On the 19th anniversary of the world's worst industrial disaster, the Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984, activists from Greenpeace held a protest activity at the headquarter of Dow Chemical Europe as part of the Global Day of Action against Corporate Crime.
This morning, over 60 students, volunteers and activists lay
down on the pavement in central Mumbai to recreate the horror of
Bhopal where the streets were lined with 8,000 corpses in the days
after the lethal gases leaked from Dow-Carbide's pesticide factory.
As chalk outlines were drawn around the 'bodies', activists held up
banners that said 'Remember Bhopal' and 'Dow - you have the blood
of Bhopal on your hands.'
"This protest is to remind the world that the tragedy of Bhopal
is far from over," said Greenpeace scientist, Ruth Stringer,
speaking from Mumbai. "The abandoned factory site contains
stockpiles of dangerous chemicals. Solvents spilled or leached into
the soil have migrated into the ground water. Many local
inhabitants still use this contaminated water for cooking, washing
and drinking. Until the site is cleaned to the highest possible
standards, the health of the people of Bhopal will remain at risk,"
she added. (2)
In Copenhagen, Greenpeace activists also drew the outline of
corpses on the ground in front of the Dow offices while others
protested in front of the American Embassy, calling for the
indictment of Warren Anderson, former CEO of Union Carbide, who is
currently hiding in the US and is wanted by Interpol. Activists in
Switzerland delivered a replica of the memorial statue that stands
outside the factory in Bhopal to Dow's European headquarters in
Horgen.
Today, at least 150,000 people, including children born to
parents exposed to the gas, suffer debilitating health effects. A
recent scientific study, published by the Journal of American
Medical Association, found selective birth retardation in boys (3).
Since 1984, the death toll has risen to over 20,000 and at least 30
people continue to die each month from illnesses relates to gas
exposure. Yet Dow Chemical, which bought Union Carbide in 2001,
refuses to accept liability for the disaster, to fully compensate
the victims or clean up the factory site, which is still
contaminated with dangerous chemicals.
Greenpeace invited people around the world today to support
survivors of the Bhopal disaster by helping to send a message in a
bottle to Dow Chemical. Visitors to the Greenpeace website can bid
for bottles of contaminated Bhopal well water online. The highest
bidders will have bottles sent on their behalf directly to Dow
offices worldwide, along with a request to clean up Bhopal. All
proceeds will go to Bhopal survivors. (4)
"As we enter the 20th year of our struggle for justice, we thank
our supporters worldwide for acknowledging the ongoing health,
environment and social disaster caused by the refusal of the
Government and the polluter 'Dow-Carbide'to address pending
liabilities in Bhopal. We are confident that the coming year will
be a watershed for Dow Chemical and the Indian Government," said
Rashida Bee of International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal and a
survivor of the disaster.
Notes: (1) Greenpeace is part of the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal (ICJB). The ICJB is calling on Dow Chemical to: · accept criminal liability as owners of Union Carbide, of which they are charged in the ongoing case pending in the Bhopal District Court;· provide for long-term medical care, monitoring and research of the survivors and their future generations.; · provide for comprehensive environmental remediation, within and outside the factory, and of the contaminated groundwater;· ensure immediate supply of safe drinking water to the affected communities; · provide livelihood opportunities to the survivors.The ICJB is also calling for Warren Anderson, the former chairman and CEO of Union Carbide, to face trial in India.(2) Greenpeace scientists have examined the soil and ground water in and around the Bhopal factory site. For full reports and results, see http://www.greenpeace.org/bhopal (3) The Journal for the American Medical Association (October 2003) can be found at www.bhopal.org/jama.pdf(4) Join the cyberaction and bid for Bhopal water on www.greenpeace.org/bhopalwaterFor more information about today's protests see: www.greenpeace.org/bhopal or www.bhopal.netPhotos, video footage and interviews are available on request.