A Fight for the Right to Live: Sharon Lavigne's story

 Who Makes the Impacts?

An image of the earth from Rawpixel Ltd that demonstrates what millions are fighting to protect

    The Goldman Environmental Prize is awarded to seven worthy candidates every year who exceed the expected amount of environmental efforts in order to protect their homes, often while putting themselves at risk in the process. Nominations are submitted from groups and organizations all around the world and the recipients are recognized during Aril on Earth day. The recipients receive benefits including financial support to continue their work, worldwide press, and introductions to political advocates to implement environmental policies. Beyond monetary and political support, the recipients are awarded a sculpture of a rounded snake biting its own tail. This sculpture is said to represent "nature's power of renewal" according to goldmanprize.org. Of all the 2021 winners, one who stood out in particular to me is the North American recipient Sharon Lavigne. 

    Once a former special education teacher, Sharon turned her efforts in 2018 towards environmental justice. She and thousands of others live in a community called St. James Parish found along a region nicknamed "Cancer Alley". Members of this community have been plagued with various cancers from carcinogens and chemicals released into the river and into the air. Lavigne's father was also an environmental activist and it can be assumed this is who she received much of her inspiration from. The last straw for Sharon came in 2018 when yet another plastics manufacturing plant was set to be constructed in the area surrounding her community. Lavigne used her prominence in the community to rally members, organize protests, and even found a faith-based organization called RISE. Their combined efforts prevented the construction of the plant and they continue to work to prevent the future installments of similar plastic manufacturers. 

    Sharon Lavigne's work inspired other communities along "Cancer Alley" as well. In more recent years the U.S Army Corps of Engineers suspended a permit for the creation of the Sunshine project in 2020 due to foreseen health impacts to the surrounding communities according to biologicaldiversity.org Average people fought with the support of the government to prevent the installation of another plant. Sharon's efforts have contributed a significant impact to sustaining the U.S's environment. She has emboldened other citizens, spread awareness in similar discriminated areas, and has protected the health of future generations cementing her environmental legacy.

Pictured here is Sharon Lavigne protesting from Julie Dermanksy

    I think a statue that represents the struggles of Sharon Lavigne and those of her community is one of Millicent Fawcett by Gillian Wearing. Millicent Fawcett was a British suffragist who fought against gender discrimination. The statue holds the sign "Courage Calls to Courage Everywhere" which is exactly the message Sharon Lavigne inspired. Her courage to fight the plastic industry led to a rising of courage in others to do the same. 

History of Policies

    Of environmental policies implemented in the United States, none have been as prominent as the clean air and clean water acts from the 1970s. At the beginning of 1970, there was a huge uproar of protesting to create legislation that would protect the basic human necessities of drinkable water and breathable air. Large industries and manufacturers had little to no regulations that could monitor waste and by-products being spewed into the environment, water systems, and communities surrounding them. These practices changed after the legalization of both acts in 1970 (clean air act) and 1972 (clean water act). The EPA or Environmental Protection Agency was also conceived from the pass of the legislation. This new government agency was tasked with forming regulations to decrease the number of chemicals and discharge dumped into waterways and limit the pollutants and sulfur oxides emitted into the air. According to nrdc.org the EPA has decreased common air pollutants by 67% since its founding in 1970. Strong data supports the success of the EPA and they have positively impacted the United States' environment and more likely the global environment as well. 

Photographed here by Lucinda Langwothy is the EPA building

    Over the decades since the implementation of the clean air and water acts many companies and industries have found ways to evade the regulations set in place by the EPA. For these evasions, citizens like those found in "Cancer Alley" have been permanently harmed. Communities like Sharon Lavigne's were directly targeted because of their lack of influence and power to prevent it. Those willing to fight the system they were placed in like Sharon are trying to push for stronger legislation that will protect communities from and corporate giants. 

   Another policy that hasn't been passed by legislation yet is the Green New Deal. This policy seeks to decarbonize fuel-based transport, fund public investment, and further the environmental justice movement. As of right now, the deal has been refused by the Senate for fear that the bill is undemocratic because it would hinder the current free-market economic system placesjournal.org. American's relationship with the environment is dwindling once again because all their trust has been placed in institutions like the EPA. In the case of citizens that live in St. James Parish though, they're still suffering from the effects of pollution. If this piece of legislation was to be implemented in the future dramatic change would occur in the U.S. Communities currently under the thumb of corporations would be liberated and the global environment would be spared from the continuation of emitted pollutants, discharged waste, and plastic pollution. Carbon emissions would be drastically decreased and cheaper more sustainable energy-based systems would be used in their place. 

    As mentioned before, this is exactly the type of stronger legislation Sharon Lavigne and other advocates are fighting for. Real policies with real power that can stop the harm being done to their communities. The current policies aren't effective anymore in protecting ordinary citizens and those that have recognized that are fighting stronger than ever. The Green New Deal was turned down last time but that doesn't mean it can't be proposed again later on when the Senate or House of Representatives might change the tide of environmental history. 

Shown here is an image of Cori Bush speaking on behalf of the Green New Deal photographed by Sarah Silbiger

Here is an art piece created during a Green New Deal climate strike by the public and photographed by Heidi de Vries. This piece of art represents the determination of those supporting the Deal

Life here in Keene

    Sharon Lavigne's community of St. James Parish is one of countless affected by large corporate giants taking advantage of their circumstances. It poses the question that if these industries can harm one community thousands of miles what's preventing it from spreading to New Hampshire? Luckily is the last forty years legislation such as the clean air and clean water Act has kept such situations from spreading across the country. The very Ashuelot river we have here running through campus could've been greatly polluted if such important legislation was never passed in the 1970s. Institutions like the EPA surge to protect citizens from suffering in the future.  

    Besides direct effects from policies residents of Keene have been impacted by Sharon Lavigne socially. Activists seek to spread awareness of an outstanding issue and Sharon has now received national attention for the work she's done. Even if citizens can't name her directly they can name other environmental activists that have the same goals as Sharon. Keene, New Hampshire, and quite frankly thousands of other communities would be worse off without the clean air and clean water acts that came out of the 1970s. For those trying to dismantle them, activists, all across the U.S are working non-stop to keep this country safe.

An image provided by Anthony Quintano of Greta Thunberg demonstrates that there is a whole future generation of environmentalists that can impact the world like Sharon Lavigne