By Claire Brown

Nearly two weeks into the conflict, the war in Iran has triggered “the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market,” the International Energy Agency said on Thursday. That comes despite an agreement among world leaders on Wednesday to release some 400 million barrels of oil from their strategic reserves. Here’s what else to know:

Oil price warnings. A spokesperson for Iran’s military command warned on Wednesday that oil could reach $200 barrel, far exceeding previous records. The U.S. energy secretary, Chris Wright, said that’s unlikely.

President Trump shrugged off concerns about rising prices, pointing out on social media that the United States is the largest oil producer in the world. “When oil prices go up, we make a lot of money,” he wrote Thursday morning.

A crucial shipping lane remains largely closed. On Thursday, Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed to continue blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow body of water that conveys about 20 percent of the world’s oil supplies. Two oil tankers were set ablaze early on Thursday, leading Iraq and Oman to close oil terminals.

The environmental consequences. In Iran, damage to fossil fuel infrastructure has caused black rain and thick smoke over Tehran, prompting concerns that tanks of mazut, a bottom-of-the-barrel oil residue product used in power plants, have caught on fire, releasing huge quantities of sulfur and other toxic pollution into the air.

Will all this upheaval push governments around the world to pick up the pace of renewable energy installations? Not necessarily, Brad Plumer and Lisa Friedman write. And in the short term, some countries are likely to burn more coal.

What questions do you have about the environmental fallout of the war in Iran or its effects on the world’s energy supplies? Email us at climateforward@nytimes.com and we’ll answer your questions in future newsletters.

Kicked out of the Sierra Club

	By David A. Fahrenthold David Fahrenthold is an investigative reporter based in Washington who covers nonprofit organizations.

Last year, the Sierra Club’s national magazine honored Delia Malone as a “changemaker” — an activist to inspire other activists — for her yearslong campaign to reintroduce wolves to wild areas of Colorado.

A year later, the Sierra Club kicked her out.

In February, the club sent Malone, 71, a letter saying she had committed “serious violations of Sierra Club Member Obligations.” The letter listed seven rules that she had violated, including provisions requiring members to be respectful of each other, and to represent the club positively in public.

“You are no longer a member of Sierra Club,” said the letter, which was signed by the club’s office of general counsel. “Revocation of your status as a member of Sierra Club is permanent, meaning that you will no longer be eligible for any form of Sierra Club membership.”

What the letter did not say was what Malone actually did to deserve this rare punishment — which the club says is for members whose misconduct is “beyond repair.”

Malone said she believed that she was targeted in part because she talked to The New York Times last year, a claim the organization denies. She was quoted in a Nov. 7 article about how the Sierra Club had embraced social-justice issues far removed from its traditional environmental goals.

In that article, Claire Brown and I reported that the nonprofit organization’s shift was followed by years of internal strife and declining membership, leaving the group weakened just as the Trump administration has ramped up its attacks on environmental protections.

Delia Malone, an ecologist and activist, was expelled from the Sierra Club last month. Kristin Braga Wright for The New York Times

‘I had no idea’

In an interview, Malone said the club had not notified her that she was facing this punishment, had not told her what she was accused of doing and did not give her a chance to defend herself.

“I had no idea this was going on,” Malone said.

An ecologist by training, she had been a volunteer for the Sierra Club for 12 years and had previously served as one of the Colorado chapter’s statewide leaders. She helped lead the club’s efforts to campaign for a 2020 ballot measure authorizing the reintroduction of wolves to the state. It passed narrowly, and now the state says at least four packs of wolves live in Colorado.

In the November article, Malone had said she had once been scolded by a Sierra Club staffer for saying that the club should lobby the Colorado Legislature for more protections for wolves.

“One of the staff said, ‘That’s fine, Delia. But what do wolves have to do with equity, justice and inclusion?’” Malone said then. After that, Malone said she had heard from an investigator hired by the club, who had asked her questions but declined to say what she was being investigated for. The Colorado chapter of the Sierra Club told us last year that “no one was investigated or accused of values misalignment on the basis of wolf conservation efforts.”

A month after the Times story came out, the Sierra Club’s Colorado chapter removed Malone from her unpaid role as “Wildlife Chair.” It cited the same section of the club’s rules that the Sierra Club’s national leaders later cited to strip her membership.

Malone said she believed the Times article helped trigger both punishments. “It gave them a specific reason to say, ‘She’s not abiding by the rules,’” she said.

A day earlier, the Sierra Club had also voted to strip membership from another former leader of the Colorado chapter, Kent Abernethy.

In an interview, Abernethy, 64, said he had been a Sierra Club member for 40 years and had until recently led a local branch of the Colorado chapter. He said his letter from the club was identical to Malone’s: it described the rules he had violated, but not how he had violated them.

The future of the Sierra Club

Abernethy said he believed his dismissal was also rooted in the broader debate over the Sierra Club’s direction. The Colorado chapter has been a center of that debate: in 2022, the Sierra Club’s national leaders ousted the chapter’s elected leaders for fostering what it called a “harmful and non-inclusive management culture.” It replaced them with an unelected “steering committee” approved by the club’s national leaders, an arrangement that continues today.

Abernethy had recently emailed his local Sierra Club branch to criticize the club’s leaders for stifling dissent and punishing Malone.

The Sierra Club has defended its shift in focus, saying that its embrace of social justice is necessary to build a broader coalition. A spokesman for the club, Jonathon Berman, declined to describe what Malone and Abernethy had done to trigger their punishment, but said “the decision was not made as a result” of the Times article.

Berman said that the club encouraged debate among its members: “Any claim that an action taken to protect our members and staff is meant to silence dissent is false.”

Malone now leads her own environmental group, ColoradoWild, and Abernethy sits on its board. Both said they would continue their environmental work outside the Sierra Club. Malone said she looked back fondly on her work with the organization.

“There’s families of wolves thriving in Colorado,” Malone said. “That’s amazing.” She said the Sierra Club’s national leadership at the time had provided crucial help: “They were very supportive, up until they weren’t.”

The Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee advises the E.P.A.’s leadership on the latest scientific evidence on soot, smog and other hazardous pollutants. Meridith Kohut for The New York Times

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

Eye doctor named to air pollution advisory board draws pushback

The Trump administration has tapped an eye doctor with no background in air pollution science to advise the Environmental Protection Agency on what levels of air pollutants are safe to breathe.

The E.P.A. named Brian Joondeph, a Colorado-based ophthalmologist and political commentator, on Monday to the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, an influential panel that advises the agency’s leadership on the latest scientific evidence on soot, smog and other hazardous pollutants.

Dr. Joondeph has never published a peer-reviewed paper dealing with air pollution. He has coauthored a handful of peer-reviewed papers about eye diseases, as well as dozens of opinion pieces in conservative publications, many of which praised President Trump’s style of governing and foreign policies.

It was the government’s latest move to sideline or shun scientific expertise, drawing criticism from past members of the advisory panel. — Maxine Joselow

Read more.

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Sierra Nevada makes a difference fighting the food insecurity crisis during the holiday season

By Sierra Nevada Brewing Company

Food insecurity is rapidly sweeping across our great nation, and those of us who can stand up and fight will undoubtedly want to stand with companies such as Sierra Nevada Brewing Company who have donated $1 Million to Community Nonprofits during this pandemic, and they’re just getting started! The holiday season is a time of giving unprecedented by any other event during a year. This is especially important to remember during this year when the COVID19 Pandemic has quelled our celebrations and impacted roughly 20% of U.S. households. It has hampered abilities to pay bills even as important as mortgage and rent and is leaving a record number of Americans facing unemployment, decreased wages, increased expenses for essential items as they become demanded commodities, healthcare, and childcare. Some have even been left without a home for the holidays. Efforts across the nation that Sierra Nevada has partnered with include Rethink (New York), Community Servings (Boston), Common Pantry(Chicago), Sol Collective (Sacramento), #HashtagLunchbag (Los Angeles), Second Harvest (San Jose), Del Mar Village Association (San Diego), SF New Deal (San Francisco), Carolina Farm Trust (Charlotte), and Second Helpings (Atlanta). 

In August, Sierra Nevada unveiled its new program centered around the release of Dankful IPA, a generously hoppy beer launched to help the brewery raise awareness for a variety of nonprofits working to support local communities. A hoppy West Coast-style IPA, Dankful is now available at retail stores across the country. The beer is 7.4% ABV with 55 IBU’s and resinous flavor notes of pine and tropical fruit. Regardless of the purchase, the company has committed to this $1 million pledge to help! On your program, Robin will discuss:

o    Sierra Nevada’s Goal to support communities and what has allowed them to become so agile in this pursuit.

o    How Sierra Nevada Brewing Company is providing immediate support to Nonprofits who do incredible things for their communities.

o    How Philanthropy has been brewed into the company culture since it’s humble beginnings. 

o    How Sierra Nevada has contributed to help ramp up testing and provide necessary tools to Medical Centers for COVID19

o    Much more

Robin Gregory

Robin Gregory is the Communications Director for Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., a family-owned and operated craft brewery based in Northern California, and she has been with the company for seven years. She is a Northern California native and her favorite beer is Celebration IPA. Before joining Sierra Nevada, Robin was a journalist, serving as the San Francisco Editor at HuffPost. She now lives in Chico, CA with her family.

What Does Peace Mean To Robin Gregory go to: http://goodnewsplanet.com/what-does-peace-mean-to-robin-gregory/

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The post What’s Good News to Loretta Wu & Maria Sierra? appeared first on Good News!.

RSVP Required: CLICK HERE

Deadline to RSVP: NOON (EST) Monday, 22 January 2018

No late RSVPs can be accepted

Please feel free to circulate this to interested colleagues

Please direct any questions to SierraLeoneEventCSocD2018@gmail.com

Judy Kuriansky, Ph.D.
www.DrJudy.com

*Main United Nations Representative, International Association of Applied Psychology & World Council of Psychotherapy

*Professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, Columbia University Teachers College

*Honorary Professor, Beijing University Health Sciences Center, China

*Trustee, United African Congress

*Director, Psychosocial Programs, US Doctors for Africa

*Chair, North America, World Psychiatric Association Disaster Psychiatry Section

*Fellow, American Psychological Association

*Former Advisor, Office of the Deputy Permanent Representative, Mission of São Tomé and Príncipe to the UN

*Past President, Psychology Coalition of NGOs accredited at the United Nations

*Books: “Ecopsychology: Advances in the Intersection of Psychology and Environmental Protection” www.abc-clio.com/ABC-CLIOCorporate/product.aspx?pc=A4328C& and

“Living in an Environmentally Traumatized World: Healing Ourselves & Our Planet” www.abc-clio.com/ABC-CLIOCorporate/product.aspx?pc=A3556C

“Beyond Bullets and Bombs: Grassroots peacebuilding between Israelis and Palestinians” Praeger ABC-CLIO https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Bullets-Bombs-Peacebuilding-Palestinians/dp/0275998800

“The Psychosocial Aspects of a Deadly Epidemic: What Ebola has Taught Us about Holistic Healing” Publisher: Praeger, ABC-CLIO. http://www.abc-clio.com/abc-cliocorporate/product.aspx?pc=a4983c

*Co-founder, Stand Up for Peace Project & Global Kids Connect Project

*http://www.huffingtonpost.com/judy-kuriansky-phd/

*Board of Directors, Library of American Broadcasting

* New York Global Leaders Lions Club

Sample of Publications:

* http://goodnewsplanet.com/five-words-can-change-world/

* http://www.algemeiner.com/2015/02/09/how-a-new-york-psychologist-and-an-israeli-humanitarian-organization-are-helping-sierra-leone-stand-up-to-ebola-interview/

* http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/03/23/national/psychologist-connects-disaster-affected-children-around-the-world/

* Blog for World Humanitarian Summit: http://www.e-ir.info/2016/05/19/i-am-african-i-am-not-a-virus/​

The post United Nations CSocD56 Side Event on Poverty, Mental Health & Education, Mission of Sierra Leone to the UN appeared first on Good News!.

Deadline to RSVP: NOON (EST) Monday, 22 January 2018

No late RSVPs can be accepted

Please feel free to circulate this to interested colleagues

Please direct any questions to SierraLeoneEventCSocD2018@gmail.com

Judy Kuriansky, Ph.D.

www.DrJudy.com

*Main United Nations Representative, International Association of Applied Psychology & World Council of Psychotherapy

*Professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, Columbia University Teachers College

*Honorary Professor, Beijing University Health Sciences Center, China

*Trustee, United African Congress

*Director, Psychosocial Programs, US Doctors for Africa

*Chair, North America, World Psychiatric Association Disaster Psychiatry Section

*Fellow, American Psychological Association

*Former Advisor, Office of the Deputy Permanent Representative, Mission of São Tomé and Príncipe to the UN

*Past President, Psychology Coalition of NGOs accredited at the United Nations

*Books: “Ecopsychology: Advances in the Intersection of Psychology and Environmental Protection” www.abc-clio.com/ABC-CLIOCorporate/product.aspx?pc=A4328C& and

“Living in an Environmentally Traumatized World: Healing Ourselves & Our Planet” www.abc-clio.com/ABC-CLIOCorporate/product.aspx?pc=A3556C

“Beyond Bullets and Bombs: Grassroots peacebuilding between Israelis and Palestinians” Praeger ABC-CLIO https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Bullets-Bombs-Peacebuilding-Palestinians/dp/0275998800

“The Psychosocial Aspects of a Deadly Epidemic: What Ebola has Taught Us about Holistic Healing” Publisher: Praeger, ABC-CLIO. http://www.abc-clio.com/abc-cliocorporate/product.aspx?pc=a4983c

*Co-founder, Stand Up for Peace Project & Global Kids Connect Project

*http://www.huffingtonpost.com/judy-kuriansky-phd/

*Board of Directors, Library of American Broadcasting

* New York Global Leaders Lions Club

Sample of Publications:

* http://goodnewsplanet.com/five-words-can-change-world/

* http://www.algemeiner.com/2015/02/09/how-a-new-york-psychologist-and-an-israeli-humanitarian-organization-are-helping-sierra-leone-stand-up-to-ebola-interview/

* http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/03/23/national/psychologist-connects-disaster-affected-children-around-the-world/

* Blog for World Humanitarian Summit: http://www.e-ir.info/2016/05/19/i-am-african-i-am-not-a-virus/​

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the Cultural Department of Emilia­Romagna Region with the sponsorship of

Parma Incoming Festival Verdi Tour Operator Partner and Emilia­Romagna Region Tourist Board

invite you to the programme launch of the

FESTIVAL VERDI 2017

Tuesday 14 February 2017, 5 PM

ENIT Italian National Tourist Board 686 Park Avenue, New York will introduce

Anna Maria Meo

General Manager of the Teatro Regio di Parma

to announce highlights of the 2017 edition of the Festival

Enzo Malanca

President of Parma Incoming

will introduce us to the richness of the city of Parma ­ a UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy ­ and its surrounding area, in one of Italy’s most beautiful regions

The post Festival Verdi 2017, Videos and Podcasts here… appeared first on Good News!.