. The provisions would make installing rooftop solar, purchasing an electric vehicle, making a home more energy-efficient and other clean energy improvements easier and more accessible for millions of Americans. “We know what we need to do to solve global warming, but too often political gridlock and outdated ways of thinking get in our way,” said Lisa Frank, executive director of Environment America’s Washington Legislative Office. “This progress, the largest-ever federal investment in climate solutions, is worth celebrating.” Environment America is urging the Senate to advance these historic clean energy investments. Read more.
Photo Credit: Freepik
Thirty-sixth annual 'Trouble in Toyland' report helps parents identify potential hazards in the toy aisle
It's not always easy for parents to tell whether a toy they buy for their child will be safe to play with — or put their child in danger. On Nov. 11, U.S. PIRG Education Fund released its 36th annual "Trouble in Toyland" report, which identifies a number of hidden hazards in toys that parents should be aware of when gift-shopping this year. For example, shopping for toys online leaves the buyer more vulnerable to accidentally purchasing a counterfeit item that hasn't been held to the same safety standards as the original. And of course, as far as toy manufacturers have come in recent decades when it comes to the safety of their products, choking hazards and other threats to our young ones are still all too common. Read more.
Photo Credit: chuckyboy31 via Shutterstock
9 million acres of the Tongass move closer to permanent protections
After narrowly escaping logging under the Trump administration, the ancient trees of the Tongass are on the cusp of permanent protections from logging and development. On Nov. 19, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced steps to restore protections to more than 9 million acres of the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. The Tongass is America's largest national forest and provides critical habitat for bears, birds and salmon. Its trees also play an important role in sequestering carbon. "We need more nature and we definitely need to protect the natural spaces that we already have," said Environment America Public Lands Campaign Director Ellen Montgomery. "We’re thrilled that the Biden administration recognizes the value of the Tongass for wildlife and as a natural climate change solution." In 2001, Environment America helped win protections for the Tongass by delivering nearly 700,000 public comments — nearly half of all comments gathered — from our members and supporters. Read more.
Alumni News
Josephine
Baby!
CALPIRG campus organizing alum Mary Sweeters and her husband, David Pomerantz, welcomed Josephine to the world in October.
Movers & Shakers
Meg De Brito has joined Pasa Sustainable Agriculture as their new community development director.
Ryan Doyle is the new deputy director of strategic planning for New York State Attorney General Tish James.
Angela Ledford Anderson is the new industrial innovation and carbon removal director at the World Resources Institute.
Emily Rich won the Annual Chick On A Mission Award for her work to ensure women who are diagnosed with cancer have the option to preserve fertility through direct financial support, educational programs and advocacy for legislative change. Emily herself was denied coverage for fertility preservation upon her diagnosis of breast cancer. She is now living cancer-free and her experience has served as motivation to help other women who are going through similar challenges and give them hope.
Heather Shute has a new role as the senior sustainability strategy advisor for the Boeing Company.
On Oct. 20, the Logan Square Neighborhood Association and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation honored and memorialized the late alum Rob Stuart (pictured on the far right in this photo), who passed away in 2011, with the grand opening of the Winter Street Greenway and Rob Stuart Memorial Dog Park. This park represents not only Rob’s legacy, but also the work of many activists in Philadelphia – including Rob’s wife, Sarah – who have fought to create more green spaces. Read more here.
Call for submissions for the next alumni update
Made a career move? New addition to the family? Send in your updates and related photos for the next alumni update! And if you've moved recently, please send us your new postal mailing address so we can keep you in the loop.
Happy holidays!
