REFINEMENT: Cracking the Plastic Production Boom - Plastic Plague Pt 2 - Ep. 57

EcoJustice Radio

This is PART TWO of a special seven-part series, called, “The Plastic Plague: Connecting the Dots between Extraction, Inequity, and Pollution.” REFINEMENT - Once extracted, how does oil and gas become the resin that will eventually be the plastic we use in our daily lives? Then we buy these products, the social and environmental justice issues are covered up by cool marketing campaigns. On this episode, we will breakdown how fossil fuels become plastic and follow the train of economic interests and irresponsibility. We will hear from front-line activists dealing with plastic manufacturing and the impact to their communities’ quality of life. Our guests include Diane Wilson, Executive Director of San Antonio Bay Estuarine Waterkeeper; Sharon Lavigne, Founding Director of RISE St. James; and Jim Vallette, President of Material Research L3C. Hosted by Jessica Aldridge. LINKS & RESOURCES Diane Wilson, Executive Director, San Antonio Bay Estuarine Waterkeeper Social Media: @UnreasonableWoman http://www.breakfreefromplastic.org/ Diane is a fourth-generation shrimper, mother of five, author of three books, and an environmental, peace, and social justice advocate who during the last 30 years launched legislative campaigns, demonstrations, hunger strikes, sunk boats, and even climbed chemical towers in her fight to protect her Gulf Coast bay. She is executive director of San Antonio Bay Estuarine Waterkeeper and recently won the largest ever citizen Clean Water suit against the plastic polluter Formosa Plastics, accruing $50 million in penalties against them and achieving zero discharge of plastics from their facility. Sharon Lavigne, Founding Director of RISE St. James Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/risestjames/ Sharon is the Founding Director of RISE St. James, and founding executive member of the Coalition Against Death Alley. She is a dedicated activist committed to protecting her community of St. James, Louisiana. She was a teacher for 39 years and loves working with children. It is her conviction that God ignited this environmental justice fight with in her. Jim Vallette, President, Material Research L3C Social Media: https://materialresearch.net/ Jim is President and co-founder of Material Research L3C. In 2019, they investigated the delivery of tar sands by rail through Portland, Oregon, the life cycle impacts of 20 toxic chemicals (with Earthjustice), and completed a global inventory of the chlorine industry, the source of many of the world's most problematic petrochemicals and plastics. Hosted by Jessica Aldridge from SoCal 350 and Adventures in Waste Engineer: Blake Lampkin Executive Producer: Jack Eidt Producer: Georgia Tunioli Show Created by Mark and JP Morris Music: Javier Kadry Episode 57 Photo Credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images