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Home » Victories
 | 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. |
| Old Apartheid Laws on Air Quality are Changed in South Africa
Durban, South Africa -- ground work South Africa and the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance, along with several other community groups in South Africa participating
in the Bucket Brigade, pushed the South African government to change the old apartheid laws on air quality. The government has now enacted the South African National Air Quality Act, and
activists continue to work with government officials on health standards for the Act. |
| Buckets Used in a Successful Campaign against ALCOA Aluminum
Yarloop, Western Australia -- Community Alliance for Positive Solutions, Inc. (CAPS) used Buckets in a successful campaign to make ALCOA Aluminum and the Western Australian
government relocate residents away from danger. CAPS is also battling ALCOA’s permit for expansion there. |
| Victory by West Action Group and Ohio Citizen over Lanxess Plastics
Addyston, OH -- The Westside Action Group and Ohio Citizen Action won a good neighbor victory over Lanxess plastics in September 2005. Lanxess (formerly Bayer) agreed to reduce
its overall pollution, especially cancer causing butadiene to as close to zero as possible, reduce accidents and to increase communication with neighbors during pollution incidents. Nearby
Meredith Hitchens Elementary was closed because air samples showed chemical levels unsafe for children.
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| CITGO Oil Company convicted in Federal Court
Corpus Christi, TX -- In a first ever court case of its kind, Venezuelan owned CITGO oil company was convicted in federal court on five criminal counts of violating the Clean Air Act in
June 2007. Citizens for Environmental Justice has been hot on CITGO’s trail for many years, performing pollution patrols around its refineries and blogging essential news about the case.
Victories can come slowly -- or quickly as a rapid succession of enormous events. Either way, we have learned lessons from each project. The following communities are in the middle of
their work, having won major commitments, but are still working on the full implementation of their victories. |
| Landmark Good Neighbor Agreement Won by Community In-Power Development Association
Port Arthur, TX -- Community In-Power Development Association, Inc. won a landmark good neighbor agreement with Motiva (Shell) in 2006, by monitoring the refinery and delaying an
expansion permit. Stipulations of this agreement require the company to pay for additional air monitors for the community, and to pay $3.5 million into an endowment fund set up for the
restoration of Port Arthur. Shell also agreed to additional emission controls not required by law. |
| Northwest Ocala's neighbors trained in Bucket Brigade Techniques
Ocala, FL -- Neighborhood Citizens of Northwest Ocala trained in Bucket Brigade techniques for detecting soot and metals covering their homes, cars and lungs. Before the community could
even take a sample, the Royal Oak charcoal plant announced it was shutting down in late 2006, rather than be put to the test. |
| Strategic Toxic Air Reduction (STAR) is Passed in Louisville, KY
Louisville, KY -- Responding to remarkable protests, media coverage and sampling by Rubbertown Emergency Action (REACT), the mayor of Louisville passed the Strategic Toxic
Air Reduction (STAR) program in 2005. The STAR program targets 18 toxic chemicals for reduction at all of the chemical plants in Rubbertown. REACT is currently developing a report
to standardize the odor complaint process with its local air board. |
| Citizens of Norco Celebrate the Relocation of Shell Chemical
Norco, LA -- Citizens of Norco, Louisiana, won full community relocation from Shell Chemical in 2002. They launched a long, hard fight, using creative resources and partnering with the Louisiana Bucket Brigade and numerous local, regional, national and international partners. Norco residents took
bucket samples revealing the presence of 20 Shell chemicals in every breath of air they took. Despite attempts by Shell to divide the community, Norco residents stood strong and won relocation for everyone who wanted to be moved. |
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