A Fisherwoman's Fight for Environmental Justice

In this episode of Equity in Every Drop, host Thomas Hynes sits down with the legendary Diane Wilson—a fourth-generation fisherwoman, author, San Antonio Bay Waterkeeper, and winner of the prestigious 2023 Goldman Environmental Prize. 

Diane shares her incredible 38-year journey fighting massive petrochemical plants on the Texas Gulf Coast. Discover how an introverted boat captain led a team of volunteers to document systemic plastic pollution, ultimately securing a $50 million settlement against Formosa Plastics—the largest citizen-led Clean Water Act recovery in U.S. history. 

Diane also pulls back the curtain on her current battle against Dow Chemical and explains why relentless persistence is the ultimate tool for environmental justice.

Creators and Guests

Thomas Hynes
Host
Thomas Hynes
Thomas Hynes is the Communications and Marketing Manager for Waterkeeper Alliance. In addition to podcast hosting and production duties, he manages and writes all sorts of editorial content for the organization, including blogs, feature articles, advocacy alerts, email campaigns, social media content, and more. Thomas grew up on the Long Island Sound in Connecticut and now makes his home two blocks from the East River in Brooklyn, New York. He primarily commutes across the river to the Waterkeeper Alliance office via ferry boat. Thomas was drawn to environmental work in order to take an active role in the fight against climate change and help bring justice to the rotten polluters who seek to ruin our shared resources. Before working at Waterkeeper Alliance, Thomas wrote a nonfiction book about the history of wildlife in New York City. "Wild City" also highlights the power and success of the Clean Water Act, and other environmental regulations, in leading an unlikely ecological turnaround. In his spare time, Thomas photographs the many tugboats traversing the city’s various waterways. Thomas lives in Brooklyn with his wife and their son. They can be found most weekends walking or biking along the East River.
Diane Wilson
Guest
Diane Wilson
Diane Wilson is a fourth-generation shrimper, boat captain, mother of five, author, and an environmental, peace, and social justice advocate. During the last 30 years, she has launched legislative campaigns, demonstrations, hunger strikes, sunk boats, and even climbed chemical towers in her fight to protect her Gulf Coast bay. In 2019, her lawsuit against Formosa Plastics resulted in the largest ever Clean Water Act settlement. Diane received the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2023.
Lori Harrison
Producer
Lori Harrison
Lori Harrison is the Communications and Marketing Director for Waterkeeper Alliance. She oversees multi-faceted communications and marketing activities to advance the organization’s mission of protecting our right to clean water in communities around the world. With 25 years of experience in strategic water communications and mission-based work, Lori is an award-winning writer and content creator. Her expertise lies in translating complex concepts into relatable ideas, fostering engagement, and promoting sustainable practices and solutions. Her work not only aims to protect clean water, public health, and the environment but also focuses on "connecting the disconnect" between people and this essential resource. Before joining Waterkeeper Alliance, Lori had a background in corporate marketing for professional sports and held various communications and creative positions with a non-profit educational organization for global water professionals. Notable achievements include creating the WATER'S WORTH IT® grassroots awareness campaign and writing the award-winning children's book, “Why Water's Worth It,” designed to educate and inspire the next generation of water protectors. Lori lives in Virginia with her husband and their two children.
A Fisherwoman's Fight for Environmental Justice
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