So, anything big happen lately? OK. We admit. Lame joke. Sorry, sorry: Sometimes if you can’t laugh, you’ll cry. This week has been a whirlwind (and it’s only Thursday). And the changes on the federal level are coming at a blistering pace.
The new administration has already revoked so many of President Biden’s executive orders related to environmental justice and climate change and yanked the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement.Â
Folks are concerned about rollbacks of crucial regulations dealing with coke oven emissions and other air quality-related policy. An energy emergency has been declared. The attack on renewable energy is reaching a crescendo, drilling has been expanded and it’s only day four. Â
It can be easy to feel discouraged (or gutted even). But as Fred Rogers once said, "In times of trouble, look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." Because here in Pittsburgh, we are rich with helpers. In every sector.
We hope you join us not only in looking for those helpers, but in being them, too. As the saying goes, think globally, act locally. Here at GASP, that's exactly what we'll continue to do.
Since 1969, we've been using all of our collective skill, passion, and power to:
Improve our region's air quality
Protect our collective public health
Be a watchdog to polluting industries and the agencies that oversee them
And you can count on us to be right there with you. The GASP team will be there to review permits, proposed regulations, and challenge them when necessary. We'll break down the complicated environmental issues you face and help you understand how to take meaningful action. And most importantly, we'll champion the rights of the most vulnerable among us.
It's a new era, and we're going to weather it together, friends. As a first step in navigating this new era, we've made the decision to leave one of our social media platforms. While many of you have followed us and found important air quality updates on X, leaving this platform has been a long time coming, and recent events solidified our decision.
You can still find GASP on these platforms:
Facebook
Instagram: @gasp-pgh
Bluesky: @gasp-pgh
LinkedIn
You can also find us on our website or email us anytime at info@gasp-pgh.org.Â
In solidarity,
The Gang at GASP