4-13-11

News from the SPSSI Policy Blog

Science Sells: Interest in Communication Science is Growing: A look at the importance of communication in helping to shape public opinion as well as new findings in this field of research.

The Psychology of Climate Change Debate: The role of psychology, including biases and strategies for behavioral change, in the debate on climate change.

Middle East Protests: A Pick of the Top News: A collection of articles examining different aspects of the protests in the Middle East from immediately before the start of the no fly zone.

Policy Events in Washington

Event Report: Measuring Our Progress in Reducing U.S. Poverty

Event Report: The Historical and Constitutional Underpinnings of Birthright Citizenship

On the Hill: A look at News from Congress

March 31: House Science, Space, and Technology, Full Committee, Hearing on Climate Change: Examining the Processes Used to Create Science and Policy. Read more here.

April 1: House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, Hearing on a review of the implementation plans for the repeal of law and policies governing service by openly gay and lesbian service members. For more on the hearing, click here.

Introduced April 8: H.R.1462:  To address HIV/AIDS in the African-American community, and for other purposes. More on H.R. 1462.

Introduced April 8: H.R. 1459: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act with respect to detention of unlawfully present aliens who are apprehended for driving while intoxicated, to improve State and local enforcement of immigration laws, and for other purposes. More on H.R. 1459

Coming up on April 13: U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Full Committee, Hearings to examine fulfilling our commitment to support victims of crime. Information on this hearing can be found here.

Coming up on April 14: U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Subcommittee on African Affairs, Assessing the FY2012 Budget for Africa. Information on this hearing can be found here.

Pyschology and Social Issues in the News

Delaware Senate Passes Civil Union’s Bill: On 4/7/11 - The Delaware Senate passed a civil union bill by a 13 to 6 vote, making it the 6th US state to recognize civil unions or domestic partnerships.

Arkansas Supreme Court finds anti-gay adoption ban unconstitutional: On 4/7/11, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that the state’s ban on adoption by couple who aren’t married (Act I) is unconstitutional.

Researchers found differences between young children, teenagers, and adults when faced with online ostracism: Featuring lead researcher and SPSSI member Dominic Abrams.

International Roma Day: SPSSI Marshall Fellow, Dr. Angel Colon-Rivera on the need for Romani full rights in the Helsinki Commission Digest.

Further Resources

Find out what other organizations are doing on these issues

LGBTQ Issues
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
The Human Rights Campaign

Environmental Issues
Environmental Defense Fund
The Sierra Club

Other Resources
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The Society for the Psychology of Women