United Nations experts condemn pollution of Cancer Alley as environmental racism
A group of United Nations Human Rights experts has raised “serious concerns” about the continued industrialization of the region of Louisiana known as “Cancer Alley,” calling the permitted development of petrochemical facilities and ongoing pollution of St. James Parish a form of environmental racism against the mostly-Black community.
The group of 14 U.N. Human Rights experts strongly condemned companies that are currently polluting the communities or planning expansions along the 85-mile corridor that hugs the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. They also condemned the governments and agencies granting permits to those companies. The group, in a statement Tuesday, called on the federal government to deliver environmental justice to communities across the United States, starting with St. James Parish.
Anne Rolfes, an environmentalist with the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, welcomed the U.N.’s recognition of the pollution issue in South Louisiana and said she hopes state officials will take it as a cue to act.
“It’s easy to get used to atrocities that are happening in your own backyard, but when you step back and look at the situation in St. James Parish and along Cancer Alley, it does rise to the level of human rights abuse and humanitarian tragedy,” Rolfes said. “The United Nations Report is crucial recognition of what’s happening in St. James Parish. The state and the local parish council are cramming all of the pollution into the two highest majority Black districts. The United Nations has recognized that that is environmental racism. We are relieved and grateful that the United Nations has taken a stand, and we would like our state officials to follow.”
Read more: https://lailluminator.com/2021/03/05/united-nations-condemn-pollution-of-cancer-alley/