"Louisiana activists battling a polluting chemical and plastics industry are claiming a victory in a community just outside Reserve, where the Guardian has investigated high cancer rates and toxic emissions from a nearby factory.
The Chinese company Wanhua Chemical has withdrawn an approved application to build a $1.25bn facility in Convent, in the face of an appeal against its plans and a lawsuit from local residents.
“My great-great-great-great grandmother came out of slavery and bought my family’s land,” said Barbara Washington, a member of the group Rise St James, whose home is near the proposed site. “Our hard work has paid off. We will not stop till all those industries who want to come in here change their plans. We are tired of being sick. We refuse to be sick any more. Don’t even try to come into St James. We will not allow it.”"
