
STORIES
The data behind their stories
Emissions data, along with personal stories shows a complete picture — humanistic and scientific — of the realities River Parish communities are facing. (Pictured from left to right: Roishetta Sibley Ozane, Dr. Joy Banner, Destiny Barnes, Shamyra Lavigne)
“Hope Springs Eternal”
In this moving episode of Artists in Action PoP bears witness to Hope Springs Eternal — an interdisciplinary, artistic collaboration with Mélange Dance Company, Delachaise Ensemble, photographer Bryan Tarnowski, Climate Clock, Heather Bird Harris, and RISE St. James.
Capitalism is the disaster
The term ‘disaster capitalism,’ was popularly and formally examined by climate justice professor, author and journalist Naomi Klein, her definition of the phenomenon can be described as an “extreme [form of] capitalism that advocated [for the] privatization and deregulation in the wake of war or natural catastrophe.”
Court of public pollution: Diane Wilson v. Formosa Plastics
Diane Wilson's involvement in 2019 landmark case against Formosa Plastics, led to a settlement of $50 million — the largest settlement won by a private citizen fighting industrial polluters.
Refillery station prevents single use plastic in Rio Grande Valley, Texas
When we think of the most sustainable and greenest cities in America, McAllen is pretty low (and nonexistent) on the list. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t people like Marisa Bravo who are taking the necessary steps to make positive and eco-friendly changes within the RGV community through her community-centered and sustainability-focused shop, RGV Refillery.
Systems of oppression beget systems of oppression
Founder and CEO of The Vessel Project of Louisiana Roishetta Sibley Ozane, discusses the environmental injustices plaguing Sulphur, Louisiana and how she discovered Louisiana's oil, gas and plastic production industries' role in those iniustices.
You have to hit ‘em where it hurts
Rise St. James’ Shamyra Lavigne on why the fight against petrochemical companies should focus on financial institutions
They just abandoned us
The EPA’s civil rights investigation into environmental racism in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley was halted. Frontline communities are wondering why
Manifesting a great life for myself
Louisiana Green Corps equips young workers with the tools needed to improve their lives and their communities
In the afterlife of slavery
The descendants in Louisiana's River Parishes confront a new era of discrimination and environmental injustice, but they’re not backing down. (Photo and Video by Jay Marcano)
Juneteenth is a celebration of Black joy, but also a call-to-action
Environmental racism is linked to American slavery, here’s how.
Deer Park, Texas residents continue to fear for their health and safety
The aftermath of the May 5th fire at the Shell Deer Park Chemicals Facility in Texas continues to wreak havoc and has area residents fearing short and long-term health consequences.
We are the sacrifice zones
From petrochemical plants in Texas, to negotiating a global plastics treaty in Paris. Communities living near facilities that make the key ingredients for plastic are bringing their fight to the world stage.
What Deer Park teaches us about the petrochemical industry
Units at the Shell USA refinery in Deer Park, Texas that caught fire two weeks ago had multiple malfunctions in recent years. These same faulty units were also spewing out tons of illegal pollution. Who exactly is monitoring the petrochemical industry?
All Eyes On The Gulf: A series that brings you into the heart of frontline communities
People over Plastic is dedicating a special series of stories to America’s Gulf South. This is a region where some of the nation’s most pressing environmental injustices play out every day.
Like a Band-Aid on a bullet hole
Bekah Hinojosa says she and fellow Brownsville,Texas residents aren’t buying the promise that a proposed $10 billion project to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) will be the "greenest LNG project in the world".
Brownsville residents brace for SpaceX’s next destructive launch
New lawsuit aimed at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) claims a comprehensive environmental review should have been conducted prior to the FAA granting permission for SpaceX to launch its April 20th rocket.