Congressman Blumenauer References our Testimony on Climate and Health
Today in the House Ways and Means committee hearing on the economic and health consequences of climate change, Congressman Blumenauer referenced Oregon PSR's testimony written by Patricia Kullburg MD, MPH. Read our testimony and watch Congressman Blumenauer speak at (approx. 1:31).
Meet Lluvia Merello, Energy Justice Organizer
Oregon PSR (Physicians for Social Responsibility) is thrilled to welcome Lluvia Merello to our staff! Lluvia brings extensive experience organizing for environmental and social justice including work as an early organizer with the Portland Clean Energy Fund coalition. She joins our Healthy Climate Program as our Energy Justice Organizer, working to expand our capacity to build a just transition off of fossil fuels and nuclear power and a healthy climate future for all. Read on to hear from Lluvia in her own words about this position:
Read moreNo Fracked Gas Pipeline in Southern Oregon
Dear Governor Brown:
The proposed 229-mile Pacific Connector fracked methane gas pipeline and the associated Jordan Cove Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export terminal in Coos Bay is an extremely hazardous fossil fuel project that would threaten our clean air, clean water, a stable climate and our health. If approved, it would become the largest greenhouse gas polluter in Oregon.
Fracked gas is dirty and dangerous.
- Methane accelerates climate change. It is more potent a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide over its first hundred years in the atmosphere—fully 86 times more potent over its first 20 years.
- Methane is released into the atmosphere from fracking wells, equipment, and pipelines at rates that make it worse for the environment than coal. Those emission rates, if sustained, move us closer to climate catastrophe.
- Proximity to fracking operations is associated with congenital heart defects, increased risk of high-risk pregnancy and premature birth, worsening asthma, and increased rates of hospitalization for cardiac, neurological and cancer-related problems.
- Methane pipelines can explode. They also carry dangerous particle pollution and volatile organic chemicals which are released during venting at compressor stations and along entire pipelines.
This proposed project increases risk to approximately 485 waterways including the Rogue, Umpqua, Coos, Coquille, and Klamath Rivers. It would lead to deforestation, erosion and pollution of our waters. A stark environmental injustice, It would damage traditional tribal territories and important salmon and oyster fisheries. Hundreds of landowners would face loss of their land via eminent domain, while thousands more face the safety risks of an LNG terminal in an earthquake and tsunami zone in Coos Bay.
We urge you to exercise your authority to prevent this human health catastrophe. Oregon's environmental agencies must deny state permits for the Jordan Cove LNG export terminal and Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline to protect the health of our communities.
Thank you for considering my comment,
Greenfield Peace Writing Scholarship
The Greenfield Peace Writing Scholarship is an opportunity to hear from young Oregonians on some of the most pressing issues of our time. We sponsor this annual writing scholarship in order to encourage Oregon’s youth to consider their leadership role in promoting a more healthy, just, and peaceful world.
Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility extends our most sincere appreciation to all of the Oregon high school juniors and seniors who submitted essays, poems, and works of fiction for our 2020 Greenfield Peace Writing Scholarship. The question for Oregon high school 11th and 12th-grade students to answer this year was: "How would an effective movement for climate justice benefit immigrant communities?".
Our 2020 Greenfield Peace Writing Scholarship Awards Ceremony was held online on Saturday, April 25th. Our keynote speaker was Wendi Garcia, environmental activist, and political asylee. Weren’t able to attend? Watch the live stream event!
If you are currently in 10th or 11th grade, please keep an eye out for next year’s scholarship, which will be announced in September 2020.
View the Greenfield Peace Writing Scholarship archives to read entries from previous years.
Read Reflections on the 2020 Greenfield Peace Writing Scholarship Awards Ceremony