MetNews From Around: Surreal scenes from Christmas parade in Cancer Alley in pictures

The annual parade in Norco, Louisiana, is run by the local civic association, itself heavily backed by Shell, which operates a sprawling plant producing petrochemicals and, according to the EPA, major amounts of pollution. Photographer Julie Dermansky, who has chronicled the parades for the past four years, says this scene illustrates the disconnect humankind has with the damage they are doing to the environment

The Shell Norco Manufacturing Complex has been operating by the banks of the Mississippi River in southern Louisiana for almost a century. A sprawling set of oil refineries and petrochemical plants that dominate the landscape and pollute the air about 20 miles outside the city of New Orleans.

The complex has the capacity to refine 10.1m gallons of crude oil a day and can produce up to 3.33bn pounds of ethylene a year.

In 2018 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) accused Shell of violating clean air laws for over a decade and reached a settlement with the corporate giant shortly after.

Since 2001 the Norco Civic Association, a community group heavily backed by Shell, has run a Christmas parade that winds through the industrial complex, which sits on the site of old sugarcane fields in the heart of a region known as Cancer Alley due to its high levels of industrial pollution.

Photographer Julie Dermansky has been photographing this Christmas Parade for the past four years. To her, this scene illustrates the disconnect humankind has with the damage they are doing to the environment.

The Civic Association says the parade promotes unity in the community.

These are some of her images from the surreal scenery.

Dancer group marching down Apple Street participating in Norcos annual Christmas parade in Norco on 6 December 2015. The parades theme was Santa 4 President.

Floats at the Christmas parade in Norco, Louisiana, pass by the Shell Manufacturing Complex that has refining and chemicals facilities. The 2018 theme (shown on the right) was Santa Supports Local Sports.