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Bhopal disaster - twenty years on II

Greenpeace activists and locals are arrested before starting to clean up contamination site in Bhopal. Enlarge Image

Bhopal cleanup team arrested

Within a half hour of arriving on site to clean up Bhopal, around 60 protesters including local residents and Greenpeace activists were arrested. It was estimated that more than 100 police in riot gear swarmed over the peaceful action, which was taking place at the former Union Carbide factory, now owned by Dow, where a deadly gas leak in 1984 killed thousands and blinded and maimed thousands more. Former Union Carbide CEO Warren Anderson has been wanted for culpable homicide for more than a decade for his role in the accident.

Victims of the Bhopal disaster protest outside Dow's headquarters in Bombay. Enlarge Image

How low can Dow go?

In a stunning example of corporate insensibility, Dow Chemical, the world´s largest chemical company, and new owner of Union Carbide, is to sue survivors of the 1984 Union Carbide gas disaster in Bhopal, India. While the site of the disaster lies covered in toxic waste and survivors struggle with continuing ill health and deadly pollution from the site, Dow has decided to add to their woes with an Indian lawsuit.

Greenpeace demands corporate responsibility from Dow Chemicals by holding a demonstration at the South Africa plant. Enlarge Image

Diane vs. Dow

"When you can smell your own fear you are on the right track." This is the slogan that Diane Wilson, a famed "shrimp-boat-captain-turned-activist and merciless scourge of Dow" lives by. But the only fear we smell in this case is Dow's.

Union Carbide accident survivor's weekly meeting, Bhopal, India Enlarge Image

Step closer to justice for Bhopal

The government of India has finally bowed to pressure and agreed to allow a US Court to possibly rule that Dow Chemical should clean up the site of the ongoing Bhopal disaster. Mounting pressure from three determined hunger strikers, intensive lobbying by us, other Bhopal groups and thousands of online activists helped turn round the position of the Indian government.

Greenpeace displays a banner with pictures of the victims of the world's worst industrial disaster-Bhopal- at the opening of an international textile exhibition in Paris, where DOW Chemical, the entity responsible for the 1984 disaster presented a new fibre called XLA. Greenpeace is asking Dow Chemical to face its moral and financial responsibilities before investing in new markets. Enlarge Image

Dow's fashion show visited by Bhopal survivors

At the opening of the Premier Vision textile exhibition in Paris, activists dressed in black t-shirts - each one revealing the faces of Bhopal victims - confronted Dow Chemical as the company presented its new fibre, XLA. Dow Chemical is responsible for the 1984 disaster in the Indian city of Bhopal - a tragedy that still continues, even twenty years later.

'I remember making three-tiered graves. There was no option but to pile up one body on top of another. In those three-four days we must have buried more than 4,000 persons' says Mohammad Aziz as he looks at these skeletons that have come out of the graves. Enlarge Image

Bhopal disaster still unresolved

This December 3rd marks the 20th anniversary of the world's worst industrial disaster at the Union Carbide chemical plant in Bhopal, India. Twenty years later, the legacy of tragedy continues, and Dow continues to deny responsibility. We are making sure that they can't forget.

Living. Poisoned daily! Enlarge Image

Dow fights for its image, but not the victims in Bhopal

"Did you know... that Dow Chemical is responsible for the birth of the modern environmental movement?" So begins an internet spoof of Dow Chemical Company's smarmy public relations website which has caused a bit of a web sensation over the last few weeks.

M Parker - Dow CEO wanted for crimes against the planet Enlarge Image

Dow - Corporate criminal

Take one smooth, media savvy, corporate executive at the helm of the world's largest chemical company. Pit him against a few determined activists fighting for justice. Outcome a forgone conclusion? Throw a huge ongoing chemical disaster into the mix and in fact the outcome was a surprise to all.

Celebrations on the streets of Bhopal. Now almost 20 years later all survivors will finally get meagre compensation. Full justice will require Dow Chemical to clean up the polluted site. Enlarge Image

Bhopal survivors continue fight for justice

India's Supreme Court has ordered the government to release millions of dollars in compensation for victims of the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster. This, and other recent positive developments, are good news for the Bhopal survivors but far from the end of their battle for justice. Our Indian campaigner, Shailendra takes up the story.

Ruby, who survived the disaster outside the abandoned plant Enlarge Image

Bhopal disaster - twenty years on

Almost 20 years have passed since the World's worst industrial disaster took place in Bhopal, India. To commemorate the anniversary and remind people about the environmental crimes committed by Dow we are running a series of features; part one 'Growing Up' follows two childhoods spent in the shadow of toxic pollution.

Local families play beside the river unaware that it is being polluted by effluent from Dow's plant up stream. Enlarge Image

Bhopal disaster - twenty years on III

On different continents in two very different communities, Paul and Ruby are battling Dow Chemical's refusal to take responsibility for its legacy of pollution, shady dealings and disregard for human life. In Part 3 of our feature, we hear from Paul and Ruby as they strengthen their resolve to keep up the fight - wherever they are in the world.

Skulls discarded after research at the Hamidia Hospital in Bhopal. Medical experts believe that the gas inhaled by the people of Bhopal may have affected the brain. Enlarge Image

Nightmare in Bhopal

This December 3rd marks the 20th anniversary of the world's worst industrial disaster. Twenty years later, the legacy of tragedy continues. This is a story of the struggle of ordinary people asserting their basic human rights in the face of the power and greed of a giant multinational corporation.

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