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Breaking News from America's Progressive Community... 1999
Releases
The press releases posted here have been provided to NewsCenter by the one of the many progressive organizations we have selected to participate. If you would like more information about this press release, you should contact the organization directly. |
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| MARCH
4, 1999 6:18 PM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Greenpeace USA Deborah Rephan, Greenpeace Media Team, 202-319-2492 |
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| Greenpeace Toxic Patrol Highlights Threats From Louisiana's Vinyl Industry | ||||
| BATON
ROUGE, LA - March 4 - Nearly sixty Greenpeace activists from 22 nations today converged on the State
House to call attention to global health and environmental threats caused by
Louisiana's numerous polluting vinyl (PVC) production facilities. Dressed in
T-shirts with the slogan "Love Louisiana But Not PVC" in 16 languages,
the Greenpeace Toxic Patrol called on Governor Mike Foster to clean up the
state's infamous Cancer Alley, and halt the policies that have turned pollution
into a growth industry.
The group then marched with local environmental activists from the Capitol to the Governor's Mansion to deliver a "lunch" of contaminated fish and water from some of the state's most polluted waterways. They carried banners reading "The World Is Watching: Clean Up Cancer Alley," and "Environmental Justice Now." Many toxic byproducts of vinyl production and disposal are known as persistent organic pollutants, or POPs - chemicals that can travel thousands of miles on air currents to contaminate people and the environment around the globe. Among the most toxic of these POPs is dioxin, a carcinogen which, along with other POPs, has been, linked to male and female reproductive disorders, immune suppression, and birth defects. As home to some of the nation's most polluting vinyl facilities, located along the Mississippi River and inland industrial regions like Lake Charles, Louisiana is considered by Greenpeace to be one of several toxic "hot spots" for international attention and action. "The citizens of Louisiana have suffered profound health and environmental damages at the hands of the vinyl industry, and now we know it doesn't stop here," said Damu Smith, representing Greenpeace USA. Smith said Greenpeace wants Governor Foster to clean up Cancer Alley - and clean up his act. "Louisiana has to stop being a polluter's Paradise. We call on the governor to enforce environmental laws, stop inviting polluting companies into the state, and start supporting clean production and safe jobs for Louisiana," he added. Smith stressed that Greenpeace will continue to press the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to intensify its investigation into the pattern of racism in the siting of vinyl and other chemical facilities in Louisiana. The Greenpeace Toxic Patrol will spend several days in Louisiana visiting chemical plants and meeting with communities concerned about toxic pollution in their areas. Among the stops will be Convent in St. James Parish, a predominantly African American and poor community, where Greenpeace last year worked with local activists to stop the construction of the controversial Shintech vinyl plant. "We can learn powerful lessons from the citizens of Convent and throughout Louisiana," said Juan Lopez de Uralde of Spain, coordinator of the Greenpeace International Toxics Campaign. "We want Louisiana citizens to know that there are people like them in many countries who stand by their struggles for environmental justice and for a safe, clean environment." Greenpeace is the leading independent organization that uses peaceful and creative activism to protect the global environment. ### |
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