Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility

Oregon PSR is excited to welcome Samantha/Sam Paladini (she/her) to our team! Samantha is our Quaker Voluntary Services Fellow for the next year. Read on to learn more about Samantha and her role at Oregon PSR.

Oregon PSR is proud to announce that we have a new Clean Air Organizer, Paulina Durham (she/her)! Paulina comes to Oregon PSR from the State Capital where she worked as a legislative aide to Senator Deb Patterson, who introduced the Covanta Incineration Regulation bill this past session. We are very excited to have Paulina on our staff and can’t wait for you all to meet her! To start that process off, we asked Paulina a few questions to help us get to know her.

Are you wondering how to keep you, your loved ones and community members safe during wildfire season? So are we. Read on to find resources to help understand how wildfire smoke impacts our bodies, how to keep air clean inside and ways to track fires and air quality in your area. 

Extreme Heat in Oregon is the new normal. Around the world 2023 is the hottest year ever recorded, with July being particularly hot.

As heat disasters become more common, staying cool becomes increasingly difficult. We have compiled a list of resources for you to view and share with your community. As we work to create a healthier and more just world, it is imperative that we take care of ourselves and each other during these challenging times. Continue reading to find tips for staying cool, information about statewide cooling centers, and resources for vulnerable populations.

Oregon PSR staff gathered in Eugene. 

It is bittersweet to say goodbye to our incredible clean air organizer Carina Perez Europa. Carina has been with the Oregon PSR staff since 2020 and we have been so honored to work with her. 

Oregon PSR staff gathers outside of the Oregon State Capital after a lobby day.

Oregon PSR have been working hard this legislative session to push forward bills that prioritize a healthy climate, safe communities and a just Oregon. As we near the end of this legislative session there is a lot of hope for some game changing legislation to be passed. We need your help to keep up this momentum! Read on for a legislative update and ways to take action!

I am delighted to join the team at Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility. Many of the issues that Oregon PSR focuses on are close to my heart. 

Born in the capital of the nuclear-capable country of Pakistan, I was a young boy in 1998 when the Chagai nuclear tests were conducted underground as a response to India’s Pokhran test. With nationalism at an all-time high, I still remember countless celebrations in the streets at this development that would serve as a deterrent and ensure the survival of the Islamic Republic.

What those celebrations did not factor was the environmental and social costs of testing, maintaining, and expanding the nuclear arsenal. I firsthand saw the ramifications of a bloated military budget and the divestment from necessary social programs as a result. I was also privy to the lack of political stability and scapegoating of “enemy” countries; this nuclear flexing was a compounded abomination to the very real human suffering occurring on the daily.

Hydrogen gas has now entered the conversation around energy in a major way. We are seeing blended hydrogen in particular popping up in spaces being touted as a green, sustainable and safe fuel with a lower carbon footprint by fossil fuel companies. So, is blended hydrogen a good alternative to “natural” gas? How does it compare to electrification? 

Victory in Eugene! On February 7th Eugene City Council voted 5-3 to phase out fossil fuels, like gas, in all new residential construction starting in June 2023. This is a massive step towards making our homes safer and moving towards a fossil free future. 

Oregon PSR is thrilled to welcome Hope Yamasaki as our newest board member. Hope has always been passionate about intersectionality, education, and the environment, and as a longtime Oregon resident, Hope has worked hard to address these topics in her community.