Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
WildEarth Guardians: BLM Agrees With Conservation Groups on Review of Waste From Proposed Luna County Mine
SANTA FE, New Mexico, July 12 -- WildEarth Guardians issued the following news release:
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BLM Agrees with Conservation Groups on Review of Waste from Proposed Luna County Mine
This review will include a 30-day public review and comment period before reissuing another Final EA.
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DEMING, N.M. - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has agreed with five New Mexico conservation groups to conduct an environmental review of mill waste from a proposed magnesium mine in Luna County southeast of Deming. The July 8th Agreement ends an appeal of a Federal District Court decision in 2024, which ruled
... Show Full Article
SANTA FE, New Mexico, July 12 -- WildEarth Guardians issued the following news release:
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BLM Agrees with Conservation Groups on Review of Waste from Proposed Luna County Mine
This review will include a 30-day public review and comment period before reissuing another Final EA.
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DEMING, N.M. - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has agreed with five New Mexico conservation groups to conduct an environmental review of mill waste from a proposed magnesium mine in Luna County southeast of Deming. The July 8th Agreement ends an appeal of a Federal District Court decision in 2024, which ruledthat the BLM's initial review of the proposed American Magnesium mine lacked necessary review of the waste from the mill, which would be necessary to refine the magnesium ore.
Five conservation groups sued in 2020 to block approval of the mine until the issue of mine waste could be included in the necessary environmental review. The District Court Judge hearing the case agreed with the groups, and the BLM appealed the decision to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. The Agreement settles that appeal.
Under the Agreement, the BLM will prepare a revised Environmental Assessment (EA) focused on analyzing water quality impacts from the proposed milling site. This review will include a 30-day public review and comment period before reissuing another Final EA.
"This agreement will provide a review of impacts from the necessary processing mill for the proposed mine, which we had requested before we brought the lawsuit," according to Friends of the Floridas (FOTF) President Mike Nuss. FOTF joined with New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, WildEarth Guardians, Gila Resources Information Project, and Amigos Bravos to bring the successful lawsuit in 2020.
The processing mill, which has yet to apply for the necessary state and local permits, would potentially sit on land owned by the City of Deming within city limits and subject to the city's zoning laws. A thorough discussion of the impacts from transportation of raw ore through the city of Deming was also not addressed in the initial EA.
"New Mexico's surface water and aquifers are absolutely critical to our communities, wildlife, and wild places," said Sally Paez, staff attorney for New Mexico Wild. "We are pleased that the court recognized the importance of considering the impacts that toxic pollution would have on our waters, and that the BLM has done the right thing by agreeing to review and evaluate these risks."
"Approving American Magnesium's mine proposal without a valid plan for processing the ore and without considering the potential adverse effects of mineral processing is akin to investing in a business venture without a clear profit strategy," stated Allyson Siwik, Executive Director of Silver City-based Gila Resources Information Project. "We are pleased that the court recognized our concern that the BLM did not sufficiently assess and disclose the potential for significant water quality impacts of the mine's milling operation."
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Original text here: https://wildearthguardians.org/press-releases/blm-agrees-with-conservation-groups-on-review-of-waste-from-proposed-luna-county-mine/
[Category: Environment]
PESP Presents Research About the Role of Private Equity in the Climate Crisis at OECD Workshop in Paris
CHICAGO, Illinois, July 12 (TNSrpt) -- The Private Equity Stakeholder Project issued the following news:
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PESP presents research about the role of private equity in the climate crisis at OECD workshop in Paris
In June, PESP's Climate Director, Alissa Jean Schafer, presented at an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) workshop in Paris, France, highlighting the significant and often overlooked impact of private equity investments on global carbon emissions. The presentation focused on research from the Private Equity Climate Risks (PECR) project, a collaboration between
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CHICAGO, Illinois, July 12 (TNSrpt) -- The Private Equity Stakeholder Project issued the following news:
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PESP presents research about the role of private equity in the climate crisis at OECD workshop in Paris
In June, PESP's Climate Director, Alissa Jean Schafer, presented at an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) workshop in Paris, France, highlighting the significant and often overlooked impact of private equity investments on global carbon emissions. The presentation focused on research from the Private Equity Climate Risks (PECR) project, a collaboration betweenPESP, Global Energy Monitor, and Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund.
During her presentation, Alissa Jean discussed the PECR Scorecard, a resource for stakeholders, investors, and policymakers. This scorecard evaluates private equity firms based on key metrics, including their number of fossil fuel portfolio companies, the percentage of fossil fuels in their energy portfolios, estimated annual carbon dioxide emissions, and alignment with the Climate Demands for Private Equity. PECR conducted and compiled this research to provide transparency within the often opaque private equity industry.
Publicizing the fossil assets owned by many private equity firms is crucial for providing a clear picture of their actual impact on climate change globally. Alissa Jean also highlighted the PECR Global Energy Trackers. The Fossil Fuel Asset Tracker is a searchable tool built on data from the scorecard. It lists fossil fuel assets,including pipelines, coal-fired power plants, oil and gas drilling operations, and LNG terminals, owned by 20 global private equity firms. The tracker can be sorted by type, location, and private equity firm, and future updates will include gas-fired power plants to improve emissions calculations.
Private equity firms are also increasingly engaging in greenwashing to attract investors and defend their business models. Alissa Jean referenced a recent PECR report that reveals how private equity firms invest in "false solutions" to climate change, rather than true decarbonization efforts. The report, titled "A Look at Private Equity Transition Funds: Energy Innovation or Greenwashing?", details how these investments often serve to prolong the use of fossil fuels and create confusion for investors seeking genuine climate action. Publicly disclosing the fossil fuel assets owned by private equity firms is crucial for anyone, but especially investors, to accurately understand their environmental impact.
The PECR website serves as a central hub for this research, offering separate pages for analyzed PE firms, interactive data visualizations, and downloadable data. In addition to research and tracking tools, PESP equips investors with a comprehensive toolkit for building more sustainable portfolios. This includes climate standards for limited partners, energy transition due diligence questionnaires, and a comparison of leading investor climate policies.
PESP was honored to participate in the OECD workshop and to provide access to critical research resources designed to shine a light on the blind spots of private equity. The work to enhance transparency and promote a movement toward more responsible and sustainable private equity investment practices is a global undertaking, and PESP is dedicated to remaining engaged in these international efforts. PESP will continue to do the research that will drive these conversations forward and empower investors to make more sustainable choices.
Author
Matt Parr
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REPORT: https://pestakeholder.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/PESP_Climate-FlaseSolutions-Report_June2025-final.pdf
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Original text here: https://pestakeholder.org/news/pesp-presents-research-about-the-role-of-private-equity-in-the-climate-crisis-at-oecd-workshop-in-paris/
[Category: Business]
ICYMI - Exclusive Stories in The Sun and Fox News on UANI Report on Regime Fatwas
NEW YORK, July 12 (TNSrep) -- United Against Nuclear Iran issued the following news release on July 11, 2025:
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ICYMI - Exclusive Stories in The Sun and Fox News on UANI Report on Regime Fatwas
In the past week, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) worked with The Sun and Fox News on two exclusive news stories revealing the shocking details behind the Iranian regime's fatwas calling for the assassination of U.S. President Donald Trump, and exposing the individuals and entities responsible for those fatwas.
The feature in The Sun, "Iran's 'medieval' fatwa demanding Trump be CRUCIFIED could
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NEW YORK, July 12 (TNSrep) -- United Against Nuclear Iran issued the following news release on July 11, 2025:
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ICYMI - Exclusive Stories in The Sun and Fox News on UANI Report on Regime Fatwas
In the past week, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) worked with The Sun and Fox News on two exclusive news stories revealing the shocking details behind the Iranian regime's fatwas calling for the assassination of U.S. President Donald Trump, and exposing the individuals and entities responsible for those fatwas.
The feature in The Sun, "Iran's 'medieval' fatwa demanding Trump be CRUCIFIED couldspark homegrown terror attacks in West," outlines how senior Iranian regime clerics have issued fatwas calling for the crucifixion and death of President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. UANI experts warn that this kind of state-backed incitement risks fueling radicalization and could inspire terrorist acts in the West.
The article includes a call from UANI Chairman Gov. Jeb Bush, CEO Amb. Mark D. Wallace, and Senior Advisor Rt. Hon. Tom Tugendhat MP for urgent sanctions, indictments, and immigration reviews of those responsible for the death threats.
The Fox News exclusive--"Trump targeted by Iranian death fatwas as watchdog group demands immediate sanctions response"--drew on a new UANI report https://www.unitedagainstnucleariran.com/blog/uani-top-iran-sanctions-targets-for-iranian-regime-fatwas) which details nine of the senior regime figures and two entities responsible for the fatwas. The feature also reveals, based on information obtained by UANI, how state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting solicited donations to fund the assassinations.
The article also featured calls from Gov. Jeb Bush and Amb. Mark Wallace for appropriate sanctions.
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Original text here: https://www.unitedagainstnucleariran.com/index.php/press-releases/icymi-exclusive-stories-sun-and-fox-news-on-uani-report-on-regime-fatwas
[Category: Energy]
Human Rights First: Mass Layoffs at State Department Decimate U.S. Diplomacy, Weaken America, and Reward Dictators
WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Human Rights First issued the following news:
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Mass Layoffs at State Department Decimate U.S. Diplomacy, Weaken America, and Reward Dictators
In response to Secretary of State Rubio's firing of over 1,300 State Department employees, Human Rights First President and CEO Uzra Zeya said the following:
Non-partisan, selfless public service is the backbone of U.S. diplomacy that makes Americans safer, more prosperous, and secure. Secretary Rubio's unjust and unprecedented firing of over 1,300 dedicated State Department public servants decimates U.S. diplomacy and weakens
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Human Rights First issued the following news:
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Mass Layoffs at State Department Decimate U.S. Diplomacy, Weaken America, and Reward Dictators
In response to Secretary of State Rubio's firing of over 1,300 State Department employees, Human Rights First President and CEO Uzra Zeya said the following:
Non-partisan, selfless public service is the backbone of U.S. diplomacy that makes Americans safer, more prosperous, and secure. Secretary Rubio's unjust and unprecedented firing of over 1,300 dedicated State Department public servants decimates U.S. diplomacy and weakensAmericans' well-being. Rather than retaining skills and expertise honed over decades, Rubio knee-capped American human rights and humanitarian leadership in one Friday morning massacre today. These mass layoffs mean abandonment of human rights reformers abroad who challenged dictators, termination of conflict resolution support that stopped wars, repudiation of U.S. humanitarian leadership that staved off famine, and more kleptocrats, war criminals, and human traffickers escaping justice. At the State Department, where I spent much of my career, the legions of workers kicked to the curb today are expected to include veterans, fluent linguists, policy visionaries, and shrewd negotiators who will no longer be promoting U.S. interests and values overseas. This is a happy day for autocrats and criminals alike, who are now freer to crack down on human rights, enjoy impunity, and foment conflict.
Donald Trump apparently believes that he, his family, and his cronies can flourish in an environment where the state's capacity to function is degraded, following a long tradition of autocratic civil service purges from Russia to Turkey to Hungary. If Congress abdicates its responsibility to check him, the rest of us will be left to suffer the consequences. Members of Congress must use their oversight authority to demand transparency about these self-inflicted hits to U.S. national security and seek their reversal. In tandem, the Senate should reject the rescissions package that will further decimate U.S. human rights and humanitarian leadership, defy bipartisan directives, and leave a vacuum for U.S. adversaries to fill.
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Original text here: https://humanrightsfirst.org/library/mass-layoffs-at-state-department-decimate-u-s-diplomacy-weaken-america-and-reward-dictators/
[Category: Sociological]
Do Light and Darkness Shape the Patterns on Shells? A Grass Fellow Investigates
WOODS HOLE, Massachusetts, July 12 -- The Marine Biological Laboratory, an affiliate of the University of Chicago, issued the following news:
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Do Light and Darkness Shape the Patterns on Shells? A Grass Fellow Investigates
Kyra Schapiro knows how to find a good shell. A self-professed sheller - " Yes, it's a noun," she said - Schapiro has amassed hundreds of seashells. "It's the patterns and the beauty" that compels her to shell, she explained. And even at a young age, she could "respect that something was making this [shell pattern] with some sort of plan or intention."
From her hours
... Show Full Article
WOODS HOLE, Massachusetts, July 12 -- The Marine Biological Laboratory, an affiliate of the University of Chicago, issued the following news:
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Do Light and Darkness Shape the Patterns on Shells? A Grass Fellow Investigates
Kyra Schapiro knows how to find a good shell. A self-professed sheller - " Yes, it's a noun," she said - Schapiro has amassed hundreds of seashells. "It's the patterns and the beauty" that compels her to shell, she explained. And even at a young age, she could "respect that something was making this [shell pattern] with some sort of plan or intention."
From her hoursof searching the surf of Hillsboro Beach, Florida, Schapiro couldn't ignore certain patterns repeating on each shell she saw. Like the Fibonacci sequence -- mathematical spirals seen in nature, from hurricanes to flower petals -- how do these patterns emerge? What mechanisms has nature evolved to design these displays, and what determines one shell's subtle differences from another?
These questions bubbled in the background while Schapiro trained as a neuroscientist at the University of Pennsylvania and searched for patterns in cognition and working memory. After yet another painstaking attempt to record single-neuron activity in monkeys, she sought solace in shells - this time, as a scientist.
Pattern switch
As a 2025 Grass Fellow at MBL and postdoctoral scientist at Brandeis University, Schapiro has taken to a different type of shelling. For the first time, she's collecting shells with their living occupant: the zebra nerite snail. She houses dozens of snails in experimental tanks and tracks how their patterns grow and change under different conditions.
Zebra snails have the right kind of shell pattern to study. They have diagonal bands, so pigment stripes the shell in a different direction from the shell's growth. Under normal conditions, the biology follows a blueprint, painting a continuous design of dark and light stripes.
But when something changes in the environment - access to light, perhaps - the diagonal striping stops, leading to a dramatic pattern change, Schapiro said. Instead of resuming the original pattern, they switch to a new design, laying down pigment according to a different template. "My basic theory is that they are somehow sensing where in the pattern they left off," using the new template to guide their future stripes, Schapiro said
Schapiro has six collection tanks: one control and five with unique manipulations. She aims to see which conditions disrupt shell pattern formation.
In a light tank, zebra snails experience constant brightness, while the algae blooms flourish. In a nearby dark tank, snails experience the opposite, with 24-hour midnight waters. Schapiro hypothesizes that information from light triggers which band (light or dark) gets laid down next. Under normal lighting conditions, the light and dark stripes alternate. But if an input, such as light, is shut off, the snail will only produce dark bands.
A few snails developed a pattern change prior to arriving at the Grass Lab in May, boosting support for Schapiro's hypothesis. Perhaps the days spent in dark shipping containers extended the dark stripes.
She also has three wallpapered tanks: plain white, striped, and checkered. "If I put them in an environment where they no longer blend in, but rather stand out, can they adapt?" Will the snails change the direction of the stripes, she wonders, in response to a different background? These are questions informed by evolution, which implies some shell pattern will best equip a snail for its environment.
Tapping into the (neural) network
In addition to weeks of behavioral observation, Schapiro will probe the organism's nervous system, looking for a neural response to light. But a snail's physiology makes it difficult to electrically record from the nerves. "Snail nerves are deeply embedded, and the tissue is thin," Schapiro said.
But one of the benefits of being at the MBL, Schapiro said, is access to resources and expertise to experiment with different methods.
"There are so many people who know different things...I can just wander around and ask, 'What methods do you use? Can you tell me about this? Am I doing this right?'"
This has allowed her to pick up a peculiarity between the local species of snail, Crepidula fornicata, and her experimental zebra nerites, Vittina turrita.
In probing their neural networks, Schapiro has found that V. turrita has many more branches than C. fornicata, which seem to have more of a 'net'. She wonders if there's a connection between the number of branches and the number of stripes on the shell. If there is, that would strongly indicate a neural basis for pattern formation.
If neuroscience underlies pattern change, then Schapiro has tapped into something in ways that haven't been explored before. Perhaps snails are neurologically primed to create their own designs, patterned by whatever environment they experience.
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Original text here: https://www.mbl.edu/news/do-light-and-darkness-shape-patterns-shells-grass-fellow-investigates
[Category: Biology]
Canceling TPS for Honduras and Nicaragua is a Cruel, Unjust, and Legally Questionable Decision
CHICAGO, Illinois, July 12 -- Alianza Americas, a transnational advocacy network of Latin American migrant-led organizations, issued the following news release on July 11, 2025:
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Canceling TPS for Honduras and Nicaragua is a cruel, unjust, and legally questionable decision
Today, the Trump administration announced the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for people of Honduran and Nicaraguan origin. This decision puts at risk tens of thousands of people who, for more than 25 years, have put down roots in the United States, are our neighbors, and have contributed significantly
... Show Full Article
CHICAGO, Illinois, July 12 -- Alianza Americas, a transnational advocacy network of Latin American migrant-led organizations, issued the following news release on July 11, 2025:
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Canceling TPS for Honduras and Nicaragua is a cruel, unjust, and legally questionable decision
Today, the Trump administration announced the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for people of Honduran and Nicaraguan origin. This decision puts at risk tens of thousands of people who, for more than 25 years, have put down roots in the United States, are our neighbors, and have contributed significantlyto their communities, local economies, and the collective well-being of this country.
"Revoking TPS at this historic moment not only breaks the moral and legal commitment to protection, but also puts at risk the health, safety, and stability of thousands of mixed-status families, in which one or more persons are U.S. citizens, affecting entire communities," stated Christian Aguiluz, director of Houston's America for All, a community based organization in Texas.
Alianza Americas firmly reject this decision. The arguments used to justify the cancellation are false, malicious, and violate the law that created TPS: to protect people who cannot safely return to their countries of origin. Neither Honduras nor Nicaragua have adequate security conditions, infrastructure, or services to guarantee the dignified reintegration of people who have lived in the U.S. for more than two decades. Many communities are still suffering from the ravages of Hurricane Mitch, aggravated by state neglect, violence, corruption, and lack of opportunities.
This decision also adds to a troubling pattern of anti-immigrant policies and the criminalization of people with TPS, including under unfounded stigmas such as alleged gang affiliations.
"The process for obtaining TPS is one of the most rigorous, as beneficiaries have undergone exhaustive security checks at the federal level," stated Patricia Montes, executive director of Centro Presente and Honduran human rights activist in Boston, MA.
We urge the authorities to reverse this decision and guarantee protection for TPS holders. To the affected communities, we reiterate: you are not alone. We join legal and community advocacy efforts and encourage you to organize, seek legal advice, and stay informed.
Alianza Americas is a transnational network of migrant-led organizations in the United States. We advocate for social justice, equity and human rights in the Americas.
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Original text here: https://www.alianzaamericas.org/post/canceling-tps-for-honduras-and-nicaragua-is-a-cruel-unjust-and-legally-questionable-decision
[Category: Political]
AU Seeks to Intervene in Johnson Amendment Lawsuit
WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Americans United for Separation of Church and State issued the following news:
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AU seeks to intervene in Johnson Amendment lawsuit
TYLER, TEXAS - Americans United for Separation of Church and State late Thursday took steps to intervene in the case National Religious Broadcasters v. Long. The federal lawsuit was brought by religious organizations challenging the Johnson Amendment, a 70-year-old federal law that prevents 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations from endorsing or opposing partisan political candidates for public office.
AU requests intervenor status to defend
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Americans United for Separation of Church and State issued the following news:
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AU seeks to intervene in Johnson Amendment lawsuit
TYLER, TEXAS - Americans United for Separation of Church and State late Thursday took steps to intervene in the case National Religious Broadcasters v. Long. The federal lawsuit was brought by religious organizations challenging the Johnson Amendment, a 70-year-old federal law that prevents 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations from endorsing or opposing partisan political candidates for public office.
AU requests intervenor status to defendJohnson Amendment
Americans United is requesting intervenor status in response to the joint settlement proposed Monday by the Trump administration and the plaintiffs that would exempt houses of worship and religious organizations from the law. AU is asking the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas to reject this proposal because it would grant favor and privilege to religious organizations and treat them differently than secular nonprofits - an unconstitutional violation of church-state separation.
"The Trump administration's radical reinterpretation of the Johnson Amendment is a flagrant, self-serving attack on church-state separation that threatens our democracy by favoring houses of worship over other nonprofits and inserting them into partisan politics," said AU President and CEO Rachel Laser. "President Trump and his Christian Nationalist allies are once again exploiting religion to boost their own political power. We're intervening in this case so we can urge the court to reject the administration's latest gambit to re-write the law.
Johnson Amendment protects the integrity of elections & nonprofit organizations
"Americans United has long supported the Johnson Amendment because it protects the integrity of both our elections and nonprofit organizations, including houses of worship. The majority of Americans - including faith leaders, evangelical Christians and Republicans - don't want their churches embroiled in the corrupting influence of partisan politics. Weakening this law would undermine houses of worship and nonprofits by transforming them into political action committees, flooding our elections with even more dark money."
When the prior Trump administration threatened the Johnson Amendment, more than 4,600 faith leaders, 5,800 nonprofit organizations and 106 religious and denominational organizations weighed in to strongly oppose weakening or repealing the current law.
Attorneys working on the intervention in the case include, at Americans United, Vice President and Legal Director Rebecca S. Markert, Litigation Counsel Alexandra Zaretsky and Constitutional Litigation Fellow Jess Zalph; and Martin Woodward of Kitner Woodward PPLC in Dallas.
Americans United is a religious freedom advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, AU educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.
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Original text here: https://www.au.org/the-latest/press/johnson-amendment-intervene-elections/
[Category: Political]
