Point of View by columist Ron Champman
The St Bernard Voice Newspaper https://www.thestbernardvoice.com/
August 6 2021 Edition
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It's been one year [August 2 2020] since the Bianca spill that unleashed nearly one billion plastic pellets into the Mississippi River.
Only neighborhood volunteers stepped up to clean up the mess, not any public or private agency.
On the anniversary of this tragic warning of what could become commonplace in Louisiana if we allow Formosa Plastics to build their toxic facility in St. James Parish, consider the words of catfisherman Joey Fonseca, who spoke out against Formosa at the St. James Parish Council shortly after the spill to describe the impact it would have on his way of life. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=291872989371473¬if_id=1627994999377179¬if_t=watch_follower_video&ref=notif
Read full press release here: https://labucketbrigade.org/on-anniversary-of-plastics.../
August 2 2020 a year ago there was a thunderstorm and something happened to cause the cargo ship CMA CGM Bianca to break from its Napoleon Avenue Wharf moorings. A big container onboard 'spilled millions if not billions of nurdles in the mighty Mississippi River around New Orleans. Thousands washed ashore on both sides of the river bank, including the river bank at our National Historical Chalmette Battlefield Chalmette.
"For whatever reason, Port of NOLA officials decided, oh well, the nurdles were 'irretrievable'"
Oceanographer and plastic pollution expert Benfield from the LSU School for the Coast told The Advocate, ?the nurdles would simply float and flow out to sea where some of them would be eaten by fish and other marine life."
"'Nurdles' are preproduction plastic pellets used in manufacturing and packaging. The pellets are the most economical way to transfer large amounts of plastic to end use manufacturers around the globe." Travis Spradling The Advocate https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/our_views/article_7340eeb0-e3c3-11ea-866a-c3817b826d3e.html
Former State Senator AG Crowe to make presentation at Council Meeting tonight about the proposed
Louisiana International Deep Water Gulf Terminal Transfer Terminal Authority known as LIGTT
This is a viable alternative to the Port NOLA expansion in Violet
UPDATE: View presentation around 2:07:00 mark https://sbpg.viebit.com/player.php?hash=c4ZkdQo7QlU9
Government Complex on Judge Perez at flag down
Item # 27. Adopt Resolution SBPC #2159-08-21, a resolution to oppose the Port Nola's Louisiana International Terminal (LIT) in St. Bernard Parish. (Councilmember Everhardt)
Prior to the council meeting, there will be a protest/flag down on Judge Perez Dr. in front of the government complex at 5:00PM.
We will walk over to the meeting for 6:30PM.
Free Access to U.S. Federal Land and Waters: 4th and 5th Graders
Every Kid Outdoors was created so 4th graders and their families could discover wildlife, resources, and history for free. Many 4th graders missed out on using their Every Kid Outdoors Annual 4th Grade Pass during the 2019-2020 school year. A new voucher is now available for 5th grade students through August 31, 2021.
With these vouchers, 4th and 5th graders and their families will have free access to national parks and other federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior through August 31, 2021. Rising 4th graders will be eligible next year.
Information and voucher for current 4th Graders: https://everykidoutdoors.gov/
Information and voucher for current 5th Graders: https://www.nps.gov/kids/
Learn more about planning your trip: https://everykidoutdoors.gov/
For questions or concerns, please reach out to: everykidoutdoors@nps.gov.
For up-to-date information about Environmental Justice funding opportunities, events, and webinars, subscribe to EPA's Environmental Justice listserv by sending a blank email to: join-epa-ej@lists.epa.gov.
Industry should not be financed through educational funding.
St. Bernard Parish School Board acts in the best interest of all students with a decision to retain ad valorem taxes from a proposed renewable fuels project. While some economic development groups believe all parish leaders should be unified in granting tax exemptions for this project, parents and grandparents are grateful the school board's vision of the future is through investments in quality education and not in industry.
SBPSB is funded through local ad valorem taxes, state and federal funds, grants and private donations. Most other government services are funded through both property and sales taxes, and both the parish government and sheriff's department have already decided to grant the proposed project tax exemptions, valued upwards to $90 Million over 10 years.
Economic multipliers leave the parish at shift change as the majority of industry jobs throughout the parish are non-domiciled workers; their wages fund the schools, libraries, recreation, roads, fire stations, drainage, levee protections, law enforcement, and other government services in other parishes. Meanwhile, all the adverse quality of life, public health, and environmental harm are borne by parish residents.
Our health and safety is already sacrificed for industry; our children's education should not be.
