plaquemines parish

By Jonathan Henderson, cross-posted from Vanishing Earth

Byron Encalade grew up on the East Bank of the Mississippi River in Southeast Louisiana’s Plaquemines Parish, raised on a farm on land where his father still lives. He longs for the days when a guy could put in an honest day’s work and still survive. “I really can’t explain how bad it is,” he said, looking across the desolate marina.
 

“The world must know what they [BP] have done to this community. This place could have been a paradise.” Those are the words of Byron Encalade, president of Louisiana Oystermen’s Association and the face of a beautiful and devastating new documentary film, Vanishing Pearls.

Ever wonder what goes into a Bridge The Gulf story? Or what drives our contributors to track down stories and create media, often for no pay? Join Cherri Foytlin on a drive down to Buras, Louisiana to interview Kindra Arnesen about four years of the BP oil disaster.