news articles
Military burn pit exposures and the ‘mystery illness’ the VA still ignores
The Hill - Feb 25, 2022 - By Shahir Masri
Thanks in large part to celebrity Jon Stewart and his coalition of Sept. 11 first responders, the “mystery illness” long affecting Middle East war veterans has triggered at least a shred of the attention it deserves. Finally, the U.S...
As fires and floods continue, citizens must demand climate action
The Hill - July 25, 2021 - By Shahir Masri
When I began covering climate-related natural disasters back in 2017, the events that made national news ranged from California’s record-breaking Thomas Fire to the back-to-back Category-5 hurricanes that whipped through...
Trump's energy plan will cost the nation trillions
The Hill - Nov 2, 2020 - By Shahir Masri
To anyone following the U.S. presidential race, it’s no surprise that Biden and Trump sit at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to their future visions for energy in America — with Biden proposing to move the nation towards...
biden is the obvious 'climate choice' candidate in the current race
The Hill - October 15, 2020 - By Shahir Masri
In the western U.S., each fire season has surpassed the prior as states set new records for the “largest” and “most destructive” wildfires. In California, the Tubbs Fire in 2017 became the most destructive wildfire...
The Environmental Side of racism
The Hill - June 10, 2020 - By Shahir Masri
Racism can take many forms — the ugliest and most overt of which was exemplified by George Floyd's death and it doesn't end there. Racial injustices exist in the public health and environmental spheres...
It’s not a stretch to juxtapose the coronavirus and climate change crises
LA Times Daily Pilot - April 24, 2020 - By Shahir Masri & Robert Taylor
Today we face two global threats that each have the potential to dramatically impact human life, individual livelihoods and society at large. The causes behind both crises are invisible to the naked eye, require policymakers and the public to rely on scientists and, as with...
Emerging policy consensus on climate action
The Hill – Jan 14, 2020 – By Shahir Masri & Robert Taylor
The pace of global climate action has picked up dramatically over the past year. There’s little doubt that record-breaking wildfires, extreme weather, and rising sea...
OUR DIETS ARE FUELING FLAMES IN THE AMAZON
The Hill - Aug 25, 2019 - By Shahir Masri
The Amazon has made headlines this month as fires rip across the region. While this is the dry season for the area, during which fires are common, fires have nonetheless...
CLIMATE POLICY IS EXPENSIVE, BUT SO IS CLIMATE CHANGE
The Hill - Jul 29, 2019 - By Shahir Masri
As we approach election season, climate change is shaping up to be a prime topic for discussion — and it’s no coincidence. In recent years, we have seen record breaking...
ON THE ROAD FOR CLIMATE ACTION: STORIES FROM A GRASSROOTS OUTREACH PROJECT
Youth v. Gov - Jan 24, 2019 - By Shahir Masri
As major climate reports continue to warn of impending and irreversible climate catastrophe, our window of opportunity to ensure a safe and habitable future is...
CLIMATE CHANGE IS NO LONGER A 'FUTURE' PROBLEM
The Hill - Dec 12, 2018 - By Shahir Masri
For years, climate change has been discussed in the context of tomorrow — a problem for future generations — with specific impacts left largely to the imagination. This may...
CONGRESS CANNOT IGNORE CLIMATE CHANGE AS CALIFORNIA BURNS
The Hill - Nov 18, 2018 - By Shahir Masri
It was only a year ago that California experienced its most intense wildfire season in the state’s history. In October came the TUBBS Fire, which became the state’s most...
DROUGHTS AND WILDFIRES DESTROYING THE WEST DON'T HAVE TO BE THE 'NEW NORMAL'
The Hill - Jul 13, 2018 - By Shahir Masri
As last year’s record-breaking wildfires ripped across the West, California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) called it the “new normal.” He was echoing the words of climate scientists...
CONNECTING THE DOTS BETWEEN NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE US
The Hill - March 12, 2018 - By Shahir Masri
In recent years natural disasters have become increasingly frequent in the U.S. Over the last year alone, Houston contended with one of the heaviest rain storms in U.S....
CHAOTIC WINTER IN THE NORTHEAST — COULD THIS BE A SIGNATURE OF CLIMATE CHANGE?
The Hill - Mar 12, 2018 - By Shahir Masri
In recent years natural disasters have become increasingly frequent in the U.S. Over the last year alone, Houston contended with one of the heaviest rain storms in U.S....
THE CALIFORNIA FIRES ARE A CLIMATE-DRIVEN CATASTROPHE
The Hill - Dec 14, 2017 - By Shahir Masri
In recent months, California has broken all the wrong records as major wildfire after major wildfire has ripped up and down the coastal state. As fall winds down in California..
HURRICANES AND THE CLIMATE – IS THE WORST YET TO COME?
The Hill - Sept 16, 2017 - By Shahir Masri
A few weeks ago we witnessed the dramatic saga unfold in Houston as Hurricane Harvey slammed the Texas coast. Lives were lost and entire neighborhoods vanished...
BECOMING CHEMICALLY AWARE
Thrive Global - Aug 16, 2017 - By Shahir Masri
Recently, the University of California-Los Angeles Center for the Study of Women hosted a two-day landmark symposium titled “Chemical Entanglements.” Two years in...
HOW A CITIZENS’ LOBBY WILL EMPOWER YOU TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE INTEREST
Thrive Global - Feb 23, 2017 - By Shahir Masri
To those fighting for climate action in America and around the globe, the recent U.S. presidential election dealt a traumatic blow. It was no surprise in his run for the White...
IN THE WAKE OF HURRICANE MATTHEW — TO SPRAY OR NOT TO SPRAY?
The Hill - Nov 1, 2016 - By Shahir Masri
Confronted by devastating Hurricane Matthew, Florida residents and city officials have even more to deal with than the obvious destruction and loss at hand. When floods and...
WHAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT RICE - TIPS TO LOWER ARSENIC LEVELS
Cyprus Organics - Sept 7, 2015 - By Shahir Masri
An element with widely recognized toxicity, arsenic is most often associated with groundwater contamination, particularly in places such as India. However, mounting...
MARINE PLASTIC CONTAMINATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Johns Hopkins Magazine - Jun 18, 2014 - By Shahir Masri Contamination of our oceans by marine plastic has likely occurred since the advent of plastic, but it was not until the early 1970’s when reports began describing plastic...
CANADA: THE ONCE GREEN OIL MACHINE
Climate Change Guide - Oct, 2013 - By Shahir Masri
Long regarded as a 'green' nation due to its environmental stewardship, recently Canada’s commitment to the environment has waned. As we’ve marched into 2013, this...
Pesticides in Food
Cyprus Organics - Oct 16, 2012 - By Shahir Masri
Since the 1962 publication of Rachel Carson’s best selling book, Silent Spring, which essentially launched the environmental movement, the use of synthetic pesticides...
CLIMATE CHANGE: ARE WE PAVING THE WAY TO INACTION?
The Berkeley Daily Planet - Aug 12, 2012 - By Shahir Masri What will it mean to teach today’s students both sides of the “global warming debate?” Will this translate to a politically balanced and scientifically sound education? Well that is...