Over 100 students, volunteers and activists lay down on the
Marine Drive sidewalk to recreate the horror of Bhopal where the
streets were lined with corpses the day after the world's worst
industrial disaster. As chalk outlines were drawn around the
'bodies' on Marine Drive the activists held up banners that said
'Remember Bhopal' and 'Dow - you have the blood of Bhopal on your
hands.'
On the night of December 2nd - 3rd 1984, more than 8000 people
were killed when 27 tons of lethal gases including methyl iso
cyanate (MIC) leaked from Union Carbide's pesticide factory (now
owned by Dow Chemicals) in Bhopal. Today, at
least 150,000 people, including children born to gas-exposed
parents, suffer debilitating exposure-related health effects. The
death toll has risen over 20,000, and at least 30 persons continue
to die each month from exposure-
related illnesses.
"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 remains at risk," she
added."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 as
grassroots globalisation forces them to address the pending
criminal and civil liabilities in Bhopal." said Rashida Bee of
ICJB.
Greenpeace also invited people around the world today to support
survivors of the Bhopal disaster and help persuade Dow Chemical to
clean up the disaster site. Visitors to the Greenpeace website can
bid for bottles of contaminated
Bhopal well water. Greenpeace will deliver the bottles directly
to Dow offices worldwide, on behalf of the highest bidders, along
with a message to Dow to clean up Bhopal. All proceeds will go to
Bhopal survivors. (2)
"Bhopal has become the icon for corporate negligence resulting
in death and destruction, representing the thousand Bhopal-like
disasters that take place all across India," said Vinod Shetty, an
eminent lawyer and ICJB activist, "A similar tragedy occurred
recently at Sangamner, just a few hours' journey away from Mumbai,
as chlorine gas leaked out of a factory owned by Mangalam Drugs and
Organics Ltd . Such accidents will continue to occur unless we
secure justice for the people of Bhopal, and establish strong
precedent to remind corporations of their responsibility towards
the environment and the community they operate in."
International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal (ICJB) is calling
on Dow Chemical to face criminal liability charges as owners of
Union Carbide in the ongoing case pending in the Bhopal District
Court and ensure that prime accused Warren Anderson, former
chairman of Union Carbide appears to face trial in India; 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; Dow must provide livelihood opportunities to the
survivors.
For more details contact : Namrata Chowdhary, Media Officer,
Greenpeace India
- Tel - 022 31520697/ (0)9810850092
- email- 