Leaves You Hopeful is a short podcast series by 2023 Dogwood Alliance Fellow Aanahita Ervin. It highlights stories about large institutions - government, private foundations, corporations - misusing forests against the wishes of the local community members. While misuse of forest land is often legal, it is not ethical. These offending institutions are large and powerful. Oftentimes people assume they can’t ask questions. Sometimes, they don’t have the resources to do so.

THIS EPISODE:

L’eau Est La Vie Camp is a group of Native American water protectors that formed in 2018. L’eau Est La Vie, along with a diverse coalition of organizations, worked together to resist the construction of the Bayou Bridge Pipeline. It goes through the Atchafalaya basin, the largest river swamp in the United States. 

Louisiana is an industry heavy state and faces severe pollution. This pipeline risks the health of already vulnerable people, the local economy, and the environment. This story shows how state militarization, intimidation, and laws are weaponized to suppress the rights of protestors. This episode follows the strong and strategic resistance the coalition staged against Energy Transfer. 

Special thanks to Karen Savage for the insight into the events described in this episode. Her work speaks truth at a time of dying local news and increasing disinformation.