Democracy Now! Clip: Human Rights and Toxic Industry on the Gulf Coast

I appeared on Democracy Now! to discuss human rights and environmental destruction in Louisiana and the Gulf Region. This discussion began with the question of justice for Gulf communities harmed by the BP oil drilling disaster as the second phase of trial begins to determine how much oil spilled into Gulf waters and whether BP was grossly negligent in handling the oil spill. John Barry, the vice president of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority, which filed a lawsuit against 97 oil and gas companies for ecological destruction of coastal wetlands, was also a guest on the show.

Monique Harden is an Attorney and the Co-Director of Advocates for Environmental Human Rights. Since 1996, Ms. Harden has provided legal counsel and advocacy support that have helped community organizations win important environmental justice victories. In 2003, Ms. Harden, along with Nathalie Walker, co-founded Advocates for Environmental Human Rights. Ms. Harden is a graduate of The University of Texas School of Law (1995), and received a B.A. from St. John’s College (1990). Ms. Harden has authored and co-authored numerous reports and papers on environmental justice and human rights issues. Her advocacy work has been featured in television, radio and print news, as well as books, magazines, and documentaries.