{"id":74163,"date":"2024-09-22T12:16:12","date_gmt":"2024-09-22T16:16:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/?p=74163"},"modified":"2025-07-01T07:53:44","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T11:53:44","slug":"a-troubling-diagnosis-led-this-grandmother-into-environmental-activism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/a-troubling-diagnosis-led-this-grandmother-into-environmental-activism\/","title":{"rendered":"A Troubling Diagnosis Led This Grandmother Into Environmental Activism"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='storyblock storyblock-normal'>\r\n<div id=\"block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8\" class=\"block-hero  tall-landscape\">\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"hero-image\">\r\n                    <div class=\"img-fluid\">\r\n                <img decoding=\"async\" style=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Sharon_Lavigne.jpg\" alt=\"\"  \/>\r\n                <div class=\"hero-subheading below subheading-xl {{ black }}\">A Rise St. James press conference being held to protest against Koch Industries building a methanol plant.  (Credit: Rise St. James, Peter G. Forest\/Forest Photography, LLC)<\/div>\r\n                \r\n            <\/div>\r\n                \r\n    <\/div>\r\n    \r\n    \r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<style>\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8.block-hero {\r\n        width: 100%;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8.block-hero .hero-image {\r\n        position: relative;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8.block-hero .hero-image img {\r\n        width: 100%;\r\n        height: auto;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8.tall-landscape .hero-image img {\r\n        object-fit: cover;\r\n        aspect-ratio: 9 \/ 6;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8.short-landscape .hero-image img {\r\n        object-fit: cover;\r\n        aspect-ratio: 16 \/ 9;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8.square .hero-image img {\r\n        object-fit: cover;\r\n        aspect-ratio: 1\/1;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8.offset-personality .hero-content {\r\n        display: flow-root;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8.offset-personality .intro-text {\r\n        float: right;\r\n        display: inline-block;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8.offset-personality .hero-image img {\r\n        aspect-ratio: 9 \/ 16;\r\n        object-fit: cover;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8.offset-personality .hero-image {\r\n        float: left;\r\n        display: inline-block;\r\n        margin: 1rem;\r\n        margin-left: 0rem;\r\n        max-width: 320px;\r\n        position: relative;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8.offset-personality .hero-image img {\r\n        width: 100%;\r\n        height: auto;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    @media (max-width: 1219px) {\r\n        #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8.centered-portrait img {\r\n            aspect-ratio: 1 \/ 1;\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    @media (min-width: 1220px) {\r\n        #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8.centered-portrait .hero-image {\r\n            margin-left: 20%;\r\n            margin-right: 20%;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8.centered-portrait .hero-image img {            \r\n            aspect-ratio: 9 \/ 16;\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    @media (min-width: 764px) {    \r\n        #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8.small-square .hero-image {\r\n            margin-left: 20%;\r\n            margin-right: 20%;\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8.centered-portrait .hero-image img {\r\n        object-fit: cover;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8.small-square .hero-image img {\r\n        object-fit: cover;\r\n        aspect-ratio: 1\/1;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8 .hero-subheading {\r\n        \/*position: absolute;\r\n        left: 50%;\r\n        transform: translateX(-50%);*\/\r\n        width: 100%;\r\n        text-align: left;\r\n        margin: .5rem 0 2rem 0;\r\n        font-style: italic;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8 .hero-subheading.overlay.white {\r\n        color: white;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8 .hero-subheading.overlay.black {\r\n        color: #212529;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8 .hero-subheading.overlay {\r\n        color: white; \r\n        position: absolute;\r\n        left: 50%;\r\n        transform: translateX(-50%);   \r\n        z-index: 100;   \r\n        bottom: 0;\r\n        text-shadow: 2px 2px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8 .hero-subheading.below {\r\n        margin: 0.5rem 0 0 0;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8 .hero-subheading {\r\n        text-style: italic;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8 .hero-subheading.subheading-sm {\r\n        font-size: 1rem;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8 .hero-subheading.subheading-xl {\r\n        font-size: 1.1rem;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8 .hero-subheading.subheading-2xl {\r\n        font-size: 1.25rem;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8 .hero-subheading.subheading-3xl {\r\n        font-size: 1.5rem;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8 .bottom-centered {\r\n        position: absolute;\r\n        bottom: 0;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_61fce947c71307020c6a7b33210993f8 .below {\r\n        position: relative;\r\n        bottom: 0;    \r\n        text-align: left;\r\n        margin: .5rem 0 2rem 0;\r\n    }\r\n<\/style><\/div>\n\n\n<p>St. James Parish, a district located between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is home for Sharon Lavigne. While working as a special education teacher in the early 2000s, she would wake up at 6:30 a.m. before heading to work. But instead of breathing in fresh morning air, a putrid smell would hit her, making her want to go back inside her house. The fumes came from the local petrochemical plants, which often pumped out chemicals, late into the night.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI didn\u2019t know where it was coming from,\u201d said Lavigne, who is 72. \u201cI thought everywhere in the world was smelling, not knowing we were being polluted and [it] was our area.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But Lavigne\u2019s real wake-up call occurred in 2016, when she was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis, a <a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/17867-autoimmune-hepatitis\">disease<\/a> created when the body\u2019s immune system attacks the liver. She believes the disease came directly \u201cfrom industrial pollutants\u201d that she was exposed to, based on research she discovered online.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf the industry wouldn\u2019t exist, I wouldn\u2019t have these problems,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are 12 industrial plants within a 10-mile radius of St. James Parish, she says, and when Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards approved another plant \u2014 Formosa Plastics \u2014 in April 2018, Lavigne knew she couldn\u2019t just sit back and watch. A deeply faithful Christian, she asked God what she should do \u2014 and she received a clear answer: become an environmental activist. So, she did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI prayed and I prayed\u2026and I listened this time for God to answer me,\u201d Lavigne said. \u201cHe told me to fight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fighting-the-good-fight\">Fighting the Good Fight<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before retiring in 2019 after teaching for 38 years, in October 2018 Lavigne launched <a href=\"https:\/\/risestjames.org\/\">RISE St. James<\/a>, a grassroots environmental organization dedicated to preventing the expansion of local petrochemical plants. Lavigne says she quickly heard from others in the community, who also expressed concern over the harms that industrial practices could be causing for residents. The group has since grown to about 25 members, Lavigne says.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"833\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/11-1024x711.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-74355\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/11-1024x711.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/11-525x364.jpg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/11-768x533.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/11-150x104.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/11-86x60.jpg 86w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/11.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Sharon Lavigne (second from far left) with other members of Rise St. James. (Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/risestjames.org\/gallery-3?itemId=8ngdou90v1ocyg8i6bs6vx7v3nrf9q\">Rise St. James<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Lavigne has become a tenacious fighter for St. James Parish, which contains seven districts and about 20,000 residents. While half the population is white, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/quickfacts\/fact\/table\/stjamesparishlouisiana\/PST045223\">U.S. Census Bureau<\/a>, the fifth district of about 2,700 residents is 90% Black \u2013&nbsp;and it&#8217;s where industrial plants \u201cdump all their filth,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_a5c2dd8c3839a6a6a80fe64d92ddc553\" class=\"wp-block related-post alignwide\">\n      <div class=\"wrap\">\n    <div class=\"section-title\">\n      <h4>Related<\/h4>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n              <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/10-women-who-have-led-the-fight-against-climate-change\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/IMG_8482-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/IMG_8482-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/IMG_8482-96x96.jpeg 96w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/IMG_8482-84x84.jpeg 84w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/IMG_8482-45x45.jpeg 45w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>\n          <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"entry-text\">\n          <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/10-women-who-have-led-the-fight-against-climate-change\/\">\n              10 Women Who Have Led the Fight Against Climate Change\n            <\/a>\n          <\/h3>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n<p>These negative health effects are evident. St. James Parish is located within \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2019-12\/documents\/waiting_to_die_final.pdf\">Cancer Alley<\/a>,\u201d a nickname for a region that stretches 85-miles along the Mississippi River lined with more than 150 petrochemical plants emitting cancer-causing chemicals, according to the University Network for Human Rights. Lavigne says many residents have dealt with serious diseases as a result of living near these plants, such as liver and breast <a href=\"https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/cancer-alley-5097197\">cancers.<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2021, Lavigne won the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goldmanprize.org\/recipient\/sharon-lavigne\/?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwlN6wBhCcARIsAKZvD5iUmoDs5OrC498UQhNivH0bSFc2ihbB7adgyue2zHay0-MJVdDMHBEaAi9wEALw_wcB\">Goldman Environmental Prize<\/a> for successfully stopping a $1.25 billion plastics manufacturing plant in St. James Parish, which would have generated one million pounds of toxic waste. Lavigne <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goldmanprize.org\/recipient\/sharon-lavigne\/?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwlN6wBhCcARIsAKZvD5iUmoDs5OrC498UQhNivH0bSFc2ihbB7adgyue2zHay0-MJVdDMHBEaAi9wEALw_wcB\">educated<\/a> residents about the plant, which had been proposed by a Chinese chemical company called Wanhua. She met with local government officials and even led marches, prompting the plant to withdraw its land use application in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lavigne has now won so many awards \u2014 including the <a href=\"https:\/\/laetare.nd.edu\/recipients\/#info2022\">Laetare Medal <\/a>from the University of Notre Dame in 2022 \u2014 that she \u201ccan\u2019t name them all,\u201d she said. Lavigne was also named on Forbes\u2019 50 Over 50 Impact List <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/maggiemcgrath\/2021\/07\/07\/the-age-of-impact-meet-the-women-over-50-creating-social-change-at-scale\/\">in 2021<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class='storyblock storyblock-normal'>\r\n<div id=\"block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765\" class=\"block-hero  square\">\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"hero-image\">\r\n                    <div class=\"img-fluid\">\r\n                <img decoding=\"async\" style=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Sharon_Lavigne_Event.jpg\" alt=\"\"  \/>\r\n                <div class=\"hero-subheading below subheading-xl {{ black }}\">Sharon Lavigne posing for a photo at the Climate Revival Climate Conversations and Gospel Concert event in Washington, D.C. (Photo courtesy of Sharon Lavigne)<\/div>\r\n                \r\n            <\/div>\r\n                \r\n    <\/div>\r\n    \r\n    \r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<style>\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765.block-hero {\r\n        width: 100%;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765.block-hero .hero-image {\r\n        position: relative;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765.block-hero .hero-image img {\r\n        width: 100%;\r\n        height: auto;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765.tall-landscape .hero-image img {\r\n        object-fit: cover;\r\n        aspect-ratio: 9 \/ 6;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765.short-landscape .hero-image img {\r\n        object-fit: cover;\r\n        aspect-ratio: 16 \/ 9;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765.square .hero-image img {\r\n        object-fit: cover;\r\n        aspect-ratio: 1\/1;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765.offset-personality .hero-content {\r\n        display: flow-root;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765.offset-personality .intro-text {\r\n        float: right;\r\n        display: inline-block;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765.offset-personality .hero-image img {\r\n        aspect-ratio: 9 \/ 16;\r\n        object-fit: cover;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765.offset-personality .hero-image {\r\n        float: left;\r\n        display: inline-block;\r\n        margin: 1rem;\r\n        margin-left: 0rem;\r\n        max-width: 320px;\r\n        position: relative;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765.offset-personality .hero-image img {\r\n        width: 100%;\r\n        height: auto;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    @media (max-width: 1219px) {\r\n        #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765.centered-portrait img {\r\n            aspect-ratio: 1 \/ 1;\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    @media (min-width: 1220px) {\r\n        #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765.centered-portrait .hero-image {\r\n            margin-left: 20%;\r\n            margin-right: 20%;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765.centered-portrait .hero-image img {            \r\n            aspect-ratio: 9 \/ 16;\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    @media (min-width: 764px) {    \r\n        #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765.small-square .hero-image {\r\n            margin-left: 20%;\r\n            margin-right: 20%;\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765.centered-portrait .hero-image img {\r\n        object-fit: cover;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765.small-square .hero-image img {\r\n        object-fit: cover;\r\n        aspect-ratio: 1\/1;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765 .hero-subheading {\r\n        \/*position: absolute;\r\n        left: 50%;\r\n        transform: translateX(-50%);*\/\r\n        width: 100%;\r\n        text-align: left;\r\n        margin: .5rem 0 2rem 0;\r\n        font-style: italic;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765 .hero-subheading.overlay.white {\r\n        color: white;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765 .hero-subheading.overlay.black {\r\n        color: #212529;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765 .hero-subheading.overlay {\r\n        color: white; \r\n        position: absolute;\r\n        left: 50%;\r\n        transform: translateX(-50%);   \r\n        z-index: 100;   \r\n        bottom: 0;\r\n        text-shadow: 2px 2px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765 .hero-subheading.below {\r\n        margin: 0.5rem 0 0 0;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765 .hero-subheading {\r\n        text-style: italic;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765 .hero-subheading.subheading-sm {\r\n        font-size: 1rem;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765 .hero-subheading.subheading-xl {\r\n        font-size: 1.1rem;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765 .hero-subheading.subheading-2xl {\r\n        font-size: 1.25rem;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765 .hero-subheading.subheading-3xl {\r\n        font-size: 1.5rem;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765 .bottom-centered {\r\n        position: absolute;\r\n        bottom: 0;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_e7eb6b4c1441f1ef916e4ab4d0229765 .below {\r\n        position: relative;\r\n        bottom: 0;    \r\n        text-align: left;\r\n        margin: .5rem 0 2rem 0;\r\n    }\r\n<\/style><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-growing-up-on-the-river\">Growing Up on the River<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Mississippi River holds special family memories for Lavigne, whose grandfather often fished in it. But industrial plants over the decades have polluted the water. A 1964 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1964\/03\/22\/archives\/poisons-kill-fish-in-the-mississippi-millions-die-of-pesticides.html\">New York Times article<\/a> reported that a \u201cscourge of toxic and synthetic chemicals\u201d killed millions of fish in the basin of the Mississippi River. Even today, \u201cwe can\u2019t fish,\u201d she said. The corridor along the Mississippi exceeds water quality standards for mercury, bacteria and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl), according to the National Park Service, making it also unsafe for drinking or swimming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That&#8217;s why she&#8217;s intent on stopping Formosa Plastics from becoming yet another industrial facility built near her community. In 2022, St. James Parish residents <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/louisiana-petrochemical-pollution-lawsuit-environment-formosa-ae6e79060793c7ef5b94ddede8402aba\">filed a federal lawsuit<\/a> against the Taiwan-based Formosa Plastics and also the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the state agency that, Lavigne says, allowed \u201cthem to pollute us.\u201d While a judge ruled to revoke air permits for the project in 2022, Formosa Plastics successfully appealed the decision. Now, Lavigne and St. James Parish residents are bringing the case to the Louisiana Supreme Court, she says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to RISE St. James, there have been several incidents at Formosa plants around the world \u2014 which produce polypropylene and polyethylene resins \u2014 that have killed people and damaged the ecosystem. One of them includes a 2004 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.csb.gov\/formosa-plastics-vinyl-chloride-explosion\/\">fire and explosion<\/a> accident at a Formosa facility in Springfield, Illinois.&nbsp; Five people working at the plant died, and local residents were forced to evacuate the area.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many of the plastic-making factories in the U.S. use natural gas in the process, which create toxic chemicals that pollute the atmosphere and water, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. If Formosa Plastics is built in St. James Parish, Lavigne says residents will be exposed to even more cancer-causing chemicals, like ethylene oxide and formaldehyde.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"573\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/6V5A5795-Edit-1024x573.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-74352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/6V5A5795-Edit-1024x573.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/6V5A5795-Edit-525x294.jpg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/6V5A5795-Edit-768x430.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/6V5A5795-Edit-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/6V5A5795-Edit-107x60.jpg 107w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/6V5A5795-Edit.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Several petrochemical plants in St. James Parish, Louisiana. (Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/risestjames.org\/gallery-3?itemId=384i05g49cg5u7zgolszk9fdd6mry5\">Rise St. James<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Story Exchange reached out to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality for comment but did not immediately hear back. Janile Parks, a spokesperson for the Formosa project, said the health claims are &#8220;false and unjustified&#8221; and that the project will be \u201cone of the most innovative, single-site ethylene production complexes in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For Lavigne and her community, Formosa\u2019s arrival would be way more than they can bear.&nbsp;\u201cWhen you put this amount with all the other amounts, it\u2019s overburdened,\u201d Lavigne said. \u201cWe won\u2019t be able to breathe the air and we won\u2019t be able to live.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_435b45b013a6de313d839eb704627733\" class=\"wp-block related-post alignwide\">\n      <div class=\"wrap\">\n    <div class=\"section-title\">\n      <h4>Related<\/h4>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n              <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/6-black-women-fighting-the-good-climate-change-fight\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/LA-Wildfires-Environmental-Racism-Black-Women-Climate-Change-Fight-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"LA Wildfires Environmental Racism Black Women Climate Change Fight\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/LA-Wildfires-Environmental-Racism-Black-Women-Climate-Change-Fight-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/LA-Wildfires-Environmental-Racism-Black-Women-Climate-Change-Fight-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/LA-Wildfires-Environmental-Racism-Black-Women-Climate-Change-Fight-84x84.jpg 84w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/LA-Wildfires-Environmental-Racism-Black-Women-Climate-Change-Fight-45x45.jpg 45w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>\n          <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"entry-text\">\n          <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/6-black-women-fighting-the-good-climate-change-fight\/\">\n              6 Black Women Fighting the Good Climate-Change Fight\n            <\/a>\n          <\/h3>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n<p>While Lavigne and her team fight Formosa Plastics, another battle has emerged. This time, with Koch Methanol St. James, a methanol-producing facility located in the region.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Koch Methanol is working on a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wbrz.com\/news\/lawsuit-challenging-koch-methanol-expansion-in-st-james-parish-goes-to-court-monday\/\">$150 million expansion<\/a> of their facility in the area. As a result, production of methanol would increase by 1,000 tons per day, according to WBRZ News 2.&nbsp;\u201cWe don\u2019t want them to,\u201d Lavigne says about the expansion. Now, she and other community activists <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stopformosa.org\/\">are fighting the expansion<\/a> in court.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Koch Methanol says on its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kochmethanol.com\/koch-methanol-st-james\/environmental-stewardship-safety\/\">website<\/a> that it&nbsp;diligently follows \u201call local, state and federal requirements and minimizes air emissions by using a number of emissions controls.\u201d It adds that it has conducted a &#8220;thorough&#8221; study on its water intake structure on the Mississippi and that it &#8220;does not adversely impact the fish population.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But Lavigne doesn\u2019t agree. One of the biggest solutions to environmental harm to communities like hers, she says, is simple: \u201cStop building all these industries that\u2019s poisoning us.\u201d She also said if companies want to build plants, it should be done in an area where there\u2019s \u201cno people and no life.\u201d Residents should not have to move to escape the inflictions chemical plants impose, she added.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSt. James is home to me and there\u2019s nowhere else in this world that I would want to be,\u201d Lavigne said.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class='storyblock storyblock-normal'>\r\n<div id=\"block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f\" class=\"block-hero  tall-landscape\">\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"hero-image\">\r\n                    <div class=\"img-fluid\">\r\n                <img decoding=\"async\" style=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Sharon_Lavigne_2-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  \/>\r\n                <div class=\"hero-subheading below subheading-xl {{ black }}\">Sharon Lavigne marching with a group of activists outside Washington, D.C. in 2022. (Credit: Rise St. James)<\/div>\r\n                \r\n            <\/div>\r\n                \r\n    <\/div>\r\n    \r\n    \r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<style>\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f.block-hero {\r\n        width: 100%;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f.block-hero .hero-image {\r\n        position: relative;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f.block-hero .hero-image img {\r\n        width: 100%;\r\n        height: auto;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f.tall-landscape .hero-image img {\r\n        object-fit: cover;\r\n        aspect-ratio: 9 \/ 6;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f.short-landscape .hero-image img {\r\n        object-fit: cover;\r\n        aspect-ratio: 16 \/ 9;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f.square .hero-image img {\r\n        object-fit: cover;\r\n        aspect-ratio: 1\/1;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f.offset-personality .hero-content {\r\n        display: flow-root;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f.offset-personality .intro-text {\r\n        float: right;\r\n        display: inline-block;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f.offset-personality .hero-image img {\r\n        aspect-ratio: 9 \/ 16;\r\n        object-fit: cover;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f.offset-personality .hero-image {\r\n        float: left;\r\n        display: inline-block;\r\n        margin: 1rem;\r\n        margin-left: 0rem;\r\n        max-width: 320px;\r\n        position: relative;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f.offset-personality .hero-image img {\r\n        width: 100%;\r\n        height: auto;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    @media (max-width: 1219px) {\r\n        #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f.centered-portrait img {\r\n            aspect-ratio: 1 \/ 1;\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    @media (min-width: 1220px) {\r\n        #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f.centered-portrait .hero-image {\r\n            margin-left: 20%;\r\n            margin-right: 20%;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f.centered-portrait .hero-image img {            \r\n            aspect-ratio: 9 \/ 16;\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    @media (min-width: 764px) {    \r\n        #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f.small-square .hero-image {\r\n            margin-left: 20%;\r\n            margin-right: 20%;\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f.centered-portrait .hero-image img {\r\n        object-fit: cover;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f.small-square .hero-image img {\r\n        object-fit: cover;\r\n        aspect-ratio: 1\/1;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f .hero-subheading {\r\n        \/*position: absolute;\r\n        left: 50%;\r\n        transform: translateX(-50%);*\/\r\n        width: 100%;\r\n        text-align: left;\r\n        margin: .5rem 0 2rem 0;\r\n        font-style: italic;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f .hero-subheading.overlay.white {\r\n        color: white;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f .hero-subheading.overlay.black {\r\n        color: #212529;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f .hero-subheading.overlay {\r\n        color: white; \r\n        position: absolute;\r\n        left: 50%;\r\n        transform: translateX(-50%);   \r\n        z-index: 100;   \r\n        bottom: 0;\r\n        text-shadow: 2px 2px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f .hero-subheading.below {\r\n        margin: 0.5rem 0 0 0;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f .hero-subheading {\r\n        text-style: italic;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f .hero-subheading.subheading-sm {\r\n        font-size: 1rem;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f .hero-subheading.subheading-xl {\r\n        font-size: 1.1rem;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f .hero-subheading.subheading-2xl {\r\n        font-size: 1.25rem;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f .hero-subheading.subheading-3xl {\r\n        font-size: 1.5rem;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f .bottom-centered {\r\n        position: absolute;\r\n        bottom: 0;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #block_9fdc521c8c3f6ab356b14ea76eaa328f .below {\r\n        position: relative;\r\n        bottom: 0;    \r\n        text-align: left;\r\n        margin: .5rem 0 2rem 0;\r\n    }\r\n<\/style><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-fight-isn-t-over\">The Fight Isn&#8217;t Over<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Following a hearing in April, a state district judge <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theadvocate.com\/baton_rouge\/news\/environment\/koch-plant-expansion-in-louisiana-moves-ahead-after-ruling\/article_f15f3d1a-3f95-11ef-a897-07846ac18dc1.html\">upheld the decision<\/a> for Koch Methanol St. James to continue its expansion. While Lavigne is disappointed that her appeal was denied, she remains hopeful and plans to take the case to the Louisiana Supreme Court by the end of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPeople are [still] complaining about the air that they breathe,\u201d Lavigne told The Story Exchange in September. \u201cThe community is not happy with this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lavigne, who has 12 grandchildren, wants youth to get involved with environmental justice as well, so they can become educated and understand why some of their family members&nbsp;may be experiencing certain&nbsp;health issues. Her efforts have inspired her own 11-year-old grandson, who has talked about Lavigne and her work for his social studies project.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And while the journey is far from over, Lavigne is hopeful that she will be on the winning end in the battle to protect her community. \u201cOnce you put God in your fight, you don\u2019t have to worry,\u201d Lavigne said. \u201cYou\u2019re going to be successful.\u201d &#x25fc;&#xfe0f;<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_a07a9c5ab3d1570b60d1c08c1a15e76a\" class=\"wp-block related-post alignwide\">\n      <div class=\"wrap\">\n    <div class=\"section-title\">\n      <h4>Related<\/h4>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n              <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/generations-of-women-protesting-climate-change-together\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Elders_Climate_Protest-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Elders_Climate_Protest-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Elders_Climate_Protest-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Elders_Climate_Protest-84x84.jpg 84w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Elders_Climate_Protest-45x45.jpg 45w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>\n          <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"entry-text\">\n          <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/generations-of-women-protesting-climate-change-together\/\">\n              Generations of Women Protesting Climate Change \u2013 Together\n            <\/a>\n          <\/h3>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sharon Lavigne of Louisiana fights against the construction of industrial plants, saying pollutants have harmed her health and that of area residents.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":166,"featured_media":74166,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"autoblue_enabled":false,"autoblue_custom_message":"","autoblue_shares":[],"autoblue_post_url":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[187],"tags":[19525,19640,22312,19647,20291,22595],"class_list":["post-74163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","tag-black-women","tag-climate-podcast-project","tag-community-activism","tag-disability-pride","tag-environmental-justice","tag-health-and-pollution"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.3 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>A Troubling Diagnosis Led This Grandmother Into Environmental Activism<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Sharon Lavigne of Louisiana fights against the construction of industrial plants, saying pollutants have harmed her health and that of area residents.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/a-troubling-diagnosis-led-this-grandmother-into-environmental-activism\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Troubling Diagnosis Led This Grandmother Into Environmental Activism\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Sharon Lavigne of Louisiana fights against the construction of industrial plants, saying pollutants have harmed her health and that of area residents.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/a-troubling-diagnosis-led-this-grandmother-into-environmental-activism\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Story Exchange\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheStoryExchange\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-09-22T16:16:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-07-01T11:53:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Sharon_Lavigne.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"417\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Claretta J. 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