Public Project
Behind the Plants: The Americans of Cancer Alley
Summary
In the heartland of Louisiana, between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, a 150-mile corridor along the Mississippi River tells a tale of environmental degradation, social injustice, and economic struggle.
This region, home to over 150 behemoth chemical facilities and oil refineries, is also home to a multitude of communities, predominantly low-income and marginalized. Nearly 50% of the residents are African Americans, their roots intertwined with the land for centuries, dating back to the days of slavery when they were forced to cut and process sugar cane on vast plantations that dominated the river parishes.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports a staggering 95% higher risk of cancer due to air pollution for residents in this area compared to the rest of the United States. The consequences extend beyond cancer, with prevalent cardiovascular, respiratory, reproductive, and developmental diseases haunting the lives of the people here. This tragedy has earned the corridor the morbid moniker, "Cancer Alley," a term underscored by UN human rights experts in 2021 as a stark example of "environmental racism."
Despite numerous complaints and irrefutable research establishing the causal link between industrial activities and health issues, permits for these facilities persist, and major incidents continue to occur. Louisiana, the third-poorest state in the U.S., grappling with educational challenges, is witnessing a concerning regression in air quality while the rest of the nation progresses. A paradox emerges, named by sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild as the "Red State Paradox" — a state heavily reliant on federal aid, yet facing environmental and socio-economic challenges.
This documentary goes beyond the statistics to unveil the personal stories of individuals and families living in the shadow of industrial giants.
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