Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility

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!

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.

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. 

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.