NEW ORLEANS (AP), The University of Notre Dame will present the honor to a retired teacher of special education, who has become an advocate for environmental justice. It is the oldest and most prestigious honor American Catholics can receive.
The university will present its Laetare Memorial to Rise St. James founder Sharon Lavigne during commencement ceremonies at South Bend, Indiana on May 15.
Sharon Lavigne has been tireless in her activism and has listened to God’s call to advocate for the well-being of her community and the planet. She also helped to end environmental degradation that oftendisproportionately affects communities of color. John I. Jenkins spoke in a press release. Notre Dame awarded her the Laetare medal to recognize her leadership and courage as a champion for the environment, a voice of the marginalized, and a steadfast servant to our creator.
Rise St. James was founded by Lavigne in 2018, when plastics companies from Taiwanese and China announced plans for construction in St. James Parish. It is located between New Orleans, Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Wanhua Plastics was planning a $1.25B complex in Convent, and Formosa Plastics obtained permits for a complex worth $9.4B.
Wanhua announced that it had canceled its 2019 application, stating that it had reduced its plans and was looking for another site.
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A Pentagon official ordered the Army Corps of Engineers in 2013 to complete an environmental study of Formosa Plastics Group member FGLA LLC’s plans for 10 chemical factories and four other major facilities. The parish was also visited by Michael Regan, the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator.
EPA announced a pilot program in January that combines high tech air pollution monitoring with additional inspectors. This includes St. James Parish and St. John the Baptist Parish.
Since 1883, the Laetare medal has been awarded each year to a Catholic who has distinguished themselves in the arts and sciences, exemplified the ideals of God and contributed to the human heritage.
Other Louisiana recipients include it was presented in 2019 to Norman L. Francis, a retired president of Xavier University of Louisiana, and Aaron Neville in 2015. Sister Helen Prejean received it in 1996.
Lavigne said that many people in her locality thought it wouldn’t be beneficial to fight chemical giants.
Why would they move the plant here? Lavigne informed Notre Dame because they knew that people wouldn’t speak out. They were right. The people were not going to speak up. God touched me that day and told me to fight.
Her parish is home to 32 of the 150-plus petrochemical and refineries along an 85-mile (140-kilometer) stretch of Mississippi River. Many are located in areas with a high proportion of Black residents and low income.
Lavigne stated that the Civil Rights Act and Louisiana Constitution are supposed protect Black communities against this type of environmental racism. Every permit that crosses their desks is stamped by our agencies.
Lavigne, who has been a member of St. James Catholic Church her whole life, said that her faith has buoyed and guided her through her journey. She also stated that her advocacy work has brought God closer to her.
Lavigne stated that he has me here because he knows I am there for a reason. I will do the work he asks me to. I cannot explain how he put me in such a fight. I have gotten closer to him. And I am so glad I’m closer to him. We can now fight any battle.
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