Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility

Only two months into 2020, the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline proposed by Canadian fossil fuel company Pembina has suffered a slew of defeats thanks to region-wide organizing led by southern Oregonians. This massive fracked gas project would quickly become Oregon's largest single emitter of greenhouse gases and disrupt property rights, Tribes, natural resources, and existing fishing and tourism jobs. Oregon PSR has participated in numerous events that continue to signal that Oregon does not want this project and that our state has the authority to prevent it from ever being built.

With the submission deadline for our 2020 Greenfield Peace Writing Scholarship having passed, we're delighted to announce the members of this year's judging team and the Keynote Speaker for the April 25th Awards Ceremony. 

Just one week before an expected permit decision from the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL), Jordan Cove LNG has withdrawn their application for a Removal-Fill permit to dredge millions of cubic feet of sediment out of Coos Bay for LNG tankers and construct a pipeline through and under hundreds of waterways in Southern Oregon. The massive fracked gas project cannot move forward without this permit.

Oregon PSR's Healthy Climate Action Team member Patricia Kullberg, MD, MPH was a featured speaker at the rally to #StopJordanCove LNG in Salem on Thursday, November 21st. She spoke of a vision of healthy communities connected to the land and water, free from the threat of fossil fuel terminals and pipelines.

On Thursday, November 21st, nearly 750 people from across Oregon and northern California, including Indigenous community members, impacted landowners, young people, and many others came together to demand that Governor Brown stop the proposed Jordan Cove LNG project and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline. The proposed Jordan Cove Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export terminal in Coos Bay, as well as the proposed 229-mile Pacific Connector fracked methane gas pipeline, is an extremely hazardous fossil fuel project that would threaten our clean air, clean water, a stable climate, and the health of our communities. If approved, this project would constitute the largest single greenhouse gas pollution source in Oregon.

On November 7th, National PSR hosted the Visionary Leaders Awards Reception and Symposium in Washington, DC. The awards recognize individuals and organizations for their exemplary efforts in advancing nuclear weapons abolition and addressing environmental risks to human health, including the catastrophic consequences caused by climate change, through collaborations that strengthen PSR’s mission.

Among this year’s honorees were Kelly Campbell, Executive Director of Oregon PSR, and Regna Merritt, our recently retired Healthy Climate Program Director. Kelly was also a panelist at an afternoon symposium of Women Leaders on Nuclear Disarmament and Climate Disruption.

On November 13th, 2019, Portland City Council adopted two resolutions in support of peace and diplomacy. Introduced by Commissioner Amanda Fritz, the first resolution puts Portland on record supporting the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the second one supports diplomacy, not war, with Iran. The resolutions were led by Oregon PSR and the American Iranian Friendship Council and supported by a broad coalition of community organizations.

“Today, we are sending the message to our representatives in Washington, and the national and international community, that the City of Portland is committed to the protection and health of human life and the environment,” explained Commissioner Amanda Fritz, the sponsor of both resolutions. “These resolutions serve as a platform for our community members to see themselves reflected in our values and priorities as a City.”

There’s a big air pollution problem in Oregon coming from the Covanta Marion waste incinerator between Salem and Woodburn, the largest industrial source of air pollution in Marion County. Right now, the state of Oregon is considering renewing a key air quality permit for Covanta Marion and is taking comments until November 18th, 2019. The proposed permit would allow the incinerator to increase their emissions of fine particulate matter, which works its way into the smallest parts of our lungs and leads to inflammation and increased chance of respiratory disease.

Take action: Tell Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to deny pollution increases at the Covanta Marion waste incinerator.