Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility

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.

UPDATE: SB 520 is now in ways and means! Read on for Action Items!

Over the last few years, one of the many injustices that the COVID-19 pandemic has spotlighted is how prisons fail to protect the health of adults in custody. Crowded prisons with insufficient access to masks and hygiene infrastructure have caused Oregonians in prison to become sick and die from COVID-19.People with histories of incarceration are already in worse physical and mental health according to research by the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services. 

As the Oregon legislature kicks off its 2023 session, Oregon PSR is supporting a number of bills to promote a healthy climate, environmental health, and racial justice that will make our state a healthier place to live. We are also opposing a few dangerous bills that would allow radioactive waste producing nuclear reactors and prohibit local action to replace methane gas with clean electricity. Bookmark this page for more information and opportunities for you to take action for a healthier Oregon as the session progresses. 

I will be moving on from my role as Executive Director at Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) over the next few months. I plan to stay on through mid-March to help with a smooth leadership transition, and will be available to support the new Oregon PSR Executive Director. I am excited that this is a positive change for Oregon PSR and for me. I have served in this role for 13 years, and I think it is important for healthy organizations and for the movements we work in to welcome new leadership periodically. 

Please help Oregon PSR find its next Executive Director by sharing this job announcement with your networks and especially with anyone who you think would have an interest in taking on this very rewarding position. 

Oregon PSR has received a Platinum rating from Guidestar! As an organization we believe in establishing trust with our supporters and communities, and we know that transparency is an important aspect of building trust. That is why we have taken the time to share a bunch of information with everyone ranging from financial to demographic details. We hope you will check out our GuideStar page and share it with anyone who may be interested.