Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
STAND UP AMERICA: SCOTUS HEARS CASE THAT COULD ADVANCE TRUMP'S ANTI-VOTE-BY-MAIL AGENDA
WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Stand Up America, an organization was born in 2016 as a digital-first grassroots community working to resist what they say is Donald Trump's corruption, racism and his threats to democracy, issued the following news release on March 23, 2026:
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SCOTUS HEARS CASE THAT COULD ADVANCE TRUMP'S ANTI-VOTE-BY-MAIL AGENDA
Today, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Watson v. RNC. At issue is whether Mississippi's grace period for mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day violates federal law. An adverse decision could upend vote-by-mail across the country, which has
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Stand Up America, an organization was born in 2016 as a digital-first grassroots community working to resist what they say is Donald Trump's corruption, racism and his threats to democracy, issued the following news release on March 23, 2026:
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SCOTUS HEARS CASE THAT COULD ADVANCE TRUMP'S ANTI-VOTE-BY-MAIL AGENDA
Today, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Watson v. RNC. At issue is whether Mississippi's grace period for mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day violates federal law. An adverse decision could upend vote-by-mail across the country, which hasbecome a top priority of Donald Trump ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Stand Up America's Executive Director, Christina Harvey, issued the following statement:
"Vote-by-mail is a secure and widely used way to participate in our elections. It's a lifeline for military and overseas voters, voters with disabilities, elderly voters, and rural voters living far from their polling places. Nearly one-third of the votes cast in the 2024 election were cast by mail, proving just how essential this option has become.
"Watson v. RNC is part of a broader effort to dismantle voting options ahead of this year's midterms. After pushing congressional Republicans to eliminate vote-by-mail and adopting USPS policy changes that could disqualify ballots sent on time, Donald Trump and his allies are asking the Supreme Court to finish the job. If the Court rules in their favor, they'll be making it easier for politicians to hold onto power without answering to voters."
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About Stand Up America
Stand Up America is a progressive advocacy organization with nearly two million community members across the country. Focused on grassroots advocacy to stand up to corruption and voter suppression and build a more representative democracy, Stand Up America has driven nearly 2 million calls to lawmakers, registered over 100,000 voters, mobilized over 100,000 protestors, and contacted tens of millions of voters.
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Original text here: https://standupamerica.com/2026/03/scotus-hears-case-that-could-advance-trumps-anti-vote-by-mail-agenda/
[Category: Political]
Protect Our Care: NYT Magazine - 'Inside the Turmoil at Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s C.D.C.'
WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Protect Our Care issued the following news:
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NYT Magazine: 'Inside the Turmoil at Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s C.D.C.'
ICYMI, New York Times Magazine interviewed forty-three current and former C.D.C. employees on the changes at the Trump-RFK Jr. CDC that "they say are replacing science with ideology -- and making Americans more vulnerable."
Reaction from Kayla Hancock, Director of Protect Our Care's Public Health Project: "When those who know the CDC best are the most alarmed about the state it's in, it's terrifying to think how ill-prepared RFK Jr. is for the next public
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Protect Our Care issued the following news:
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NYT Magazine: 'Inside the Turmoil at Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s C.D.C.'
ICYMI, New York Times Magazine interviewed forty-three current and former C.D.C. employees on the changes at the Trump-RFK Jr. CDC that "they say are replacing science with ideology -- and making Americans more vulnerable."
Reaction from Kayla Hancock, Director of Protect Our Care's Public Health Project: "When those who know the CDC best are the most alarmed about the state it's in, it's terrifying to think how ill-prepared RFK Jr. is for the next publichealth crisis."
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE NYT INTERVIEWS:
"You would never have seen that before: statements based on an association found in a review paper that would lead to regulatory change without following any of the regulatory processes. I've never seen an agency that is responsible for the health of 340 million Americans be so willy-nilly." -- Daniel Jernigan, former director of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
'I'm an E.R. doc, so I handle stress pretty well. But this was like being in a mass disaster nonstop for eight months.' -- Debra Houry, former chief medical officer
* 'I don't think it is well understood that we're not going to see the outcomes of all of this until Trump is long gone.' -- Abby Tighe, former public health adviser, overdose prevention
* 'I didn't want to be part of any machine that they were going to use to spread false information about vaccines or to take vaccines away.' -- Fiona Havers, former medical epidemiologist, respiratory viruses
* 'We thought that because Secretary Kennedy wanted to focus on chronic illness, the Office on Smoking and Health would be untouched. But they got rid of it completely.' -- Aryn Melton Backus, former communications specialist, smoking and health
* "We had a very stringent scientific process for vetting information that would get published on the C.D.C. website. Everything was checked and double-checked. And for political appointees to take over the means of communication is devastating, and also dangerous. Now, some things are correct and some are not, which means that you can't trust any of it. People can now point to the C.D.C. website when spreading false information. And we all worry that by co-opting the C.D.C. webpage, R.F.K. will ultimately pollute the algorithms that guide people online now. A.I. might not be able to sort the evidence-based stuff from the trash." -- Susan A. Wang, former senior medical adviser in the global immunization division
* "They didn't go through any of the standard processes. They didn't look at the data. They just decided, based on vibes, that this vaccine shouldn't be given to young children." -- Demetre C. Daskalakis, former director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
* "We heard that when they first broached this broader schedule change in December, their legal and political advisers told them not to do it. They canceled a press conference, and for a minute it looked like maybe they would back off. But right after the holidays, they did it anyway. In retrospect, it should have been clear to everyone that after they succeeded in changing flu, Covid, M.M.R.V. and hepatitis B recommendations, they would come for the rest of the schedule." -- Fiona Havers, former medical epidemiologist in the respiratory viruses division
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Original text here: https://www.protectourcare.org/nyt-magazine-inside-the-turmoil-at-robert-f-kennedy-jr-s-c-d-c/
[Category: Health Care]
Montana Groups File Appeal Over Bull Mountains Coal Mine AM6 Expansion
SAN FRANCISCO, California, March 24 -- Earthjustice posted the following news release on March 23, 2026:
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Montana Groups File Appeal Over Bull Mountains Coal Mine AM6 Expansion
Groups claim Montana DEQ failed to analyze impacts to, water, agriculture, wildlife, climate and the community
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Helena, MT -- Several Montana groups today appealed a District Court decision that failed to address the harmful impacts of the Bull Mountains Coal Mine's AM6 expansion. The groups claim that the Montana Department of Environmental Quality did not adequately analyze the impacts of the mine on water quality
... Show Full Article
SAN FRANCISCO, California, March 24 -- Earthjustice posted the following news release on March 23, 2026:
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Montana Groups File Appeal Over Bull Mountains Coal Mine AM6 Expansion
Groups claim Montana DEQ failed to analyze impacts to, water, agriculture, wildlife, climate and the community
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Helena, MT -- Several Montana groups today appealed a District Court decision that failed to address the harmful impacts of the Bull Mountains Coal Mine's AM6 expansion. The groups claim that the Montana Department of Environmental Quality did not adequately analyze the impacts of the mine on water qualityand quantity, wildlife, ranching, climate change, and the surrounding community. With their appeal, the groups seek to force DEQ to complete an analysis that acknowledges and mitigates the profound impacts Signal Peak's mine is already causing to the Bull Mountains area and the cumulative impacts that will occur because of the expansion.
"Montana DEQ has done nothing but rubber stamp any request the mine has made even if it violates federal and state regulations," said Tom Baratta, former chair of Bull Mountain Land Alliance and local landowner whose property sits next to the mine. "DEQ has used questionable and faulty research to push through an ill-informed assessment allowing mining to continue to damage land and water. DEQ is not upholding their mission to 'champion a healthy environment for a thriving Montana.' This is not only about protecting the Bulls, but also about asking for accountability and fairness."
The Bull Mountain Land Alliance, Northern Plains Resource Council, and Montana Environmental Information Center, represented by Earthjustice, filed suit over Montana's approval of the expansion in September 2024. The groups argued DEQ violated Montana's bedrock environmental law, the Montana Environmental Policy Act, when it issued the expansion permit. The groups are confident DEQ's analysis ignored the significant impacts to local resources that would exacerbate harm already done to local springs, wells, property, and livelihoods. District Court Judge Jessica Fehr ruled against the plaintiffs in late December, prompting today's appeal.
"The Bull Mountains and its essential water resources should not be a sacrifice zone for the coal industry," said Derf Johnson, deputy director of the Montana Environmental Information Center. "Montana's laws and constitution and laws are clear: water must be protected, even if it's going to cost the coal industry money."
A 2023 New York Times report outlined a deeply troubled history at Signal Peak's Bull Mountains Mine. Regulators have repeatedly found violations of worker safety and environmental safeguards connected to the mine's past operations.
"After decades of failed attempts in the U.S. and elsewhere, longwall mining operations have proven unable to demonstrate successful reclamation of lost or damaged water sources," said Pat Thiele, member of the Bull Mountain Land Alliance and a Roundup resident who lives just outside the mine. "Expansion of the Bull Mountains mine will inevitably make a desert of a productive cattle range."
Signal Peak has destroyed vital water resources above the mine and has forced local ranchers out of the Bull Mountains. Ranchers and wildlife in the Bull Mountains depend entirely on the 0.1% of the area that contains springs, wells, and ponds. Recent research shows the mine cannot replace even 1% of the water that the mine is draining from the Bull Mountains, even though DEQ is required to develop a plan for water replacement. Surface subsidence (cave-ins) from the underground mine has also torn cracks and crevasses through the Bull Mountains, causing springs and wells to go dry and imperiling all who use the area. Additionally, in an admitted effort to evade reclamation obligations, Signal Peak has canceled ranchers' leases and harassed them to the extent that some have abandoned ranching in the area.
"We will continue fighting for the landowners and community impacted by this lawless mine until the harm it is causing is lawfully disclosed and appropriately mitigated," said Shiloh Hernandez, senior attorney with Earthjustice's Northern Rockies Office. "Signal Peak's mine not only harms groundwater, the environment, and wildlife, but the company has repeatedly bullied and harassed ranchers and landowners in the area to force them off the land. The law requires the Department of Environmental Quality to be honest with the surrounding community about the extent of damage this coal mine is causing. That honest disclosure is what we're seeking through our appeal."
Conservation groups also recently challenged the Trump administration's approval of the Bull Mountains Mine's AM3 expansion. The U.S. Office of Surface Mining approved the expansion last June without releasing a draft environmental impact statement to the public, citing the Trump administration's energy emergency order to force the project through without public input. In their filing, the groups note that there is no energy emergency, and even if there were, this expansion wouldn't help to address it because virtually all coal from the mine is shipped overseas.
An expansive view of the Bull Mountains in Montana, framed by a blue sky with white clouds and flowering grassland.
An expansive view of the Bull Mountains in Montana. (Northern Plains Resource Council)
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Additional Resources
* About the Northern Rockies Office (https://earthjustice.org/office/northern-rockies)
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About Earthjustice
Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.
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Original text here: https://earthjustice.org/press/2026/montana-groups-file-appeal-over-bull-mountains-coal-mine-am6-expansion
[Category: Environment]
Clean Air Task Force: Flagship IEA Report Features Superhot Rock Geothermal Marking Major Milestone for the Clean Firm Power Source
BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 24 (TNSrpt) -- Clean Air Task Force, an organization that says it works to safeguard against the impacts of climate change by catalyzing the development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies, issued the following news on March 23, 2026:
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Flagship IEA report features superhot rock geothermal marking major milestone for the clean firm power source
Last week, the International Energy Agency (IEA) released its State of Energy Innovation 2026 report--a comprehensive assessment of the technologies and investments shaping the
... Show Full Article
BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 24 (TNSrpt) -- Clean Air Task Force, an organization that says it works to safeguard against the impacts of climate change by catalyzing the development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies, issued the following news on March 23, 2026:
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Flagship IEA report features superhot rock geothermal marking major milestone for the clean firm power source
Last week, the International Energy Agency (IEA) released its State of Energy Innovation 2026 report--a comprehensive assessment of the technologies and investments shaping thefuture of global energy--with superhot rock geothermal energy (SHR) featuring throughout its findings on geothermal. The report's recognition of SHR signals growing global consensus around the technology's potential to shape how the world accesses clean, firm power.
"The IEA's recognition of superhot rock geothermal energy is a significant and welcome moment and reflects growing consensus that this technology deserves serious global attention," said Terra Rogers, Director for Superhot Rock Geothermal at Clean Air Task Force (CATF). "SHR can deliver always-on, carbon-free power at a scale the world urgently needs--tapping just 1% of global resources could supply more than eight times current global electricity generation. That kind of potential demands exactly this kind of attention and coordination, and we commend our colleagues at IEA for recognizing it."
Among the report's key SHR highlights:
* U.S. start-up Mazama Energy set a new record for Enhanced Geothermal Systems temperature (331 C in superhot conditions) at its Newberry, Oregon site, backed by USD 20 million in US government funding, with plans to reach 400 C and 15 MW of output in 2026.
* ARPA-E launched a dedicated superhot rock program, part of a broader USD 215 million package of geothermal research initiatives.
* New Zealand and Iceland signed a cooperation agreement on superhot and supercritical geothermal systems, reflecting accelerating cross-border collaboration on SHR.
CATF has played a leading role in elevating SHR's potential globally and advocating for policies and technical collaborations that raise the temperature ceiling of next-generation geothermal including: engaging directly with the IEA to propose and lead an international collaboration that connects leading SHR projects across countries, publishing foundational research through our Bridging the Gaps series to identify the most critical barriers to commercialization, and releasing A Technology Road Map for Next-Generation Geothermal--a first-of-its-kind framework linking R&D, demonstration, and early commercial deployment. CATF also helped make the case for ARPA-E's new dedicated SHR research program and has worked to keep next-generation geothermal firmly on the agenda in Europe, where "superhot rock" now appears explicitly in EU working documents.
"The world needs clean, firm power at scale, and superhot rock geothermal stands out as a solution poised to deliver it," Rogers added. "We look forward to continuing to work with the IEA, researchers, and partners across the globe to make it a reality."
What is superhot rock geothermal?
Superhot rock geothermal is a form of next-generation geothermal energy that uses cutting-edge deep drilling technologies to access rock at temperatures exceeding 400 C. Water is injected deep into the earth, then returned to the surface to drive power generators, producing five to ten times the energy of a typical commercial geothermal well today, with a land-use footprint far smaller than most other energy sources.
This potential is well understood, even if the technology is still maturing. R&D projects around the world are already drilling into superhot rock and developing techniques to operate in these conditions. Preliminary analysis for CATF suggests that if this energy can be reliably extracted at reasonable cost, superhot rock could compete with natural gas at $20-35 per megawatt hour.
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About Clean Air Task Force
Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a global nonprofit organization working to safeguard against the worst impacts of climate change by catalyzing the rapid development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies. With 30 years of internationally recognized expertise on climate policy and a fierce commitment to exploring all potential solutions, CATF is a pragmatic, non-ideological advocacy group with the bold ideas needed to address climate change. CATF has offices in Boston, Washington D.C., and Brussels, with staff working virtually around the world. Visit catf.us and follow @cleanaircatf.
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REPORT: https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/d24ccc77-ef68-491c-848d-b9c0ec0c484b/TheStateofEnergyInnovation2026.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.catf.us/2026/03/flagship-iea-report-features-superhot-rock-geothermal-marking-major-milestone-for-the-clean-firm-power-source/
[Category: Environment]
CAIR Urges Senate to Back Sanders Resolutions Blocking U.S. Bomb Transfers to Israel Ahead of Expected Vote
WASHINGTON, March 24 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on March 23, 2026:
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CAIR Urges Senate to Back Sanders Resolutions Blocking U.S. Bomb Transfers to Israel Ahead of Expected Vote
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today sent a formal message to U.S. Senators urging them to vote in favor of three Joint Resolutions of Disapproval introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to block hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. weapons transfers to Israel. A Senate
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, March 24 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on March 23, 2026:
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CAIR Urges Senate to Back Sanders Resolutions Blocking U.S. Bomb Transfers to Israel Ahead of Expected Vote
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today sent a formal message to U.S. Senators urging them to vote in favor of three Joint Resolutions of Disapproval introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to block hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. weapons transfers to Israel. A Senatevote on the resolutions could take place as early as Wednesday.
The resolutions -- S.J.Res.136, S.J.Res.137, and S.J.Res.138 -- are co-sponsored by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Peter Welch (D-VT), and seek to halt approximately $658 million in weapons sales, including an estimated 27,000 bombs.
CAIR Government Affairs Department Director Robert S. McCaw said:
"The Trump administration is once again attempting to bypass Congress and rush 27,000 more bombs into Israel's arsenal as it violently wages a genocidal campaign in Gaza that continues to kill civilians and destroy entire communities and expands its indiscriminate bombing campaigns across Iran and Lebanon. These are not defensive weapons, they are weapons of mass destruction that level homes, wipe out infrastructure, and take innocent lives. At the same time, our government diverts hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars away from struggling American families and into more destruction abroad. Congress must act now. Every senator must go on the record: stand with the American people, uphold U.S. law, and protect civilian lives by voting YES on these resolutions."
CAIR is calling on all Senators to vote YES on S.J.Res.136, S.J.Res.137, and S.J.Res.138 and to take immediate action to block the transfer of additional U.S. weapons that risk further escalating violence and humanitarian suffering.
Last week, CAIR issued a nationwide action alert urging Americans to contact their Senators and demand support for Senator Bernie Sanders' Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to block the transfer of tens of thousands of U.S.-manufactured bombs to Israel.
Senator Sanders' three Joint Resolutions of Disapproval would block multiple components of this ongoing weapons pipeline:
* Blocking the transfer of 12,000 1,000-pound BLU-110 bombs, weapons capable of leveling entire apartment buildings and civilian infrastructure.
* Blocking the transfer of 10,000 500-pound BLU-111 bombs, widely used in repeated airstrikes across densely populated urban areas.
* Blocking the licensing of 5,000 250-pound Small Diameter Bomb systems, precision-guided munitions used in high-frequency attacks across Gaza.
Together, these transfers represent more than 27,000 bombs and a full-spectrum resupply of Israel's airstrike capacity at the very moment its military operations are expanding across the region.
Israel's U.S.-backed assault has killed more than 75,000 Palestinians in Gaza, overwhelmingly women and children, while destroying hospitals, schools, and refugee shelters and contributing to mass starvation.
At the same time, Israeli military operations have escalated across the region:
* In Iran, more than 1,300 people have been killed by U.S.-Israeli strikes, including one attack on an all-girls school that killed more than 180 schoolgirls and faculty, alongside environmental devastation in Tehran.
* In Lebanon, Israeli bombing has killed and injured children daily and displaced nearly one in five people, raising fears the country could become the next Gaza.
* In the West Bank, terrorist Israeli occupation forces continue deadly attacks on civilians, including the killing of entire families and healthcare workers.
Human rights organizations including B'Tselem, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch have concluded that Israel's actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide.
CAIR notes that these weapons transfers violate U.S. law, including the Foreign Assistance Act, the Arms Export Control Act, and Section 620I, which prohibits military aid to governments that block humanitarian assistance. Instead of enforcing the law, the administration has chosen to bypass Congress and accelerate the flow of bombs.
CAIR previously supported earlier Joint Resolutions of Disapproval led by Senator Bernie Sanders and parallel legislation introduced by Representative Pramila Jayapal to block weapons transfers enabling Israel's war crimes. These new resolutions represent one of the last remaining opportunities for Congress to stop the continued shipment of bombs.
Earlier this month, CAIR called on Congress to force an end to the U.S.-Israel war on Iran after former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center Joe Kent resigned and admitted that the war was initiated "due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby."
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-urges-senate-to-back-sanders-resolutions-blocking-u-s-bomb-transfers-to-israel-ahead-of-expected-vote/
[Category: Sociological]
April Issue of FR & New NCFR Journal Articles
ST. PAUL, Minnesota, March 24 -- The National Council on Family Relations issued the following news:
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April Issue of FR & New NCFR Journal Articles
Read 6 New Early-View Articles Published March 15-21
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Keep up with the latest research from NCFR's three scholarly journals -- Journal of Marriage and Family (JMF), Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science (FR), and Journal of Family Theory & Review (JFTR).
Most Recent Journal Issues:
FR April 2026 issue (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/17413729/2026/75/2): Features research on parenting and development,
... Show Full Article
ST. PAUL, Minnesota, March 24 -- The National Council on Family Relations issued the following news:
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April Issue of FR & New NCFR Journal Articles
Read 6 New Early-View Articles Published March 15-21
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Keep up with the latest research from NCFR's three scholarly journals -- Journal of Marriage and Family (JMF), Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science (FR), and Journal of Family Theory & Review (JFTR).
Most Recent Journal Issues:
FR April 2026 issue (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/17413729/2026/75/2): Features research on parenting and development,family resources, romantic relationships, family resources during COVID-19, and much more.
JMF April 2026 issue (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/17413737/2026/88/2): Includes articles on financial and childcare resources, couple and family dynamics, and more.
JFTR March 2026 issue (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/17562589/2026/18/1): Includes an "Original Voices" piece by NCFR Fellow Pauline Boss, Ph.D.; several articles on theoretical advances; a number of scoping reviews and "Emerging Voices" articles; and more.
New Early-View Articles Published Online (March 15-21):
Journal of Family Theory & Review
* Disguising the Familiar: Considering Internal Confidentiality in Individual Interviews With Partners and Families (open access) -- Susie Bower-Brown, Clare Stovell
Family Relations:
* Perceived childhood relationships and their associations with assertiveness, trait anxiety, and early maladaptive schemas -- Irina Mrvoljak-Theodoropoulou
* Development and Validation of the Cognitive Bandwidth Inventory for Dual-Career Couples -- Aqsa Abdul Khaliq, Samar Fahad
* Measuring bias against childfree women: The development of the BAC-W Scale -- Gabriel L. Schlomer, Yookyeong Park, Kimberly F. Colvin, Panpan Yang
* Generational self-perception and stereotypes: A study of Generations X-parents and Z-children -- Anna Wolpiuk-Ochocinska, Grzegorz Polanski
* A qualitative analysis of an empowerment-based group work with widowed older adults -- Ecem Naz Nazlier Mayda, Yasemin Ozkan
NCFR member journal subscribers can access articles by logging into their NCFR account.
Learn more about NCFR's scholarly journals prior to submitting your manuscript.
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NCFR is a nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose members support all families through research, teaching, practice, and advocacy.
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Original text here: https://www.ncfr.org/news/april-issue-fr-new-ncfr-journal-articles
[Category: Sociological]
Action Against Hunger: Conflict and Drought in Lebanon are Driving 1 Million People Into an Unprecedented Water Crisis
NEW YORK, March 24 -- Action Against Hunger issued the following news release on March 22, 2026:
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Conflict and Drought in Lebanon are Driving 1 Million People into an Unprecedented Water Crisis
Today, on World Water Day, Lebanon is in the midst of a dual emergency. A historic drought has reduced reservoir levels to a minimum, while a military escalation has displaced more than 1 million people since March 2nd and placed extreme pressure on already fragile water infrastructure. The water crisis that is not natural: it is the direct result of conflict, poverty and international neglect.
A
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, March 24 -- Action Against Hunger issued the following news release on March 22, 2026:
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Conflict and Drought in Lebanon are Driving 1 Million People into an Unprecedented Water Crisis
Today, on World Water Day, Lebanon is in the midst of a dual emergency. A historic drought has reduced reservoir levels to a minimum, while a military escalation has displaced more than 1 million people since March 2nd and placed extreme pressure on already fragile water infrastructure. The water crisis that is not natural: it is the direct result of conflict, poverty and international neglect.
ACrisis Within a Crisis: Drought and Bombardment
Lebanon is experiencing the worst drought in decades. Reservoir levels are critically low, placing pressure on distribution networks and agricultural production, particularly in rural areas hosting displaced populations.
Almost the entire national water system depends on diesel-powered pumps: without fuel, water stops flowing.
The military escalation that began on March 2nd, 2026, has further worsened this already critical situation. Bombardments have struck infrastructure linked to the South Lebanon Water Establishment, including facilities in the Qennarit area, already damaged by previous airstrikes in January. Water systems that are still operational are reporting urgent fuel needs to sustain water distribution and wastewater management. Should these supplies run out, the consequences would be immediate: pumps stop, water supply ceases, and disease spreads.
Over 1 million Displaced People and Not Enough Water
In the first 24 hours following the escalation on March 2nd, around 29,000 people were forced to flee their homes. By March 19th, the number of registered displaced people had exceeded 1,049,328. They are hosted across 633 collective shelters, many of which are already operating beyond capacity. Hundreds of thousands more are living in informal arrangements: in cars, abandoned buildings and open spaces.
In these conditions, access to safe water is the primary emergency. Many newly displaced people are settling in areas already inhabited by Lebanese families displaced since 2024 and by Syrian refugees, further increasing pressure on water networks designed for much smaller populations. Families in conflict-affected areas are increasingly reliant on the private water trucking market, which is often unregulated and unaffordable for those who have lost everything.
In overcrowded shelters and informal settlements, deteriorating hygiene conditions exponentially increase the risk of diseases transmitted by contaminated water -- such as cholera, dysentery and intestinal infections -- with particularly severe effects on children under five, pregnant women, and people with chronic illnesses.
"Lebanese families are experiencing a crisis within a crisis. Many had not yet recovered from the 2024 war, the drought, and the economic collapse. Now they must start again from scratch, often without safe water, without enough food, in shelters at the limits of their capacity," says Simone Garroni, General Director of Action Against Hunger Italy. "It is precisely at times like this that humanitarian presence makes a difference: our teams are on the ground to provide drinking water, food assistance and medical care to those most in need. We will continue to do so."
Water as a System: Agriculture and Food Security
The water crisis does not only affect immediate human needs -- it also affects farming. In Lebanon, bombardments have destroyed irrigation systems, agricultural equipment, and productive land. Farmers, already struggling with drought and rising input costs, now lack safe access to their fields and are forced to use water of uncertain quality, with negative consequences for both crops and health.
Even before the March escalation, the situation was already severe: between November 2025 and March 2026, an estimated 874,000 people in Lebanon were living at Crisis or Emergency levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above), including 22,000 in Emergency conditions (IPC Phase 4). Although annual inflation fell to 14.8% in 2025, this was not accompanied by any real increase in income: households' purchasing power, especially among the displaced, remains severely compromised.
Action Against Hunger's Response
Present in Lebanon since 2006, Action Against Hunger activated emergency response mechanisms immediately after the escalation of March 2nd. As of March 19th, 2026, the organization has reached 35,137 people with multi-sectoral assistance across all eight governorates of Lebanon -- including hard-to-reach areas such as Hasbaya and Zefta in Nabatieh district. Teams are operating in Beirut, Mount Lebanon, Bekaa, Baalbek-Hermel, Nabatieh, South Lebanon, North Lebanon and Akkar, providing support across 139 collective shelters.
Thus far, Action Against Hunger has done the following to improve sanitation and hygiene (WASH):
* Distributed 39,924 liters of bottled water and supplied 224 cubic meters of water via water trucking.
* Distributed 1,451 family hygiene kits, 1,501 menstrual hygiene management (MHM) kits, 450 baby hygiene kits, and 30 incontinence kits.
* Supported 139 collective shelters with emergency WASH services and distributed 2,253 mattresses and mats and 2,432 blankets.
To support health and nutrition, teams have:
* Conducted 843 primary healthcare consultations and provided 67 sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services.
* Expanded hospital support to 6 facilities, maintaining care for high-risk pregnancies and extending emergency services to three additional hospitals in Saida, Hermel and West Bekaa.
* Provided nutritional supplements to 423 children aged 6-59 months and screened 196 children and pregnant or breastfeeding women for malnutrition.
* Reached 375 caregivers with child nutrition awareness messages and provided complementary nutrition food to 21 children aged 6-23 months.
To bolster food security, teams have:
* Distributed 1,208 Ready-to-Eat (RTE) food parcels. However, it is estimated that up to 40% of food needs remain unmet due to lack of resources.
Action Against Hunger calls on the international community to exert diplomatic pressure for an immediate ceasefire, ensure safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to all affected areas, and provide financial support for the humanitarian response. UNICEF's plan for the next three months requires 48 million US dollars: as of early March 2026, 83.5% of these funds were still unavailable. Without adequate resources, thousands of families risk losing access even to the bare minimum needed to survive.
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Original text here: https://www.actionagainsthunger.org/press-releases/conflict-and-drought-in-lebanon-are-driving-1-million-people-into-an-unprecedented-water-crisis/
[Category: Sociological]
