March 15th 2024.
Along an 85-mile stretch of road between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana, there exists a community known as "Cancer Alley". This stretch of land along the Mississippi River is home to approximately 1.5 million residents, who are predominantly Black. However, their reality is far from ideal as rates of disease and birth defects in this area are climbing up to seven times the national average.
The root cause of this alarming trend can be attributed to the more than 200 fossil fuel and petrochemical operations that surround the community. These facilities not only pose a risk to the health of the residents, but also contribute to a high rate of underweight and premature births, which is three times the national norm, as reported by Daily Mail.
In fact, a recent report by Human Rights Watch has shed light on the dire situation faced by the residents of "Cancer Alley". The report accuses state and federal regulators of neglect and turning a blind eye to the dangers posed by these industrial facilities. According to Antonia Juhasz, the senior fossil fuels researcher at Human Rights Watch, the industry has essentially created a "sacrifice zone" in Louisiana. She further stated, "The failure of state and federal authorities to properly regulate the industry has dire consequences," as reported by Daily Mail.
The report also calls for action, urging the state's Department of Environmental Quality to deny permits in the overburdened area and for the United States Environmental Protection Agency to order facilities to adhere to Clean Air Act standards. However, despite these efforts, at least 19 more facilities are planned for "Cancer Alley", as noted by Daily Mail. Sadly, it is the residents who bear the biggest burden.
One such resident is 71-year-old Sharon Lavigne from Welcome. Speaking to Human Rights Watch, she shared her heartbreaking story, "We're dying from inhaling the industries' pollution. I feel like it's a death sentence. Like we are getting cremated, but not getting burnt." Kaitlyn Joshua, who has suffered from chronic asthma since childhood, was also told by a doctor that the poor air quality in the area was the root cause of her condition and that she would have to move out of the area, as reported by the news source.
Angie Roberts, a 57-year-old breast cancer survivor from St. James Parish, faces an additional burden as she deals with autoimmune disorders like multiple sclerosis, which may be linked to the toxic emissions from these facilities. She expressed her frustration, saying, "Who would want to live here now? I'm dying here."
The impact of these facilities on the community is not limited to just physical ailments. Stillbirths, infertility, and chronic sinus infections have also been reported by residents. The situation is dire and action must be taken to protect the residents of "Cancer Alley" from further harm.
In a recent vlog, Isabella Strahan offered a glimpse into the lives of the residents as they prepare for chemotherapy. It is a heartbreaking reality that these individuals have to endure, and it is high time that the authorities take the necessary steps to ensure their safety and well-being.
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