Welcome to Chicago PSR
Our Mission
Chicago Physicians for Social Responsibility is dedicated to promoting a healthier Chicago and improved public health worldwide through advocacy and education about the effects of climate change, environmental toxins, and other environmental threats to human health.
Upcoming Events
Chicago PSR and Northwestern University's School of Engineering will launch
A Climate Change and Public Health Plan for Cook County at 11 AM on June 20 at the Environmental Law and Policy Center Office, 35 E. Wacker Dr.
Chicago PSR's director will present a free seminar, "How to Green Your Outpatient Medical Practice" from 6-8 PM on June 28 at the Chicago Center
for Green Technology, 445 N. Sacrament Blvd.
Current Projects
We support legislative action to clean up Chicago's dangerous coal plants
Located in Pilsen and Little Village, Chicago's Crawford and Fisk coal-fired power plants contribute mercury, soot and sulfur dioxide into our environment every day, dangerous coal by-products that can damage our health. We proudly support the Clean Power Ordinance, a city law that would require the installation of pollution scrubbers on Chicago’s coal plants to help protect Chicagoans from the dangerous pollutants these out-dated plants emit.
We help Cook County health departments adapt to climate change
Climate change threatens our health by increasing infectious diseases, heat emergencies and poor air quality. To help the public health officials in the Chicago metropolitan area prepare and plan for the health effects of climate change in our area, we will release A Climate Change and Public Health Plan for Cook County on June 20, 2012.
We understand the need to green hospitals and health care centers
View our how-to video, "Dr. Green: The Environmentally-Conscious Medical Office"
Healthcare is the second most energy -intensive commercial building sector in the US. We work with our partners to help hospitals and clinics cut emissions and make environmentally friendly product choices. We actively support the procurement of local and sustainable food in health care settings.
We oppose the construction of new nuclear power plants in the US, and seek greener, cleaner energy solutions.
View video of PSR President-elect Andrew Kanter discussing nuclear power plants near Chicago.
Nuclear power plants expose the public to enormous radiation health risks. Accidents at nuclear power plants can have devastating consequences--as seen at the Three Mile Island plant, at Chernobyl, and now in northern Japan--that can put millions of humans at risk of radiation-induced illnesses. These accidents can also permanently irradiate surrounding land, making it uninhabitable and unsafe for growing crops. Additional risk comes from the lack of safe nuclear waste disposal. We support research and legislation promoting renewable energy solutions.
We continue to work towards the elimination of nuclear weapons
Nuclear weapons pose the gravest threat to humanity and the environment. National PSR shared the Nobel Peace Prize with IPPNW for our nuclear disarmament work in 1985. We continue to work with local and national organizations to limit nuclear stockpiles and eventually create a world free of nuclear weapons.