Non-profit church group to share EPA-sponsored study, documentary

The Bayou Interfaith Shared Community Organization will hold a free screening of the documentary produced by Christina Melton, “Washing Away: Losing Louisiana.”

Melton’s award-winning documentary seeks to show the link between devastating hurricane damage and Louisiana’s shrinking wetlands by telling the story of six Louisiana residents, who are struggling to recover from the aftermath of hurricanes

Katrina and Rita.

The non-profit community based group composed of churches and church members will also give a brief presentation of its completed study on Lafourche and Terrebonne Parish residents’ perceptions of the environmental effects of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The study consisted of 1,062 comment forms filled out by local residents. The group went to churches and neighborhoods and sat outside local events to get people’s feedback.

The forms couldn’t be called surveys, because they aren’t considered to be scientific by the EPA. Each form contained six questions about a person’s perceptions about what has happened to the environment and their family since the hurricanes.

BISCO Director Sharon S. Gauthe said local residents have many concerns ranging from their drinking water to illnesses, all related to the environmental damage caused by the storms.

“It’s sort of a self-reported instrument, where they say whether they believe things have increased in the community and have they increased in your family,” said Gauthe. “And so the numbers are really quite large.”

The group conducted the study with part of a $50,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency.

The screening and presentation will be held at the Christian Church of God in Christ, at 315 Brule Guillot Road in Thibodaux, on the Katrina anniversary, Aug. 29, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Contrary to some older information still floating around, it will not be held at the BISCO offices.

Gauthe said the group decided to move it to the church, because it has a widescreen TV.

Admission is free and refreshments will be served.

“We’re hoping to serve Gumbo,” said Gauthe.

Gumbo or not, BISCO asks that those interested in attending RSVP at (985) 446-5364.

And more information can be found at www.themastersite.com/BISCO.html.

Entergy awarded BISCO the “Making Things Brighter Award” in 2005 and 2006.

Non-profit church group to share EPA-sponsored study, documentary