In Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley,” pollution from chemical plants has pushed cancer rates to 50 times the US average.
Now, residents’ lives are set to get even harder.
A new plastics mega-facility in St. James Parish will spew millions of tons of pollutants tied to immune, reproductive and respiratory disease.
This chemical complex, owned by shady chemical corporation Formosa Plastics, will be one of the biggest plastic plants on earth -- churning out 2.4 million tons of raw plastic a year for single-use junk like bags and straws.
Locals are battling this new complex, but money-hungry government officials are ignoring their demands.
On August 12, we have a huge chance to stop this plastic disaster. That’s the deadline for public comment on the air pollution permits needed to start construction. If we can show massive opposition to Formosa's mega-polluting complex, Louisiana officials will be forced to back down.
Tell Louisiana officials: We won’t let you sacrifice our health and oceans for plastic junk. Stop Formosa Plastics now!
Everywhere Formosa Plastics goes, disaster follows.
The Taiwan-based corporation caused the biggest environmental disaster in Vietnam’s history, illegally discharging chemicals that poisoned 125 miles of coastline and killed hundreds of acres of coral reef.
In Louisiana, Formosa’s sprawling complex would be located just 1 mile from an elementary school -- and in the middle of St. James Parish, a low-income, mainly Black area that’s already suffering from horrific air pollution.
But Formosa isn’t invincible. Texas residents just won a huge case against Formosa for the years it illegally dumped raw plastics into waterways. The corporation now must pay up to $162 million in fines.
Add your voice: Tell Louisiana officials to keep polluting, law-breaking Formosa out of St. James Parish!
Louisiana officials think this is a small, local issue. But we know it’s not. This is part of the oil and gas industry’s $180-billion plan to nearly double plastic production in the next decade -- a move that could annihilate our oceans.
Luckily, the world is turning against polluting plastics. SumOfUS members like you just won historic legislation in Canada that will phase out single-use plastics. People power has pushed hundreds of other cities, states and countries to take action against plastic too.
The public comment deadline is fast approaching. Can you add your name to help defeat plastic villain Formosa?
More information
For massive new plants, Formosa wants OK to double amount of chemicals released into St. James Parish air
The Advocate. 8 July 2019.
The Advocate. 8 July 2019.
Nurdle by Nurdle, Citizens Took on A Billion-Dollar Plastic Company — and Won
Texas Observer. 3 July 2019.
Texas Observer. 3 July 2019.
'We are jobless because of fish poisoning': Vietnamese fishermen battle for justice
The Guardian. 14 August 2017.
The Guardian. 14 August 2017.
