White House designates Extreme Heat Week

Ralph General

Joy! Global warming was again the president’s No. 1 priority for several hours on Monday,and not onlydid theWhite House release a new report on climate change;the Obama administrationalso announced that it wasdevelopingneweducational materials on climate change for public schools, prepping something called PrepareAthon!, and declaring May 2327 Extreme Heat Week.

It’s likely many missed the 2p.m. announcement of Extreme Heat Week as they were at opening day at the baseball stadium watchingsnow collect onthe outfield.

Some lovely opening day snow flurries here in Milwaukee.

— Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) April 4, 2016

Freezing rain & snow. Happy Opening Day 2016.

— Mark Johnson (@MarkJWeather) April 4, 2016

Today we celebrated #OpeningDay with #CapsOn… just a different type of hat thanks to some snow! pic.twitter.com/mv6dMpq4XE

— Fenway Park (@fenwaypark) April 4, 2016

Apparently the nation’s best and brightest have decided that flyingthe president to Alaska personally to “stare down” a receding glacier wasn’t enough to sellclimate change hysteriato the masses. The newest report, “The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A Scientific Assessment,” therefore links climate change to individual health risks.

Great event today. Surgeon General makes climate change personal. #ncahealth
https://t.co/J2Yz1kzol0

— John Balbus (@drjbalbus) April 5, 2016

#ClimateChange is a threat to public health. Here's the latest report on the threat: https://t.co/n0HtYbmp7g #NCAHealth #ActOnClimate

— U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) April 4, 2016

Climate action is about the health of each and every one of us, and future generations. #ActonClimate #NCAHealth https://t.co/vFfPxX4jVa

— Gina McCarthy (@GinaEPA) April 4, 2016

That means so much from the head of the agency that released a million gallons of toxic wastewater into the Animas River.Of course she’s still employed.

This report makes climate change easier wrap your head around. Human health instead of ocean currents. #ncahealth pic.twitter.com/xRhauYxi3u

— Andrew Grinberg (@AndrewBGrinberg) April 4, 2016

We understand that John Kerry’s BFF, Leonardo DiCaprio, studied ocean currents extensively in preparation for shooting “Titanic.” At last, something the rest of us can understand.

If it impacts health, it impacts mental health. Climate change is no exception #NCAhealth

— Surili Sutaria (@SuriliSutaria) April 4, 2016

Amen to that! "Climate change is a lot like Donald trump. When we underestimate it it only gets worse" @SenMarkey #NCAHealth

— LCV (@LCVoters) April 4, 2016

Every person is vulnerable to health impacts of climate change. Get the facts: https://t.co/uN5R2Kf05f #ActOnClimate pic.twitter.com/81LUpJ4D8C

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 4, 2016

As always, the White House is the place to go to get the facts, but we’ve highlighted some of the most intriguing findings:

Climate change will have the largest health impact on vulnerable populations including those with low incomes, some communities of color, limited English proficiency and immigrant groups, Indigenous peoples, children, pregnant women, older adults, vulnerable occupational groups, persons with disabilities, and persons with preexisting or chronic medical conditions.
Mental health consequences of climate changerange from minimal stress and distress symptoms to clinical disorders, such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The mental health impacts of extreme events, such as hurricanes, floods, and drought, can be expected to increase as more people experience the stress and often trauma of these disasters.
May 2327 is Extreme Heat Week, during which agencies will take a number of activities to prepare the nation for extreme heat. This week is a key part of America’s PrepareAthon!, the Administration’s seasonal campaign to build community-level preparedness action. The White House is planning a webinar during Extreme Heat Week focused on education and outreach to populations more vulnerable to extreme heat.
Taken together, these injustices are largely the product of political marginalization and institutional racism. The less political power a community of color possesses, the more likely they are to experience insidious environmental and human health threats. The environmental violence being inflicted on these communities of color is taking a terrible toll, and must be made a national priority. Access to a clean and healthy environment is a fundamental right of citizenship.

Sorry; that last bullet point isn’t taken from the official White House scientific assessment released today,but rather from Bernie Sanders’ campaign website, where it’s been for quite a while. It fits well, though, doesn’t it?