Thursday (December 3) is the 25th anniversary of the Bhopal gas tragedy, the world’s biggest industrial disaster.
Justice has eluded the victims of the tragedy all these years despite prolonged legal action in India and the United States. About 3,500 died. Half a million people are still suffering from the after-effects of the gas leak.
In solidarity with Bhopal’s Campaign for Justice, human rights activists in many places are organizing candle light vigil between 5 and 7 p.m. on that day to mourn for the dead and fight for the living.
In Chennai the programme is at Gandhi Statue, Marina; in Bangalore at Gandhi Statue, M.G.Road.
In the small hours of the fateful day, 27 tons of highly toxic gas (MIC) leaked out of a storage tank from the Union Carbide Company’s pesticide factory in Bhopal leaving thousands of people dead and several thousand more maimed for life and generations to come.
For the survivors, it has been a battle against huge corporations who are escaping the liabilities through devious means and against governments who are clearly out to protect the corporations. An out-of-court settlement for a paltry compensation, severe ground water contamination, hiding of critical information needed to treat victims properly, bribery, stoppage of a scientific investigation, etc are just some of the series of misdeeds of the companies, governments and officials that have been unearthed during the 25-year-old struggle.
As the fight for justice continues, supporters around the world remember Bhopal, its victims and its heroes on the anniversary of the tragedy – drawing strength from its struggle, renewing the inspiration to continue fighting for justice – for Bhopal and for many other Bhopals.
Survivors of the disaster are now on a weeklong protest fast at Bhopal. See report.
The International Campaign for Justice for Bhopal (ICJB) and Students for Bhopal (SfB) are two organizations which are striving to keep the memory of Bhopal alive.
ICJB is a coalition of disaster survivors and environmental, social justice, progressive Indian, and human rights groups, who have joined forces to hold the Indian government and Dow Chemical Corporation, which now owns UCC, accountable for the ongoing chemical disaster.
SfB is a network of students, young professionals and activists working in solidarity with the survivors of the disaster in their struggle for justice. It uses education, grassroots organizing and non-violent direct action to pressure Dow Chemical and the Indian government to uphold the Bhopalis' demand for justice, and their fundamental human right to live free of chemical poison.
SfB's motto is: We all live in Bhopal and we will not rest without justice in Bhopal!
More info at www.bhopal.net and www.studentsforbhopal.org
Contact:
Shweta Narayan – 094440 24315
Archanaa Seker – 098405 23235
email: nopvcever@gmail.com
Dow Chemicals acquired the Union Carbide Company eight years ago. On the 20th anniversary of the disaster, Dow formally accepted responsibility for the disaster.
Union Carbide has opened a Bhopal website to present its side. It claims the chemical industry has since the disaster “worked to voluntarily develop and implement strict safety and environmental standards to help ensure that an incident of this type never occurs again”.
Showing posts with label Dow Chemicals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dow Chemicals. Show all posts
01 December, 2009
16 June, 2008
National Day of Action and Solidarity for Bhopal
Tuesday, JUNE 17 2008, is National Day of Action and Solidarity for Bhopal. The following is an appeal issued jointly by several civil society organizations in this connection:
Dear Friends,
The survivors of the Bhopal gas disaster and activists have been on a dharna at Jantar Mantar for over 75 days. So far there has been no concrete response from the Prime Minister on their demands. On June 9 in response to a peaceful sit-in at South Block they were arrested and children were abused by the Delhi police. In protest, 5 days ago, nine activists started an indefinite hunger strike. Even till today 23 of the Bhopalis are in Tihar Jail and our attempts to secure bail for them has been met with stiff resistance from the State.
This shameful state of affairs must stop. It is crucial that groups across the country unite in support to up the ante on the Manmohan Singh Government.
In consultation with the Bhopal Groups it has been decided to observe a National Day of Action and Solidarity for Bhopal on 17th June 2008 across the country.
We hope you will endorse this call (pasted below), organise events in your cities, towns, regions and stand in solidarity with Bhopalis.
Also collect as many signatures as possible on the statement to PM (pasted below) so that it can be delivered collectively to PMO after 17th.
We have heard from friends and comrades in Delhi, Bombay, Chennai, Coimbatore, Raipur and some other places who will hold some kind of action there. Let us all join hands now…
In Solidarity
Supporters of Bhopal
*****************************
Tuesday, June 17 2008
NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AND SOLIDARITY FOR BHOPAL
UNITE FOR JUSTICE!NO MORE BHOPALS!
PRIME MINISTER MANMOHAN SINGH WAKE UP!
HOLD DOW AND UNION CARBIDE ACCOUNTABLE!
23 YEARS IS ENOUGH! WE NEED JUSTICE NOW
For the past 23 years the Bhopalis have had a set of basic and simple demands; those that should have been met decades ago by any Government that claimed to work for its people. With no response forthcoming women, children and men from Bhopal again walked 800 kms to Delhi to remind Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of his promises made in 2006.
PM Singh through his minister Prithvi Raj Chauhan has met the 2 month long dharna with vague and empty promises and the Delhi police has responded to their non-violent protests with beatings and jailing. Several activists are now on an indefinite fast and are being joined by a growing number of people across the country, including several from the USA and UK.
It's time for people across the country to stand up and demand that the Prime Minister respond to their demands which include:
•Setting up of an Empowered Commission on Bhopal and committing the funds required to allow the Commission to function for 30 years for medical, economic, social and environmental rehabilitation.
•Immediate legal action against Dow Chemical and Union Carbide
JOIN US!
On June 17, people across the country will show their solidarity with the Bhopal Struggle by holding various actions in cities, towns, taluks and villages.
You can
Hold a protest demonstration/ die-ins/ human chains, candle light vigils, and raise slogans in support of the struggle and against Dow Chemicals
Submit a memorandum to the local or state government protesting against the inaction of the Government of India
Sign the open statement to the Prime Minister and send it to us (madhuresh@cacim.net) so that it can be collectively handed over to PM
Organise an evening of cultural performances celebrating 23 brave years of struggle by the Bhopalis
Raise financial support for the protestors.
Please visit www.bhopal.net for more details on the ongoing struggle in Jantar Mantar, Delhi or call Shalini at 9891442037. To donate to the Bhopal struggle send your donation by draft/cheque favouring 'The Other Media', with Bhopal Solidarity written on the envelope (The Other Media, B-5/136, Safdarjang Enclave, New Delhi 29). Contact Bipin at 9868280191 for more details.
In solidarity,
Aasha Parivar, AID India, AISA, Amnesty International, Delhi Solidarity Group, Fishermen Coordination of Tamil Nadu & Pondycherry, INSAF, International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal, JNUSU, NAPM Delhi, Nadi Ghati Morcha, NCDHR, NFFPFW, PSU, PUCL Rajasthan, People's Union for civil Liberties - Tamil Nadu, Stree Adhikar Sangathan, Students for Bhopal, Tamil Nadu Womens' Collective, Yuva Samvad, CACIM, Corporate Accountability Desk Collective, TN, Delhi Forum, Focus on the Global South, Intercultural Resources, Jagori, The Other Media, Swechcha, Tamil Nadu Environment Council-Dindigul, Human Rights Initiative- Tamil Nadu, Cuddalore District Consumer Protection Organisation, Kanchi Makkal Mandram, Corporate Accountability Desk, Chennai, Speak Out, Salem
and many other alliances, federations, movements and organisations
Dear Friends,
The survivors of the Bhopal gas disaster and activists have been on a dharna at Jantar Mantar for over 75 days. So far there has been no concrete response from the Prime Minister on their demands. On June 9 in response to a peaceful sit-in at South Block they were arrested and children were abused by the Delhi police. In protest, 5 days ago, nine activists started an indefinite hunger strike. Even till today 23 of the Bhopalis are in Tihar Jail and our attempts to secure bail for them has been met with stiff resistance from the State.
This shameful state of affairs must stop. It is crucial that groups across the country unite in support to up the ante on the Manmohan Singh Government.
In consultation with the Bhopal Groups it has been decided to observe a National Day of Action and Solidarity for Bhopal on 17th June 2008 across the country.
We hope you will endorse this call (pasted below), organise events in your cities, towns, regions and stand in solidarity with Bhopalis.
Also collect as many signatures as possible on the statement to PM (pasted below) so that it can be delivered collectively to PMO after 17th.
We have heard from friends and comrades in Delhi, Bombay, Chennai, Coimbatore, Raipur and some other places who will hold some kind of action there. Let us all join hands now…
In Solidarity
Supporters of Bhopal
*****************************
Tuesday, June 17 2008
NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AND SOLIDARITY FOR BHOPAL
UNITE FOR JUSTICE!NO MORE BHOPALS!
PRIME MINISTER MANMOHAN SINGH WAKE UP!
HOLD DOW AND UNION CARBIDE ACCOUNTABLE!
23 YEARS IS ENOUGH! WE NEED JUSTICE NOW
For the past 23 years the Bhopalis have had a set of basic and simple demands; those that should have been met decades ago by any Government that claimed to work for its people. With no response forthcoming women, children and men from Bhopal again walked 800 kms to Delhi to remind Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of his promises made in 2006.
PM Singh through his minister Prithvi Raj Chauhan has met the 2 month long dharna with vague and empty promises and the Delhi police has responded to their non-violent protests with beatings and jailing. Several activists are now on an indefinite fast and are being joined by a growing number of people across the country, including several from the USA and UK.
It's time for people across the country to stand up and demand that the Prime Minister respond to their demands which include:
•Setting up of an Empowered Commission on Bhopal and committing the funds required to allow the Commission to function for 30 years for medical, economic, social and environmental rehabilitation.
•Immediate legal action against Dow Chemical and Union Carbide
JOIN US!
On June 17, people across the country will show their solidarity with the Bhopal Struggle by holding various actions in cities, towns, taluks and villages.
You can
Hold a protest demonstration/ die-ins/ human chains, candle light vigils, and raise slogans in support of the struggle and against Dow Chemicals
Submit a memorandum to the local or state government protesting against the inaction of the Government of India
Sign the open statement to the Prime Minister and send it to us (madhuresh@cacim.net) so that it can be collectively handed over to PM
Organise an evening of cultural performances celebrating 23 brave years of struggle by the Bhopalis
Raise financial support for the protestors.
Please visit www.bhopal.net for more details on the ongoing struggle in Jantar Mantar, Delhi or call Shalini at 9891442037. To donate to the Bhopal struggle send your donation by draft/cheque favouring 'The Other Media', with Bhopal Solidarity written on the envelope (The Other Media, B-5/136, Safdarjang Enclave, New Delhi 29). Contact Bipin at 9868280191 for more details.
In solidarity,
Aasha Parivar, AID India, AISA, Amnesty International, Delhi Solidarity Group, Fishermen Coordination of Tamil Nadu & Pondycherry, INSAF, International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal, JNUSU, NAPM Delhi, Nadi Ghati Morcha, NCDHR, NFFPFW, PSU, PUCL Rajasthan, People's Union for civil Liberties - Tamil Nadu, Stree Adhikar Sangathan, Students for Bhopal, Tamil Nadu Womens' Collective, Yuva Samvad, CACIM, Corporate Accountability Desk Collective, TN, Delhi Forum, Focus on the Global South, Intercultural Resources, Jagori, The Other Media, Swechcha, Tamil Nadu Environment Council-Dindigul, Human Rights Initiative- Tamil Nadu, Cuddalore District Consumer Protection Organisation, Kanchi Makkal Mandram, Corporate Accountability Desk, Chennai, Speak Out, Salem
and many other alliances, federations, movements and organisations
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