25 Years After Bhopal Disaster, Survivors Still Seeking Justice
Today marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of one of the worst industrial disasters of the twentieth century. Shortly after midnight on December 3rd, 1984 in the city of Bhopal, India, tons of lethal gases leaked from a pesticide factory run by the US company Union Carbide. Between 8,000 to 10,000 people lost their lives within days. Thousands more died in the following years. Over 150,000 are still suffering chronic and debilitating illnesses. A new report released this week has found that there are still high levels of toxic chemicals in the drinking water supply in fifteen communities near the old plant. We speak with leading Bhopal activist, Satinath Sarangi, about the disaster and the ongoing struggle for justice.
Today marks the 25th anniversary of one of the worst industrial disasters of the 20th Century. Shortly after midnight on December 3rd, 1984 in the city of Bhopal, India, tons of lethal gases leaked from a pesticide factory run by the U.S. company, Union Carbide. Clouds of suffocating gases blanketed the city. Residents awoke with throats burning and tears streaming. The gases produced so much fluid in people’s lungs that many drowned in their own body fluids.
Between 8,000 to 10,000 people lost their lives within days. Thousands more died in the following years. Over 150,000 are still suffering chronic and debilitating illnesses. A new report released this week by the Bhopal Medical Appeal and a local clinic has found that there are still high levels of toxic chemicals in the drinking water supply in 15 communities near the old plant. Last week, Indian authorities decided against reopening the plant. They had announced they would open the factory to prove it no longer poses a threat to public safety but reversed the decision in the face of protests.
In August, an Indian court reissued an arrest warrant for the former CEO of Union Carbide, Warren Anderson. The court urged the Indian government to seek his extradition from the United States. In 2001, Union Carbide was bought out by US multinational Dow Chemical. The company has refused to clean up the spreading water contamination from the abandoned plant.
Today, to mark the 25th anniversary of the Bhopal disaster, supporters around the world will be participating in an International Day of Action, including mass rallies, “die-ins”, candle-lit vigils, protests and more.
....
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/12/3/25_years_after_bhopal_disaster_survivorsBhopal disaster
The Union Carbide (now Dow Chemical) disaster - also known as the Bhopal disaster or the Bhopal gas tragedy - was an industrial catastrophe that took place at a Union Carbide pesticide plant in the Indian city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh on December 3, 1984. Around 12 AM, the plant released methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas and other toxins, resulting in the exposure of over 500,000 people. Estimates vary on the death toll - the official immediate death toll was 2,259, which rose greatly over time. The government of Madhya Pradesh has confirmed a total of 3,787 deaths related to the gas release.<1> Another source says that a few days later the death toll had doubled. Over the next few years, the lingering effects of the poison nearly doubled the toll again, to about 15,000, according to government estimates.<2> Local activists say the real numbers are almost twice that. Others estimate 8,000-10,000 died within 72 hours and 25,000 have since died from gas-related diseases.<3><4>
Some 25 years after the gas leak, 390 tonnes of toxic chemicals abandoned at the Union Carbide plant continue to leak and pollute the ground water in the region and affect thousands of Bhopal residents who depend on it <5><6><7><8><9><10>, though there is some dispute as to whether the chemicals still stored at the site pose any continuing health hazard.<2> There are currently civil and criminal cases related to the disaster ongoing in the United States District Court, Manhattan and the District Court of Bhopal, India against Union Carbide, now owned by Dow Chemical Company, with arrest warrants pending against Warren Anderson, CEO of Union Carbide at the time of the disaster<11><12>. No one has yet been prosecuted.
. . . . .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_disaster
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
