Contact: Lydia Green FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASETelephone: (650) 814-6024Email: lgreen@climate911.orgDate: 6/31/2016

Doctors with Puppets Say Climate Solutions Reduce Diabetes and Asthma

Friday, June 31, 2016, SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. –

Health professionals and students from Climate 911 are touring the San Joaquin and Mississippi River valleys this summer with a free bilingual puppet comedy about climate solutions and the substantial health benefits to be gained by adopting them. Their show, titled D.O.G.S., will visit 13 communities in California's Central Valley between July 8-23. A schedule of performances is posted on the group's website: www.climate911.org D.O.G.S. stands for Dozens Of Good Solutions. “The main characters are two dogs whotrain their owners to cut carbon pollution in half. We can't tell you more without spoiling the show” says fourth year medical student Chelsea Thibodeau. The show is designed to be entertaining for children and adults and is in Spanglish so that both English and Spanish speaking audience members can follow the action.

“Health professionals want people to know that not all good medicine tastes bad”, says Dr. Wendy Ring, a puppet wielding family physician from northern California. “We havea large body of research telling us that climate solutions will make us healthier. More sustainable energy, transportation, and food will save hundreds of thousands of lives by reducing chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and asthma. Not all good medicine is expensive either. Economic analyses consistently show that the health savings from thesesolutions far outweigh the cost.”

Thibodeau adds: “The Central Valley has the most to gain from solutions because it has the worst air pollution and the highest rates of chronic disease in the state.”

Climate 911 is a national network of health professionals and students who advocate for climate action. Public education is an important part of their strategy. Ring says “We've sent our experts to testify before federal agencies, written letters, signed petitions, and submitted meticulously researched reports, but Congress won't respond until their constituents push them into it. We want people to know that good solutions exist and that the roadblock is political, not technical, so they will go out and vote for candidates who support climate solutions.”

About Climate 911Climate 911 is a national network of health professionals and students who advocate for policies which decrease greenhouse gas emissions and improve public health. For more information about the group, the health benefits of climate solutions, or their Healthy Climate Solutions Tour, visit www.climate911.org

About Dr. RingTrained at Yale and Columbia Universities, Dr. Ring was the Medical Director of a community health center in Humboldt County for over 20 years. She has been recognizedby the U.S. Congress, the California legislature, and the American Medical Association for her work in improving access to care for the underserved and was once named one of America's Best Healers by Reader's Digest.

1

Sources

Health and Climate Change: Policy Responses to Protect Public Health. Lancet Commission on Health and Climate Change 2015 http://www.thelancet.com/commissions/climate-change Accessed June 31, 2016

Climate and health impacts of US emissions reductions consistent with 2 °C. Shindell, D. et al http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/v6/n5/full/nclimate2935.html Accessed June 31,2016

Chronic diseases take their toll among central San Joaquin Valley residents. Fresno Bee, April 11, 2015 http://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article19648839.html

###

2