Damages
Industry Backlash to Grassroots Organizing in Louisiana's "Cancer Alley"
Jun 20, 2023
Grassroots organizers in Louisiana's Cancer Alley are facing backlash from ExxonMobil, Chevron, and other petrochemical giants. They have formed a sustainability council to counter environmental justice activism. Pro-industry politicians and local Chambers of Commerce are joining forces. Jo Banner and Shamyra Lavigne, key organizers in the area, discuss the sudden industry opposition and the importance of grassroots efforts. The podcast also explores the success of grassroots activists, the challenges faced in preserving agricultural roots, and plans to counter the opposition through media outreach and campaigns.
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Quick takeaways
- Big oil companies and industry groups are organizing a "sustainability council" in response to grassroots environmental justice activism in Louisiana's Cancer Alley.
- Rise St. James and the Descendants Project criticize the hypocrisy of the sustainability council, which claims to focus on sustainability while being backed by big oil companies and industry groups.
Deep dives
The Fight Against Petrochemicals in Louisiana
The grassroots organization Rise St. James, founded by Sharon Levine, is fighting against the expansion and construction of petrochemical facilities in St. James Parish and Cancer Alley. They aim to protect the community's air, water, and soil and create a sustainable future for their children. Despite facing opposition from local leaders and politicians influenced by the petrochemical industries, Rise St. James has achieved victories, such as revoking permits for the Formosa petrochemical facility. The emergence of the Sustainability Council, led by big oil companies and industry groups, is a response to Rise St. James' success and focuses on discrediting and painting the push against petrochemicals as an effort by outsiders.
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