Analyze

Given the vastness of Formosa Plastics' influence, there are many ways to tell its story to the world. As environmental justice activists and researchers, how do we describe a company and its negative impact when there is so much to say? Limited by time, word count, and the audience's attention span, we must decide what goes unsaid. As a result, we could write countless answers to the same question, "What is Formosa Plastics?"

In this published academic case study, I introduce Formosa Plastics through a local lens--specifically, through the eyes of a grandmother-turned-activist in the small town of Welcome, Louisiana. Her family's history with social justice activism, as well as the area's connection to centuries of slavery, make the environmental racism of Formosa Plastics' Sunshine Project especially salient. Although Formosa Plastics is a global force, telling its story on the microscale is an equally important perspective. After all, in Sharon Lavigne's eyes, her small town is her world. How many of these little worlds have Formosa Plastics destroyed as they wreak havoc across international borders?

Schools and colleges have stepped up to provide skilled manufacturing training

Fresno County offers employee training through the New Employment Opportunity program, which reimburses companies that hire through the program

Economic leaders/local government: bringing in diverse occupations and companies to the valley, including a medical complex in Clovis, which will house the first medical school in the valley

Industry: not enough highly skilled workers

Schools: not enough students going into high-paying jobs

Increasing jobs in Central Valley from large corporate warehouses, but those don't always come with high wages, can be dangerous

45% of Fresno Unified School District students take part in career and technical programs - better graduation rate, offers students work experience and skills

In comparison to other counties, Essex county has the largest number of children above the CDC blood lead level, 5% of Essex county children are affected.  They surpassed Passaic County's 3.4%.  This risk is more prominent in Essex county than any other group in the state.

Newark school's reported that their almost half of buildings have lead in their water.  This is creating immense vulnerability in Essex County, and the issue in Newark dates back to about four years ago.  This problem also stems from the history of lead-based paint, which was outlawed in 1978, but still can be found in many homes, and poisons children.