many new oregon laws set to help women

Some of the new laws taking effect in Oregon at the beginning of the year, many of which should, at least theoretically, help protect women:

New batch of Oregon laws take effect in January

In the workplace, for example, "Domestic workers like nannies and housekeepers will be extended several new protections in 2016, including mandatory breaks, paid vacation time and recourse against harassment." Most domestic works are women and immigrants, who are often exploited and harassed and have few legal protections and avenues of recompense.

Another law going into effect will double the statute of limitations on rape, "allowing prosecution up to 12 years after the crime occurred instead of six," and if it happens to a minor, they'll have until 30 to come forward. In addition, "Secretly filming someone in a place of 'presumed privacy' — including bathrooms and locker rooms — will be upgraded from a misdemeanor to a felony in 2016." Because that's just fucked up and creepy.

And despite all the recent attacks on women's reproductive rights, "Pharmacists will be allowed to prescribe birth control directly to women, saving them a trip to the doctor’s office, and insurers will be required to cover up to a 12-month supply in one purchase."

Onwards and upwards!

the paris agreement

Unfortunately, the new Paris agreement is far from what we need. Despite having the knowledge and technology to make and use energy sustainably, despite knowing that we have to reduce our energy usage and greenhouse emissions immediately to potentially avoid the worst case scenario, the world is settling for less because it's easier/more profitable for those who currently own and control the means of production. As a result, the world will continue to steam towards environmental catastrophe while all the more economically developed countries are patting themselves on the back for "addressing the threat of global climate change."

It's certainly encouraging that steps are being made in the right direction; but we have to stop looking at this issue in terms of whether solutions are economically viable in a for-profit capitalist economy and start exploring alternatives like our lives depended on it. Instead of adopting agreements that fall short of what's needed, we have to dismantle our existing fossil fuel infrastructure and create a whole new approach to production and distribution. And we can't simply rely on politicians to do it for us; working-class people have to take a stand, make our voices heard, and help build the next environmentally viable economy.