|
Home » Victories
 | Agreement Reached with Shell by Environmental Justice Community in Port Arthur, Texas
In 2006, Motiva (a Shell Oil subsidiary) applied for a permit from the state of Texas to expand their existing Port Arthur refinery to more than double its current production – which would make it the largest refinery in the nation.
Global Community Monitor (GCM) and CIDA Inc assembled a national team to work with the local Environmental Justice group, Community In Power and Development Association (CIDA) to block the permit and won major pollution reductions, a multi-million dollar community development foundation and community safety measures. This model will be made available for dozens of similar refinery expansions that GCM will work with.
How could a community based Environmental Justice group block a refinery permit in a state like Texas and force a major multi-billion dollar oil giant to negotiate? How could that group win major environmental improvements from the refinery (many of which were not required by law) and force Shell to set up a community-controlled foundation to improve the low-income fenceline neighborhoods? |
 | Florida Community Triumphs Over Royal Oak Charcoal Factory
Ruth Reed lives in a community leader of African American homeowners group in the northwest section of Ocala, Florida. For 30 years, a charcoal factory operated in her neighborhood. The factory was owned by a major corporation, Royal Oak, whose brickets are adorn store shelves throughout the country.
During operation the factory was the source of thick smoke, foul odors and constant fallout of soot and particles from its smokestacks. The soot and smoke covered the community made people feel sick.They wrote and complained to the state of Florida agencies and the US EPA, but we always told: "the company is in compliance - there is no threat to your health'.
Ruth and her group didn't believe it - she could see and smell the pollution and witnessed how it made people sick, so they set about to prove their case with the help of the "Bucket Brigade." |
|
|
