Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility

Climate Change: Believing that climate change is a public health crisis, we work to reduce the use of greenhouse gas emissions by advocating for a transition away from fossil fuels toward clean energy. We educate both the public and members of the medical community to better understand the links between climate change and human health, and we engage in advocacy with decision-makers to mitigate climate change and related air pollution in Washington State. In 2023, we held several educational and training workshops in order to support health professionals in learning about climate change and developing successful advocacy skills. Our health professional members and staff spoke at public hearings on proposed fossil fuel projects and clean and renewable energy initiatives, in support of land use protections to limit fossil fuel projects and infrastructure in our region, and in support of energy choices that reduce our region's contribution to climate change. WPSR members supported the next generation of health activists by speaking about climate change with the University of Washington, Washington State University, Virginia Mason, and before medical groups and associations with an interest in the issue of Climate Change and Health.

Economic Inequity: Recognizing the detrimental consequences that economic inequity has on population health, we seek to reduce that inequity in the long term and to mitigate its negative health outcomes in the short term. In 2023, we expressed our support for tax reform, increasing social spending that benefits poor and marginalized communities, and fair access to economic opportunities for all. We hosted public education events to educate health professionals, researchers and students about the links among economic inequity and health, as well as locally relevant efforts to address the problem.

Nuclear Weapons Abolition: Because the use - whether accidental or intentional - of even one nuclear weapon would have disastrous consequences, we work to prevent the use and proliferation of nuclear weapons. Our efforts in 2023 focused on educating and impacting decision-makers and on building a statewide grassroots movement calling for nuclear weapons abolition. The coalition, Washington Against Nuclear Weapons, has grown to over 50 organizational members. We held a number of meetings with our members of Congress and their staff, urging them to support policies that would reduce the likelihood of nuclear war. Our staff and volunteers educated the public on nuclear weapons issues through media placement and appearances, educational events across the state, and a speakers' training for interested volunteers.

Other Programs: WPSR occasionally engages in issues related to - but beyond - our core program areas, including supporting safe and adequate cleanup of the Hanford nuclear site and supporting international diplomacy and protection of human rights. This includes limited administrative support for medical teams traveling to provide medical education and services in the Middle East. We also work to support and develop the next generation of health activists by supporting student chapters at the two largest public universities in the state.