Rashida Bi, Bhopal Survivor
They have mobilized thousands of survivors from the slums of
Bhopal by making them aware of their rights and the pending
liabilities of Union Carbide, which is currently owned by Dow
Chemical Company (2).
Rashida and Champa Devi have travelled the world to gain wide
support and to bring attention to the ongoing tragedy of Bhopal
(3). "This prize will go a long way in helping reconstruct the
lives, jobs and health of people devastated by Union Carbide/DOW.
In addition, we will use a portion of the money awarded to set up
our own national prize in India for others who are fighting against
corporate crime", said Champa Devi.
In the course of their activism, both women have faced strong
pressure and harassment. They have been threatened with lawsuits
and arrested by the police during protests (4). "The Goldman Award
for Bhopal puts Union Carbide's legacy squarely in Dow's face. The
world is awakening to the crimes in Bhopal and this award shows
that Dow can no longer ignore the Bhopal liabilities it has
acquired. The longer Dow stalls in meeting their liabilities, the
worse it will be for the company and its shareholders," explained
Rashida.
On December 3rd, 1984, more than 40 tons of poisonous gases
leaked from a storage tank at a Union Carbide pesticide factory
into the heart of Bhopal city, immediately killing 8,000 people.
Since then, more than 20,000 deaths have been attributed to the
disaster. Survivors and their children continue to suffer long-term
health effects ranging from cancer and tuberculosis to birth
defects and chronic fevers.
Multiple studies, including a Greenpeace environmental
assessment in 1999 at the disaster site, have found mercury, nickel
and other toxins in the local groundwater and dangerous levels of
toxins. Many of the people who continue to live in the vicinity of
the factory, including survivors of the deadly gas leak, are left
with no alternative but to use groundwater contaminated with toxic
pollutants. Greenpeace and the International Campaign for Justice
in Bhopal -ICJB (5) urgently demand that Dow Chemicals take full
liability for this disaster.
"This celebration today is a clear recognition of the struggle
for justice that has been sustained for the past twenty years. It
is a struggle that
will continue until corporates like Union Carbide and DOW are
held responsible for their crimes," said Casey Harrell, Greenpeace
US campaigner.
Greenpeace is also calling for international agreements to be
established to hold corporations criminally and financially liable
for industrial disasters and ongoing pollution.
For direct interviews with Rashida and Champa, please call: 001
415 710 6036.
For more information please contact:
Casey Harrell, Greenpeace US Toxics Campaigner in San
Francisco:
+1 415 307 3382
Vinuta Gopal, Greenpeace India Toxics Campaigner in India:
+ 91 98 45535418
Namrata Chowdhary, Media Officer, Greenpeace India:
+91 98108 50092
Notes to editors:
(1). Goldman Environmental Prizes are awarded for sustained and
important efforts to preserve the natural environment, including,
but not limited to: protecting endangered ecosystems and species,
combating destructive development projects, promoting
sustainability, influencing environmental policies and striving for
environmental justice. Each year six grassroots individuals from
six regions of the world are recognized as environmental heroes.
Rashida Bee and Champa Devi were recognized as "environmental
heroes of Asia".
(2). In February 2001, Union Carbide became a full subsidiary of
DOW
chemicals.
(3). Rashida Bee went to Johannesburg in August/September 2002
to present her case to attendants of the World Summit on
Sustainable Development, where she also inaugurated a photo
exhibition on the ongoing tragedy of Bhopal, documented by the
Indian photographer Raghu Rai. During 2002, Rashida, Champa and
other survivors travelled on various occasions to Europe to
represent their case in the presence of DOW managers, politicians
and other decisions makers and to show solidarity with other
victims of corporate crimes. In May 2003 Rashida and Champa
campaigned in the US where they - finally - had a face to face
meeting with the DOW CEO to discuss the case of the Bhopal tragedy
and ongoing needs of the survivors.
(4). Both Rasheeda Bee and Champa Devi were arrested along with
65 other activists under charges of Criminal Trespass into the
DOW-Carbide premises on November 25, 2002, when the International
Campaign for Justice in Bhopal attempted a symbolic clean up of the
abandoned factory premises. Subsequently, the Chief Minister of the
State of Madhya Pradesh announced that he was dropping charges
against all those who were arrested that day.
(5). The International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal (ICJB) is
an umbrella organisation of all the groups (including Greenpeace)
who have joined forces to campaign for justice for the gas
survivors of Bhopal. The ICJB is spearheaded by survivors (the
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh) and long-time
supporters like the Bhopal Group for Information & Action