Podcast appearances and mentions of sharon lavigne

On June 4, Beyond Plastics organized a news conference to support the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act and to respond to lobbying from the chemical and plastics industry, which is attempting to mislead environmental justice communities in order to protect their own profits. Chemicals found in plastic packaging are linked to health problems like cancer and developmental disorders, particularly in low-income communities of color. The news conference featured Sharon Lavigne of Rise St. James in Louisiana, where as a resident of Cancer Alley, she lives among the highest concentrations of pollution from plastics production in the country. Senator Pete Harckham, Assemblymember Deborah Glick, Sharon Lavigne, Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha, and Judith Enck, president of Beyond Plastics

596. Today we talk to Myra Lavigne, a volunteer with Rise St. James. Rise St. James is a faith-based grassroots organization that is fighting for environmental justice as it works to defeat the proliferation of petrochemical industries in St. James Parish, Louisiana. Nicknamed “Cancer Alley” for the above-average rates of cancer there, the area is home to a high concentration of polluting industries. Despite this, the state has plans to expand this chemical corridor with dozens more factories. Led by Sharon Lavigne, 2021's Goldman Environmental Prize winner, Rise St. James galvanized community opposition and successfully defeated the construction of a $1.25 billion plastics manufacturing plant in 2018. The group is currently fighting to prevent Formosa Plastics from building a massive multibillion-dollar plastics plant in the parish. Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 220 years. Order your copy today! This week in Louisiana history. October 19, 1803. Louisiana Purchase Treaty ratified by senate by a vote of 24-7. This week in New Orleans history. October 20, 1991 Former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke wins a spot in the runoff election for governor of Louisiana, ultimately losing to Edwin Edwards. This week in Louisiana. National Fried Chicken Festival Franklin Ave. and Lakeshore Drive New Orleans, LA 70122 October 5-6, 2024 11:00 am — 9:00 pm Named 6th Best Speciality Food Festival USA Today 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards     Founded in 2016 in New Orleans, the National Fried Chicken Festival (FCF) presented by Raising Cane's is a two-day outdoor festival bringing together hundreds of thousands from across the nation around a shared love of great food, music, and culture. Last fall the festival attracted a record-breaking 123,000 attendees from across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, and the entire U.S. to celebrate and enjoy the iconic Southern dish.     General Admission tickets start as low as $5 with upgraded options starting at $39 for the unlimited Beer Garden and $79 for the VIP lounges. Postcards from Louisiana. Secret Bandwagon plays at the Marigny Brasserie on Frenchmen St.  Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook. 

It's an Election year and so we are re-airing this important episode.  Subhah Agarwal and Sharon Lavigne visit friends and discuss Sharon Lavigne's battle for clean air and justice, taking on the big industries that have created Louisiana's “Cancer Alley” -- nicknamed for the above-average rates of cancer within the 85-mile stretch of communities with the highest concentration of fossil fuel and petrochemical operations in the Western Hemisphere. Sharon Cayette Lavigne, Times voted Sharon one of the most influential people of 2024. A native of St. James, Louisiana, boasts a distinguished 38-year career as a devoted Special Education teacher within the St. James Parish school system. In 2018, she embarked on a transformative journey by founding RISE St. James, a faith-based grassroots nonprofit dedicated to advocating for clean air, clean water, and combating the proliferation of petrochemical industries in St. James Parish. Despite humble beginnings, Sharon's vision drew around ten passionate individuals to her inaugural gathering, hosted at her residence. Transitioning to retirement in 2018, Sharon's unwavering commitment to environmental justice remains evident, guided by her principle: "To love a community is to find ways to heal the community." Her tireless dedication garnered global recognition in June 2020 when she received the esteemed Goldman Environmental Prize for her resolute activism. Adding to her accolades, Sharon received the Mary Magdalene Award for Courageous Women of Faith from the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in February 2022, followed by the prestigious Notre Dame's 2022 Laetare Medal—a testament to her invaluable contributions as an American Catholic layperson. In August 2022, the Urban League of Louisiana's Annual Gala honored Sharon Lavigne's indomitable spirit, solidifying her legacy. Amidst her remarkable achievements, Sharon remains a devoted mother of six and a cherished grandmother to twelve—a testament to the unwavering support she receives from her loving family. Sharon Lavigne's story epitomizes tenacity, passion, and unwavering commitment to the environment and community, inspiring positive change. Subhah Agarwal has brought an honesty to her comedy that will leave you saying "I didn't need to know that." Subhah has written for Netflix's “Arsenio Hall” limited series, the "Plan B" movie on Hulu," and The Jim Jefferies Show"on Comedy Central, amongst others. You can also catch her jokes live at stand up comedy clubs across the country. If you don't want to leave your couch, you can see her late night debut on NBC's "A Little Late With Lilly Singh." She's also appeared on season three of HBO's "Westworld", "General Hospital," TruTv's sketch comedy "Friends of the People", and as herself on MTV2, Comedy Central, and Gotham Comedy Live. Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.

You all may remember this Chat & Chew episode with Hightower and Sharon Lavigne from Rise St. James in Louisiana. Sharon is a retired special education teacher turned environmental activist. Over the course of her lifetime she saw her beautiful thriving community where families could live off the land (farm, grow fruits and vegetables, have a some livestock, fish in the Mississippi) turn into “

Subhah Agarwal and Sharon Lavigne visit friends and discuss Sharon Lavigne's battle for clean air and justice, taking on the big industries that have created Louisiana's “Cancer Alley” -- nicknamed for the above-average rates of cancer within the 85-mile stretch of communities with the highest concentration of fossil fuel and petrochemical operations in the Western Hemisphere. Sharon Cayette Lavigne, Times voted Sharon one of the most influential people of 2024. A native of St. James, Louisiana, boasts a distinguished 38-year career as a devoted Special Education teacher within the St. James Parish school system. In 2018, she embarked on a transformative journey by founding RISE St. James, a faith-based grassroots nonprofit dedicated to advocating for clean air, clean water, and combating the proliferation of petrochemical industries in St. James Parish. Despite humble beginnings, Sharon's vision drew around ten passionate individuals to her inaugural gathering, hosted at her residence. Transitioning to retirement in 2018, Sharon's unwavering commitment to environmental justice remains evident, guided by her principle: "To love a community is to find ways to heal the community." Her tireless dedication garnered global recognition in June 2020 when she received the esteemed Goldman Environmental Prize for her resolute activism. Adding to her accolades, Sharon received the Mary Magdalene Award for Courageous Women of Faith from the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in February 2022, followed by the prestigious Notre Dame's 2022 Laetare Medal—a testament to her invaluable contributions as an American Catholic layperson. In August 2022, the Urban League of Louisiana's Annual Gala honored Sharon Lavigne's indomitable spirit, solidifying her legacy. Amidst her remarkable achievements, Sharon remains a devoted mother of six and a cherished grandmother to twelve—a testament to the unwavering support she receives from her loving family. Sharon Lavigne's story epitomizes tenacity, passion, and unwavering commitment to the environment and community, inspiring positive change. Subhah Agarwal has brought an honesty to her comedy that will leave you saying "I didn't need to know that." Subhah has written for Netflix's “Arsenio Hall” limited series, the "Plan B" movie on Hulu," and The Jim Jefferies Show"on Comedy Central, amongst others. You can also catch her jokes live at stand up comedy clubs across the country. If you don't want to leave your couch, you can see her late night debut on NBC's "A Little Late With Lilly Singh." She's also appeared on season three of HBO's "Westworld", "General Hospital," TruTv's sketch comedy "Friends of the People", and as herself on MTV2, Comedy Central, and Gotham Comedy Live. Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), TBS's The Last O.G, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Hysterical on FX, The Movie Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.

In the world of business, decisions can range from risky to downright shady. The line between the two blurs, especially in industries like oil, gas, petrochemicals, and plastic production. Land acquisition and permits for pollution resulting from the gruesome history of racial segregation and government-sponsored redlining often raise ethical questions. In this episode of 'All Eyes On The Gulf,' the first episode of season four of The People over Plastic podcast, we dive deep into these murky waters. Our environmental reporter Alexis Young, connects with courageous environmental activists across the Gulf region, from Texas to Louisiana, unveiling the shady dealings in the oil and gas industry. Prepare to hear the unfiltered truths from those on the frontlines. We're honored to feature voices like 2023 Goldman Prize Winner, Diane Wilson, who's taken on multi-billion dollar Formosa Plastic. Joining Alexis are also resilient community members, like Dr. Joy Banner, Co-Founder of the Descendants Project, Josette Cruz from Brownsville, Texas, and Shamyra Lavigne of Rise St. James, daughter of the 2022 Goldman Prize Winner, Sharon Lavigne. Tune in for a powerful conversation between co-hosts Alexis Young and Shilpi Chhotray, shedding light on the shady decisions that impact our communities. It's time to unveil the truth behind the corporate smokescreens and the legacy of environmental racism. RESOURCES: Click here to see the “Banking on Climate Chaos” graphic. And for our podcast episode featuring Bernadette Dementieff of the Gwich'in Nation, tune in here. Don't forget to check out our website for Alexis' additional reporting on Dr. Joy Banner, Josette Cruz, Shamyra Lavigne and Diane Wilson and follow us on Instagram and TikTok.

People over Plastic is thrilled to introduce our new series, 'All Eyes On The Gulf,' spotlighting voices of change and the pressing issues surrounding the US Gulf South - a major hub for plastic production and the fossil fuel industry.   In season four of The People over Plastic podcast, we celebrate our evolution into a multimedia platform and reflect on our journey with People over Plastic Co-Founder and Host, Shilpi Chhotray, alongside our newest co-host, PoP's very own staff reporter, Alexis Young.   Over the last few months, Alexis has been connecting with environmental activists across the Gulf region and documented their inspiring stories from the frontlines of environmental activism. Our incredible lineup includes 2023 Goldman Prize Winner, Diane Wilson; Co-Founder of The Descendants Project, Dr. Joy Banner; Josette Cruz, a passionate member of the Brownsville, Texas community; Roishetta Sibley Ozane, mother of six and founder of the Vessel Project, and Shamyra Lavigne, the daughter of globally-celebrated environmental justice leader, Sharon Lavigne, Founder of Rise St. James.    Stay tuned for enlightening discussions, powerful narratives, and a deeper exploration of the challenges and solutions facing our planet. Now available on all major podcast apps.    Episode 1 drops on October 11th, be sure to follow and subscribe. For more information about People over Plastic visit: www.peopleoverplastic.co and follow on Instagram and TikTok.

Earlier this year, we told the story of how a change in the White House had the potential to turn the tide for Black communities fighting against more environmental pollution in one of the country's largest hotspots for toxic air — Louisiana's industrial corridor nicknamed Cancer Alley.The Environmental Protection Agency's new leader pledged to use all the tools in his toolbox to deliver "environmental justice," and his agency launched a groundbreaking investigation into alleged civil rights violations by the state. Environmental advocates thought it could be the moment everyone waited for after years of debate over discrimination.Then, out of the blue, the EPA dropped its high-profile investigation without any resolution. It blindsided everyone.Today on Louisiana Considered, we bring you the latest episode of Sea Change, where we go back to Louisiana's industrial corridor to try to find some answers. Why when the EPA was on the cusp of reforming the petrochemical state of Louisiana did it just... back off? Turns out, the implications are even bigger than we imagined. Far bigger than Louisiana.To listen to the full episode of Sea Change, click here. A special thanks to Robert Taylor of the Concerned Citizens of St. John, Sharon Lavigne of Rise St. James, Lisa Jordan of the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic, Monique Harden of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice and Carlton Waterhouse of Howard University School of Law's Environmental and Climate Justice Center for speaking with us.This episode was hosted and reported by Halle Parker. Our managing producer is Carlyle Calhoun. Editing help was provided by Nora Saks. Our sound designer is Maddie Zampanti. Sea Change is a WWNO and WRKF production, distributed by PRX. We are part of the NPR Podcast Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The David who fought Goliath had two sisters. This is the modern day story about two women taking on a giant. They started alone, standing up against a huge multinational petrochemical corporation, and won. Diane Wilson, a fisherwoman from Seadrift Texas, won the largest ever penalty in a citizen clean water lawsuit, defending her bay from plastic pollution. Sharon Lavigne of St James Parish, Louisiana, stopped the same company, Formosa Plastics, from building the largest petrochemical plant in the world in her small Black community.   This is an updated story first broadcast in 2021   

Discarded is a series from Lemonada Media. If you like The Carbon Copy, then we think you're going to enjoy Discarded. The shadow of Goliath is looming over St. James Parish, Louisiana, and it's called The Sunshine Project. This $9.4 billion proposed petrochemical plant would sprawl across 2,400 acres, pushing up against the community that has lived and died there for generations. Our David is lifelong resident Sharon Lavigne. After teaching special education at the local school for over 30 years, Sharon becomes an accidental activist trying to save her community and its history. This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hundreds of thousands of tiny plastic pellets fill the docks and bays of the Mississippi River. There are people who paddle out every morning to collect them, removing what they can as pellets continue to flood the water. But the problem starts much closer to home. Look around your house. See all the plastic bags, plastic bottles, plastic everything? We are all at fault – and, like Sharon Lavigne, we all have the power to make a change. In this episode, we'll talk to politicians, scientists, and journalists who teach us how.  This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved. SHOW NOTES Nurdle Patrol Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act Attorney General Bonta Demands Manufacturers of Plastic Bags Substantiate Recyclability Claims CREDITS Discarded is a Lemonada Media original, presented by Only One. Gloria Riviera is our host. Our producers are Alie Kilts, Alexa Lim, and Gloria Riviera. Tess Novotny is our associate producer. Chrystal Genesis is our supervising producer. Jackie Danziger is our vice president of narrative content. Mix and sound design by Natasha Jacobs with additional mixing by Ivan Kuraev. Music is by Hannis Brown. Naomi Barr is our fact checker. Executive producers are Stephanie Wittels Wachs and Jessica Cordova Kramer.  To learn more and take action, go to only.one/discarded. Follow Gloria on Twitter at @griviera. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. You can also get premium content and behind the scenes material by subscribing to Lemonada Premium on Apple Podcasts. There's more Discarded with Lemonada Premium. Subscribers get exclusive access to bonus content, like our conversation with California Attorney General Rob Bonta about holding plastic companies environmentally accountable. Subscribe now in Apple Podcasts. To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/Discarded shortly after the air date. Follow Discarded wherever you get your podcasts or listen ad-free on Amazon Music with your Prime Membership.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're dropping in your feed today to let you know about a new Lemonada Media series, DISCARDED. DISCARDED tells the story of a modern-day Erin Brockovich, set on the Mississippi River in an area known as “Cancer Alley.” Her name is Sharon Lavigne, her community is St. James Parish in Louisiana, and her fight is to keep out one of the largest plastic manufacturing companies in the world. In this investigative four-part series, hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist Gloria Riviera, we unwrap the complex world of plastic through the lens of Sharon's story. Because plastic is everywhere - it has advanced our world, but it has damaged our environment. So, we take a look at what's next for all of us and how we can learn from communities like St. James to make a difference in our own backyards. In this clip of episode one, you'll be introduced to The Sunshine Project, which is a $9.4 billion proposed petrochemical plan that would sprawl across 2,400 acres of St. James Parish, Louisiana, pushing up against the community that has lived and died there for generations. Lifelong resident Sharon Lavigne becomes an accidental activist after trying to save her community and its history. This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved. To hear more of Discarded, head to https://lemonadamedia.com/show/discarded/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're dropping in your feed today to let you know about a new Lemonada Media series, DISCARDED. DISCARDED tells the story of a modern-day Erin Brockovich, set on the Mississippi River in an area known as “Cancer Alley.” Her name is Sharon Lavigne, her community is St. James Parish in Louisiana, and her fight is to keep out one of the largest plastic manufacturing companies in the world. In this investigative four-part series, hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist Gloria Riviera, we unwrap the complex world of plastic through the lens of Sharon's story. Because plastic is everywhere - it has advanced our world, but it has damaged our environment. So, we take a look at what's next for all of us and how we can learn from communities like St. James to make a difference in our own backyards. In this clip of episode one, you'll be introduced to The Sunshine Project, which is a $9.4 billion proposed petrochemical plan that would sprawl across 2,400 acres of St. James Parish, Louisiana, pushing up against the community that has lived and died there for generations. Lifelong resident Sharon Lavigne becomes an accidental activist after trying to save her community and its history. This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved. To hear more of Discarded, head to https://lemonadamedia.com/show/discarded/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're dropping in your feed today to let you know about a new Lemonada Media series, DISCARDED. DISCARDED tells the story of a modern-day Erin Brockovich, set on the Mississippi River in an area known as “Cancer Alley.” Her name is Sharon Lavigne, her community is St. James Parish in Louisiana, and her fight is to keep out one of the largest plastic manufacturing companies in the world. In this investigative four-part series, hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist Gloria Riviera, we unwrap the complex world of plastic through the lens of Sharon's story. Because plastic is everywhere - it has advanced our world, but it has damaged our environment. So, we take a look at what's next for all of us and how we can learn from communities like St. James to make a difference in our own backyards. In this clip of episode one, you'll be introduced to The Sunshine Project, which is a $9.4 billion proposed petrochemical plan that would sprawl across 2,400 acres of St. James Parish, Louisiana, pushing up against the community that has lived and died there for generations. Lifelong resident Sharon Lavigne becomes an accidental activist after trying to save her community and its history. This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved. To hear more of Discarded, head to https://lemonadamedia.com/show/discarded/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're dropping in your feed today to let you know about a new Lemonada Media series, DISCARDED. DISCARDED tells the story of a modern-day Erin Brockovich, set on the Mississippi River in an area known as “Cancer Alley.” Her name is Sharon Lavigne, her community is St. James Parish in Louisiana, and her fight is to keep out one of the largest plastic manufacturing companies in the world. In this investigative four-part series, hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist Gloria Riviera, we unwrap the complex world of plastic through the lens of Sharon's story. Because plastic is everywhere - it has advanced our world, but it has damaged our environment. So, we take a look at what's next for all of us and how we can learn from communities like St. James to make a difference in our own backyards. In this clip of episode one, you'll be introduced to The Sunshine Project, which is a $9.4 billion proposed petrochemical plan that would sprawl across 2,400 acres of St. James Parish, Louisiana, pushing up against the community that has lived and died there for generations. Lifelong resident Sharon Lavigne becomes an accidental activist after trying to save her community and its history. This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved. To hear more of Discarded, head to https://lemonadamedia.com/show/discarded/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're dropping in your feed today to let you know about a new Lemonada Media series, DISCARDED. DISCARDED tells the story of a modern-day Erin Brockovich, set on the Mississippi River in an area known as “Cancer Alley.” Her name is Sharon Lavigne, her community is St. James Parish in Louisiana, and her fight is to keep out one of the largest plastic manufacturing companies in the world. In this investigative four-part series, hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist Gloria Riviera, we unwrap the complex world of plastic through the lens of Sharon's story. Because plastic is everywhere - it has advanced our world, but it has damaged our environment. So, we take a look at what's next for all of us and how we can learn from communities like St. James to make a difference in our own backyards. In this clip of episode one, you'll be introduced to The Sunshine Project, which is a $9.4 billion proposed petrochemical plan that would sprawl across 2,400 acres of St. James Parish, Louisiana, pushing up against the community that has lived and died there for generations. Lifelong resident Sharon Lavigne becomes an accidental activist after trying to save her community and its history. This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved. To hear more of Discarded, head to https://lemonadamedia.com/show/discarded/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're dropping in your feed today to let you know about a new Lemonada Media series, DISCARDED. DISCARDED tells the story of a modern-day Erin Brockovich, set on the Mississippi River in an area known as “Cancer Alley.” Her name is Sharon Lavigne, her community is St. James Parish in Louisiana, and her fight is to keep out one of the largest plastic manufacturing companies in the world. In this investigative four-part series, hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist Gloria Riviera, we unwrap the complex world of plastic through the lens of Sharon's story. Because plastic is everywhere - it has advanced our world, but it has damaged our environment. So, we take a look at what's next for all of us and how we can learn from communities like St. James to make a difference in our own backyards. In this clip of episode one, you'll be introduced to The Sunshine Project, which is a $9.4 billion proposed petrochemical plan that would sprawl across 2,400 acres of St. James Parish, Louisiana, pushing up against the community that has lived and died there for generations. Lifelong resident Sharon Lavigne becomes an accidental activist after trying to save her community and its history. This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved. To hear more of Discarded, head to https://lemonadamedia.com/show/discarded/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're dropping in your feed today to let you know about a new Lemonada Media series, DISCARDED. DISCARDED tells the story of a modern-day Erin Brockovich, set on the Mississippi River in an area known as “Cancer Alley.” Her name is Sharon Lavigne, her community is St. James Parish in Louisiana, and her fight is to keep out one of the largest plastic manufacturing companies in the world. In this investigative four-part series, hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist Gloria Riviera, we unwrap the complex world of plastic through the lens of Sharon's story. Because plastic is everywhere - it has advanced our world, but it has damaged our environment. So, we take a look at what's next for all of us and how we can learn from communities like St. James to make a difference in our own backyards. In this clip of episode one, you'll be introduced to The Sunshine Project, which is a $9.4 billion proposed petrochemical plan that would sprawl across 2,400 acres of St. James Parish, Louisiana, pushing up against the community that has lived and died there for generations. Lifelong resident Sharon Lavigne becomes an accidental activist after trying to save her community and its history. This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved. To hear more of Discarded, head to https://lemonadamedia.com/show/discarded/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're dropping in your feed today to let you know about a new Lemonada Media series, DISCARDED. DISCARDED tells the story of a modern-day Erin Brockovich, set on the Mississippi River in an area known as “Cancer Alley.” Her name is Sharon Lavigne, her community is St. James Parish in Louisiana, and her fight is to keep out one of the largest plastic manufacturing companies in the world. In this investigative four-part series, hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist Gloria Riviera, we unwrap the complex world of plastic through the lens of Sharon's story. Because plastic is everywhere - it has advanced our world, but it has damaged our environment. So, we take a look at what's next for all of us and how we can learn from communities like St. James to make a difference in our own backyards. In this clip of episode one, you'll be introduced to The Sunshine Project, which is a $9.4 billion proposed petrochemical plan that would sprawl across 2,400 acres of St. James Parish, Louisiana, pushing up against the community that has lived and died there for generations. Lifelong resident Sharon Lavigne becomes an accidental activist after trying to save her community and its history. This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved. To hear more of Discarded, head to https://lemonadamedia.com/show/discarded/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're dropping in your feed today to let you know about a new Lemonada Media series, DISCARDED. DISCARDED tells the story of a modern-day Erin Brockovich, set on the Mississippi River in an area known as “Cancer Alley.” Her name is Sharon Lavigne, her community is St. James Parish in Louisiana, and her fight is to keep out one of the largest plastic manufacturing companies in the world. In this investigative four-part series, hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist Gloria Riviera, we unwrap the complex world of plastic through the lens of Sharon's story. Because plastic is everywhere - it has advanced our world, but it has damaged our environment. So, we take a look at what's next for all of us and how we can learn from communities like St. James to make a difference in our own backyards. In this clip of episode one, you'll be introduced to The Sunshine Project, which is a $9.4 billion proposed petrochemical plan that would sprawl across 2,400 acres of St. James Parish, Louisiana, pushing up against the community that has lived and died there for generations. Lifelong resident Sharon Lavigne becomes an accidental activist after trying to save her community and its history. This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved. To hear more of Discarded, head to https://lemonadamedia.com/show/discarded/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're dropping in your feed today to let you know about a new Lemonada Media series, DISCARDED. DISCARDED tells the story of a modern-day Erin Brockovich, set on the Mississippi River in an area known as “Cancer Alley.” Her name is Sharon Lavigne, her community is St. James Parish in Louisiana, and her fight is to keep out one of the largest plastic manufacturing companies in the world. In this investigative four-part series, hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist Gloria Riviera, we unwrap the complex world of plastic through the lens of Sharon's story. Because plastic is everywhere - it has advanced our world, but it has damaged our environment. So, we take a look at what's next for all of us and how we can learn from communities like St. James to make a difference in our own backyards. In this clip of episode one, you'll be introduced to The Sunshine Project, which is a $9.4 billion proposed petrochemical plan that would sprawl across 2,400 acres of St. James Parish, Louisiana, pushing up against the community that has lived and died there for generations. Lifelong resident Sharon Lavigne becomes an accidental activist after trying to save her community and its history. This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved. To hear more of Discarded, head to https://lemonadamedia.com/show/discarded/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're dropping in your feed today to let you know about a new Lemonada Media series, DISCARDED. DISCARDED tells the story of a modern-day Erin Brockovich, set on the Mississippi River in an area known as “Cancer Alley.” Her name is Sharon Lavigne, her community is St. James Parish in Louisiana, and her fight is to keep out one of the largest plastic manufacturing companies in the world. In this investigative four-part series, hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist Gloria Riviera, we unwrap the complex world of plastic through the lens of Sharon's story. Because plastic is everywhere - it has advanced our world, but it has damaged our environment. So, we take a look at what's next for all of us and how we can learn from communities like St. James to make a difference in our own backyards. In this clip of episode one, you'll be introduced to The Sunshine Project, which is a $9.4 billion proposed petrochemical plan that would sprawl across 2,400 acres of St. James Parish, Louisiana, pushing up against the community that has lived and died there for generations. Lifelong resident Sharon Lavigne becomes an accidental activist after trying to save her community and its history. This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved. To hear more of Discarded, head to https://lemonadamedia.com/show/discarded/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're dropping in your feed today to let you know about a new Lemonada Media series, DISCARDED. DISCARDED tells the story of a modern-day Erin Brockovich, set on the Mississippi River in an area known as “Cancer Alley.” Her name is Sharon Lavigne, her community is St. James Parish in Louisiana, and her fight is to keep out one of the largest plastic manufacturing companies in the world. In this investigative four-part series, hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist Gloria Riviera, we unwrap the complex world of plastic through the lens of Sharon's story. Because plastic is everywhere - it has advanced our world, but it has damaged our environment. So, we take a look at what's next for all of us and how we can learn from communities like St. James to make a difference in our own backyards. In this clip of episode one, you'll be introduced to The Sunshine Project, which is a $9.4 billion proposed petrochemical plan that would sprawl across 2,400 acres of St. James Parish, Louisiana, pushing up against the community that has lived and died there for generations. Lifelong resident Sharon Lavigne becomes an accidental activist after trying to save her community and its history. This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved. To hear more of Discarded, head to https://lemonadamedia.com/show/discarded/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're dropping in your feed today to let you know about a new Lemonada Media series, DISCARDED. DISCARDED tells the story of a modern-day Erin Brockovich, set on the Mississippi River in an area known as “Cancer Alley.” Her name is Sharon Lavigne, her community is St. James Parish in Louisiana, and her fight is to keep out one of the largest plastic manufacturing companies in the world. In this investigative four-part series, hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist Gloria Riviera, we unwrap the complex world of plastic through the lens of Sharon's story. Because plastic is everywhere - it has advanced our world, but it has damaged our environment. So, we take a look at what's next for all of us and how we can learn from communities like St. James to make a difference in our own backyards. In this clip of episode one, you'll be introduced to The Sunshine Project, which is a $9.4 billion proposed petrochemical plan that would sprawl across 2,400 acres of St. James Parish, Louisiana, pushing up against the community that has lived and died there for generations. Lifelong resident Sharon Lavigne becomes an accidental activist after trying to save her community and its history. This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved. To hear more of Discarded, head to https://lemonadamedia.com/show/discarded/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're dropping in your feed today to let you know about a new Lemonada Media series, DISCARDED. DISCARDED tells the story of a modern-day Erin Brockovich, set on the Mississippi River in an area known as “Cancer Alley.” Her name is Sharon Lavigne, her community is St. James Parish in Louisiana, and her fight is to keep out one of the largest plastic manufacturing companies in the world. In this investigative four-part series, hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist Gloria Riviera, we unwrap the complex world of plastic through the lens of Sharon's story. Because plastic is everywhere - it has advanced our world, but it has damaged our environment. So, we take a look at what's next for all of us and how we can learn from communities like St. James to make a difference in our own backyards. In this clip of episode one, you'll be introduced to The Sunshine Project, which is a $9.4 billion proposed petrochemical plan that would sprawl across 2,400 acres of St. James Parish, Louisiana, pushing up against the community that has lived and died there for generations. Lifelong resident Sharon Lavigne becomes an accidental activist after trying to save her community and its history. This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved. To hear more of Discarded, head to https://lemonadamedia.com/show/discarded/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're dropping in your feed today to let you know about a new Lemonada Media series, DISCARDED. DISCARDED tells the story of a modern-day Erin Brockovich, set on the Mississippi River in an area known as “Cancer Alley.” Her name is Sharon Lavigne, her community is St. James Parish in Louisiana, and her fight is to keep out one of the largest plastic manufacturing companies in the world. In this investigative four-part series, hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist Gloria Riviera, we unwrap the complex world of plastic through the lens of Sharon's story. Because plastic is everywhere - it has advanced our world, but it has damaged our environment. So, we take a look at what's next for all of us and how we can learn from communities like St. James to make a difference in our own backyards. In this clip of episode one, you'll be introduced to The Sunshine Project, which is a $9.4 billion proposed petrochemical plan that would sprawl across 2,400 acres of St. James Parish, Louisiana, pushing up against the community that has lived and died there for generations. Lifelong resident Sharon Lavigne becomes an accidental activist after trying to save her community and its history. This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved. To hear more of Discarded, head to https://lemonadamedia.com/show/discarded/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're dropping in your feed today to let you know about a new Lemonada Media series, DISCARDED. DISCARDED tells the story of a modern-day Erin Brockovich, set on the Mississippi River in an area known as “Cancer Alley.” Her name is Sharon Lavigne, her community is St. James Parish in Louisiana, and her fight is to keep out one of the largest plastic manufacturing companies in the world. In this investigative four-part series, hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist Gloria Riviera, we unwrap the complex world of plastic through the lens of Sharon's story. Because plastic is everywhere - it has advanced our world, but it has damaged our environment. So, we take a look at what's next for all of us and how we can learn from communities like St. James to make a difference in our own backyards. In this clip of episode one, you'll be introduced to The Sunshine Project, which is a $9.4 billion proposed petrochemical plan that would sprawl across 2,400 acres of St. James Parish, Louisiana, pushing up against the community that has lived and died there for generations. Lifelong resident Sharon Lavigne becomes an accidental activist after trying to save her community and its history. This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved. To hear more of Discarded, head to https://lemonadamedia.com/show/discarded/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The shadow of Goliath is looming over St. James Parish, Louisiana, and it's called The Sunshine Project. This $9.4 billion proposed petrochemical plant would sprawl across 2,400 acres, pushing up against the community that has lived and died there for generations. Our David is lifelong resident Sharon Lavigne. After teaching special education at the local school for over 30 years, Sharon becomes an accidental activist trying to save her community and its history. This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved. SHOW NOTES Rise St. James ProPublica: “I've Investigated Industrial Pollution for 35 Years. We're Going Backwards” The Descendants Project CREDITS  Discarded is a Lemonada Media original, presented by Only One. Hosted by Gloria Riviera. The producers are Alie Kilts, Alexa Lim, and Gloria Riviera. Tess Novotny is the associate producer. Chrystal Genesis is the supervising producer. Jackie Danziger is the vice president of narrative content. Mix and Sound Design by Natasha Jacobs with additional mixing by Ivan Kuraev. Music is by Hannis Brown. Naomi Barr is the fact checker. Executive producers are Stephanie Wittels Wachs and Jessica Cordova Kramer.  To learn more and take action, go to only.one/discarded. Follow Gloria on Twitter at @griviera. Stay up to date with Lemonada on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. There's more Discarded with Lemonada Premium. Subscribers get exclusive access to bonus content, like Gloria's conversation with Jane Patton over delicious Cafe du Monde beignets in New Orleans. Subscribe now in Apple Podcasts. Join My Lemonada today for free and chat with your favorite hosts, other listeners, and our staff. You'll also get exclusive audio and video content and invites to live and virtual events before anyone else. Go to bit.ly/mylemonada to join a community who wants to make life suck less, together. Go to lemonadamedia.com for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this and all other Lemonada series. To follow along with a transcript, go to lemonadamedia.com/show/Discarded shortly after the air date. Follow Discarded wherever you get your podcasts or listen ad-free on Amazon Music with your Prime Membership.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're dropping in your feed today to let you know about a new Lemonada Media series, DISCARDED. DISCARDED tells the story of a modern-day Erin Brockovich, set on the Mississippi River in an area known as “Cancer Alley.” Her name is Sharon Lavigne, her community is St. James Parish in Louisiana, and her fight is to keep out one of the largest plastic manufacturing companies in the world. In this investigative four-part series, hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist Gloria Riviera, we unwrap the complex world of plastic through the lens of Sharon's story. Because plastic is everywhere - it has advanced our world, but it has damaged our environment. So, we take a look at what's next for all of us and how we can learn from communities like St. James to make a difference in our own backyards. In this clip of episode one, you'll be introduced to The Sunshine Project, which is a $9.4 billion proposed petrochemical plan that would sprawl across 2,400 acres of St. James Parish, Louisiana, pushing up against the community that has lived and died there for generations. Lifelong resident Sharon Lavigne becomes an accidental activist after trying to save her community and its history. This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved. To hear more of Discarded, head to https://lemonadamedia.com/show/discarded/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're dropping in your feed today to let you know about a new Lemonada Media series, DISCARDED. DISCARDED tells the story of a modern-day Erin Brockovich, set on the Mississippi River in an area known as “Cancer Alley.” Her name is Sharon Lavigne, her community is St. James Parish in Louisiana, and her fight is to keep out one of the largest plastic manufacturing companies in the world. In this investigative four-part series, hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist Gloria Riviera, we unwrap the complex world of plastic through the lens of Sharon's story. Because plastic is everywhere - it has advanced our world, but it has damaged our environment. So, we take a look at what's next for all of us and how we can learn from communities like St. James to make a difference in our own backyards. In this clip of episode one, you'll be introduced to The Sunshine Project, which is a $9.4 billion proposed petrochemical plan that would sprawl across 2,400 acres of St. James Parish, Louisiana, pushing up against the community that has lived and died there for generations. Lifelong resident Sharon Lavigne becomes an accidental activist after trying to save her community and its history. This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved. To hear more of Discarded, head to https://lemonadamedia.com/show/discarded/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're dropping in your feed today to let you know about a new Lemonada Media series, DISCARDED. DISCARDED tells the story of a modern-day Erin Brockovich, set on the Mississippi River in an area known as “Cancer Alley.” Her name is Sharon Lavigne, her community is St. James Parish in Louisiana, and her fight is to keep out one of the largest plastic manufacturing companies in the world. In this investigative four-part series, hosted by Emmy award-winning journalist Gloria Riviera, we unwrap the complex world of plastic through the lens of Sharon's story. Because plastic is everywhere - it has advanced our world, but it has damaged our environment. So, we take a look at what's next for all of us and how we can learn from communities like St. James to make a difference in our own backyards. In this clip of episode one, you'll be introduced to The Sunshine Project, which is a $9.4 billion proposed petrochemical plan that would sprawl across 2,400 acres of St. James Parish, Louisiana, pushing up against the community that has lived and died there for generations. Lifelong resident Sharon Lavigne becomes an accidental activist after trying to save her community and its history. This series is presented in partnership with Only One, the action platform for the planet. Only One is on a mission to restore ocean health and tackle the climate crisis in this generation — with your help. Visit only.one to learn more and get involved. To hear more of Discarded, head to https://lemonadamedia.com/show/discarded/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our season three opener, Secret Sauce, we're heading to St. James Parish, Louisiana, to chat with Sharon Lavigne and her daughter, Shamyra. Sharon is the Founder and President of the faith-based advocacy group Rise St. James and a 2021 Goldman Environmental Prize winner. Last fall, we caught up with Miss Sharon one week after Hurricane Ida blew the roof off her home as she was deep in the fight against Formosa Plastic. A year later, we are joined by her daughter Shamyra to have an intergenerational conversation about their Secret Sauce in staying resilient and grounded in the face of hurricane season, Big Plastic, and the industrial polluters of “Cancer Alley”. Shamyra, who has a background in mental health, shares the ways that youth remain engaged and proactive in their community and her vision for St. James. Since our recording, a Louisiana court judge denied the necessary air permits for a massive petrochemicals complex to be built in St. James due to the relentless organizing by environmental justice organizers on the ground, with Miss Sharon at the helm. This season, we're honored to join forces with Prism - a nonprofit newsroom led by journalists of color to go deep into the stories behind environmental racism. Our host Shilpi Chhotray and Prism's climate justice reporter Ray Levy Uyeda investigate what it's really like on the ground and how federal agencies ironically defend the industries that exploit them. Key themes explored: Who is protecting the people of Saint James and who is protecting the industry that threatens to pollute it? How did we get here and why are petrochemical industries interested in communities like St. James Parish, Louisiana? What is the future of environmental justice organizing? Tune in to the latest episode, Secret Sauce, to find out. This episode was generously sponsored by Beyond Petrochemicals, a program by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Visit People over Plastic's website to learn more about us and continue the conversation by sharing this episode on Instagram and Twitter. RESOURCES: Prism article: “Supreme Court guts EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions” written by Ray Levy Uyeda. Learn more about Sharon Lavigne, 2021's Goldman Environmental Prize Winner. Support Miss Sharon's work by visiting the Rise St James website and donating to her organization directly. People over Plastic's Season 1 episode featuring Sharon Lavigne “Louisiana judge cancels air permits for plastics plant” in Reuters If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our BIPOC-produced storytelling and sustains our future. Support PoP from as little as $1 – it only takes a minute. Thank you. DONATE NOW.

Six months after Sandy interviewed guest Sharon Lavigne about her battle to stop a giant plastics plant from getting built in her community, her guest won her battle.Beat the Big GuysHost: Sandy Rosenthalhttps://www.sandyrosenthal.netConnect with Sandy on Instagram: @beatthebigguysProducer: Jess Branashttps://www.branasenterprises.com

Climate Champion--Sharon Lavigne, plus the Earth Island Institute,  and the Children's Climate Prize.

How do we mainstream the story about plastic, climate, and environmental justice? SHACK15 hosted the People Over Plastic BIPOC Storytelling Collective's first story salon with leading voices in the fight for a more just and equitable future. With 99% of plastic coming from fossil fuels, People Over Plastic believes conversations about the climate crisis AND the plastic crisis must center people of color and indigenous voices who are most impacted from it. At a recent panel discussion, we listened to stories from renowned environmental attorney and thought leader Patrice Simms, river protector and Trump border wall plaintiff Tricia Cortez, and a community organizer defeating big oil, Goldman Prize winner Sharon Lavigne. The conversation was moderated by globally recognized communicator and plastic pollution expert Shilpi Chhotray.

In this episode, Sharon Lavigne shares her experience fighting to stop petrochemical factories and other toxic industries in America's Cancer Alley in St. James Parish, LA.Sharon Lavigne is a recipient of the Community Sentinel Award for Environmental Stewardship, and won the 2021 Goldman prize for environmental defenders. She led a grassroots movement to delay the $9.4 billion Formosa plastic factory in her hometown. This podcast is a project of Halt the Harm Network, which can connect you with people who are working to protect families, communities, and the environment from the harms of fracking and the oil & gas industry.As mentioned in this episode:Rise St. JamesCancer AlleyStop Formosa PlasticsBio:Sharon Lavigne, a former special education teacher turned environmental activist, is the founder of Rise St. James, a faith-based environmental and social justice organization dedicated to protecting St. James parish from toxic, cancer causing industries. St. James parish is between Baton Rouge and New Orleans in an area that's become known as America's Cancer Alley. Numerous industrial complexes in this region have been attributed to causing the cancer clusters afflicting residents.  Core Message:“[The Formosa Plastics Plant] is about putting wealth before health. If you have the money but you don't have the health, then you don't have anything. So why let more chemical plants come into St. James and pollute us anymore? People are already sick. People are dying. ”Credits:This podcast is a project of halttheharm.net, a website that connects you with leaders, activists, researchers, economists, legal experts, and funders to protect your community from the oil & gas industry. Halt the Harm is a network of leaders who are taking action, sharing resources and information, and supporting each other's campaigns. Find out more at halttheharm.netThe soundtrack to the Halt the Harm podcast is"One of These Days" by Eilen Jewell from her album Sea of Tears.Recorded, produced, and published by Ryan Clover and Jimmy Jordan in the studios WRFI Watkins Glen, Ithaca

Sharon Lavigne (St. James, LA) talks to Sandy about how special training or experience is not necessary to Beat the Big Guys, even when everything is declared a "done deal" by the State Governor.Beat the Big GuysHost: Sandy Rosenthalhttps://www.sandyrosenthal.netProducer: Jess Branashttps://www.branasenterprises.com

From Overwhelm to Grounded Action – The Story of Plastic A recording of an event hosted on January 11 , it was hosted by Beyond Plastics, UU Ministry for Earth, Fourth Universalist Church, & New York UU Justice. Plastics' ecological, environmental justice and climate impacts are undeniably overwhelming. Together, we remember we are not alone and each of us can do something. Let us ground in community action for a better world! We will begin by watching Emmy Award winning documentary The Story of Plastic, and then we will gather together with special guests Stiv Wilson (Executive Producer; Co-Director of Peak Plastic Foundation), frontline activists Sharon Lavigne and Rev. Harry Joseph Sr. (RISE St James) for an hour of spiritual grounding and community building for climate justice through storytelling, creativity & collective action. Learn more about RISE St James here https://www.risestjames.org

Ms. Sharon Lavigne who runs rise st james, a faith based organization focused on preventing expansion and worsening petrochemical plant pollution in the area. St. James parish is at the epicenter of “cancer alley", a stretch between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana with over 110 petrochemical facilities. She is a former special education teacher now turned environmental justice advocate, who successfully stopped the construction of a US$1.25 billion plastics manufacturing plant alongside the Mississippi River in St. James Parish, Louisiana. Ms. Lavigne mobilized grassroots opposition to the project, educated community members, and organized peaceful protests to defend her predominantly African American community. The plant would have generated one million pounds of liquid hazardous waste annually, in a region already contending with known carcinogens and toxic air pollution.She is currently focused on defending her community from the Formosa Plastics Plant. She was awarded the Goldman environmental prize in 2021.

* Climate Activists Decry Lack of Progress at Glasgow's UN Climate Summit; Reynard Loki, Editor/Chief Correspondent with Earth/ Food/ Life at the Independent Media Institute; Producer: Scott Harris. * Residents Rise Up to Oppose Construction of a Plastics Plant in Louisiana's ‘Cancer Alley;' Sharon Lavigne, founder of RISE St. James, a winner of the 2021 Goldman Prize; Producer: Melinda Tuhus * Progressives Reject Blame for Democrats' Election Losses; Joseph Geevarghese, Executive Director of Our Revolution; Producer: Scott Harris.

It's 2021: We've seen the videos, the nightly news clips, and the headlines that plastic pollution is a major threat to our planet. We unequivocally understand that we are drowning in a man-made material that pollutes our air, water, soil, and wildlife. But did you know that making plastic - cups, straws, bags, cutlery, styrofoam, pouches, polyester sweaters and yoga pants... is directly linked to the climate crisis and locks in cycles of harm to communities of color around the globe? 99% of plastic comes from fossil fuels and plastic production is a major driver of keeping the fossil fuel industry afloat. In order to tackle both the plastic pollution and the climate crisis, we must hold the fossil fuel industry to account. In our inaugural episode, you'll hear how fantasy-like art is transforming the cultural landscape of how we quite literally view plastic pollution. Artivist Von Wong's latest project is a 30-foot levitating tap to remind governments and corporations that the plastic crisis needs to be front and center in decision-making. You'll also hear from Sharon Lavigne, a retired special ed teacher who recently halted Formosa Plastics from coming into her hometown. If built, the industrial complex would triple the levels of carcinogens in her community. Sharon lives in the heart of Louisiana's Cancer Alley, a region of the US which is already blighted by racism and exorbitant cancer rates from industry polluters. Follow People Over Plastic on social media at @peopleXplastic on Instagram & Twitter. Resources: Von Wong's Turn Off The Plastic Tap Sharon Lavigne, a 2021 recipient of the Goldman Prize Take action against Formosa Plastic A deep dive on Fossil Fuels + Plastics

 In Louisiana, petrochemical factories are built upon the bones of African Americans as communities have been transformed into industrial structures. Sharon Lavigne is the founder of RISE St. James, a faith-based grassroots organization formed to advocate for racial and environmental justice. Lavigne sits down with Rev Yearwood to discuss how we can fight to end the destruction of the petrochemical industry in Louisiana's Cancer Alley. Land in the Black community continues to be haggled away by politicians and business people who don't live in these communities but look to profit through petrochemicals production. Petrochemicals contribute to air contamination, water pollution, and land deterioration, while greenhouse gases released also contribute to global climate change. Several studies have shown an increased amount of people with cancer living near these facilities. Support RISE St. James: https://www.stopformosa.org/  The Coolest Show – brought to you by Hip Hop Caucus Think 100% PODCASTS – drops new episodes every Monday on environmental justice and how we solve the climate crisis. Listen and subscribe here or at TheCoolestShow.com! Follow @Think100Climate and @RevYearwood on Instagram, Twitter, and Instagram.

Hurricane Ida left people in the Louisiana region known as ‘Cancer Alley' with destroyed homes, no electricity, and polluted water. That's on top of the toxic air they breathe every day because of some 150 petrochemical plants in the area. We hear from grassroots activist Sharon Lavigne, a 2021 Goldman Prize recipient, about what it's like living through these disasters and what drives her to keep fighting yet another plastics plant.  Also, hummingbirds are truly superlative creatures -- relative to their size, they are both the world's fastest avians and have some of the longest migratory journeys of any animal. Sy Montgomery focuses on these incredible birds in her latest book, The Hummingbirds' Gift, where she looks back on her harrowing but rewarding time raising two orphaned baby hummingbirds alongside an artist and hummingbird rehabilitator. And join us on September 23 for our first Living on Earth Book Club event of the season! Richard Powers, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Overstory, will join Host Steve Curwood to talk about his new book Bewilderment. Register at loe.org/events

The Taliban takes a major step in reestablishing their Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan as protests grow across the country; We speak with Sharon Lavigne, winner of the 2021 Goldman Environmental Prize, an environmental activist who is documenting the aftermath of Hurricane Ida in Louisiana's St. James Parish; Unemployment benefits for millions of U.S. workers expire on Labor Day. Get Democracy Now! delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for the Daily Digest: democracynow.org/subscribe

The Taliban takes a major step in reestablishing their Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan as protests grow across the country; We speak with Sharon Lavigne, winner of the 2021 Goldman Environmental Prize, an environmental activist who is documenting the aftermath of Hurricane Ida in Louisiana's St. James Parish; Unemployment benefits for millions of U.S. workers expire on Labor Day. Get Democracy Now! delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for the Daily Digest: democracynow.org/subscribe

Sharon Lavigne (pictured) is leading a community group to take back Louisiana's "cancer alley" and you can read about that at the "Stop Formosa Plastics" website. Newscorp has long been considered among "the enemy" in the climate wars, but it appears to be changing its position - "Rupert Murdoch's newspapers, 24-hour news channel to champion net-zero emissions"; Matthew Kelly, writing in the Newcastle Herald tells readers: "Green hydrogen from the Hunter's wastewater"; From Energy we hear: "Octopus Australia acquires 180MW Dulacca Wind Farm from RES"; Patrick Metzger, writing in Medium, tells us: "We're On Track For The Global Collapse Predicted By The Club Of Rome In 1972"; Adam Morton, writing in The Guardian, that: "Australia warned climate crisis will ‘wreak havoc' on economy if coal isn't phased out"; Writing for Climate Conscious, Paul Abela asks: "How in the World Are We Going To Deal With a Billion Climate Refugees?"; In another question, Edward McGehee asks: "Why is climate change a subject we find so difficult to wrap our heads around?"; Another story from Medium asks "Climate Catalysts: What's A Planet Worth?"; Finally in an ABC Landline story, we read: "Australian farmers and scientists trial new methods to improve soil moisture". Enjoy "Music for a Warming World". Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/climateconversations

Climate Champion Sharon Lavigne Halts Massive Plastics Plant Construction In Louisiana, plus Earth Island Institute and the Children's Climate Prize!        

Diane Wilson couldn't keep Formosa out of her town, but down the coast in Louisiana the community in St. James Parish, led by Sharon Lavigne, is fighting like hell to keep them out.

69-year-old Sharon Lavigne has six children and 12 grandchildren and, by her own admission, has never been one for public speaking. She has lived in St James Parish in Louisiana her whole life. It's located along an 85-mile stretch of the Mississippi between New Orleans and Baton Rouge with the undesirable nickname 'cancer alley'. Sharon says she has seen a lot of illness in her community. There are around 150 chemical plants located along this stretch of the Mississippi River and when a giant plastics manufacturing company wanted to construct a plant near Sharon's home, she successfully led the campaign to stop it from being built. Sharon has been awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for her work. Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: June Christie Picture: Sharon Lavigne Credit: Goldman Environmental Prize

69-year-old Sharon Lavigne has six children and 12 grandchildren and, by her own admission, has never been one for public speaking. She has lived in St James Parish in Louisiana her whole life. It's located along an 85-mile stretch of the Mississippi between New Orleans and Baton Rouge with the undesirable nickname 'cancer alley'. Sharon says she has seen a lot of illness in her community. There are around 150 chemical plants located along this stretch of the Mississippi River and when a giant plastics manufacturing company wanted to construct a plant near Sharon's home, she successfully led the campaign to stop it from being built. Sharon has been awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for her work. Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: June Christie Picture: Sharon Lavigne Credit: Goldman Environmental Prize

In this first episode of the Plastic Bucket, we talk with Sharon Lavigne of Rise St. James in St. James Parish, Louisiana, about their upcoming Juneteenth event. The fifth district of St. James Parish is fighting a massive plastics plant from being built in their neighborhood. The site where Formosa intends to build a 2,500 acre plastics plant contains hundreds of acres of wetlands and the graves of people who were enslaved. Rise St. James will honor those ancestors at their Juneteenth event. They hope to see grocery stores, green jobs, and housing for St. James Parish instead of more petrochemical infrastructure for Cancer Alley.

On the fourteenth episode of The Activist Files, Senior Staff Attorney Pam Spees talks with Lydia Gerard and Sharon Lavigne, two of the brave Women of Cancer Alley leading the resistance to the toxic petrochemical industry in Louisiana. Cancer Alley is an 85-mile stretch of land with a high concentration of petrochemical companies. It also is populated by primarily Black communities with high rates of health problems, including respiratory problems, the highest risk of cancer in the country, and even unexplained health problems. Both women share their personal stories--the difficulties Sharon's grandchildren have had breathing, Lydia's loss of her husband to kidney cancer--and the way those experiences fueled their fight in the face of indifferent corporations and lackluster government action. Later this month, many of those involved in this struggle will participate in a March for Justice, demanding government action--including the reduction of emissions, a moratorium on new plants, and the closure of certain existing plants. Give the episode a listen, and spread the word about this important fight for racial and environmental justice.