Belly of the Beast
These paintings were inspired by a Toxic Tour led by Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services (t.e.j.a.s.) in Houston. There is a 16-mile stretch of refineries in the Houston area, including the largest refinery in the country. With no zoning codes, residential areas can become completely inundated with industry -- as in the case of Manchester, a predominantly Latinx community that is surrounded on all sides by refineries, metal crushing plants, a fertilizer plant, and other dangerous, toxic industry.
The Houston Ship Channel is the "belly of the beast" when it comes to the fossil fuel industry, and it is also vulnerable to storm surges and hurricanes made more likely by climate change. A few months after this tour, Hurricane Harvey hit Houston and caused increased pollution, flaring, discharges, and even explosions at many of these facilities.
The Houston Ship Channel is the "belly of the beast" when it comes to the fossil fuel industry, and it is also vulnerable to storm surges and hurricanes made more likely by climate change. A few months after this tour, Hurricane Harvey hit Houston and caused increased pollution, flaring, discharges, and even explosions at many of these facilities.