Exactly 27 years ago, a poisonous gas leaked in Bhopal killing thousands immediately and crippling several thousand more for not just their lifetimes, but subsequent generations. The worst industrial disaster known to mankind was the result of extreme criminal negligence, the deliberate use of untested technology and compromising on safety to cut costs by Union Carbide, now owned by Dow Chemical, US. In addition to the well known gas disaster, Union Carbide's callous day to day operations and dumping of toxic chemicals have resulted in severe contamination of soil and ground water in Bhopal and for decades Bhopalis have been drinking poisoned water.
Highly questionable court decisions, Government's complicity in letting the accused escape and an apathetic approach to relief and compensation of the victims means that Bhopal continues to suffer today. Dow Chemical continues to enjoy a soft corner from India's political and financial big-wigs and victims get beaten-up and jailed for protesting (Bhopali victims have spent more time in jail than Keshub Mahindra and co.) Dow Chemical despite all its crimes is all set to sponsor a 7 million pounds wrap over the Olympic stadium in London next year. British Parliamentarians have shown the courage to question this decision, but there is not even an official protest lodged by the Indian Government on how it is acceptable that Dow sponsor a supposedly 'sustainable' Olympics, while arrogantly flouting the internationally accepted principle of "polluter pays". What's more, we continue to let 1000s of Bhopals continue to occur amidst us. Every norm-flouting industry that spews effluents in our rivers, every dam that is built on a foundation of lies and deceit, every falsehood uttered with regard to safety of a nuclear plant, every mountain that continues to be illegally mined, every forest dwelling community that gets evicted, every fishing hamlet that falls victim to coastal 'beautification' project, every malnourished child craving for food (in the case of India, it is more than 50% of its children) represents a Bhopal that we let happen. And as long as I close my eyes and ears about it, as long as I refuse to become aware about them, as long as I do not talk about it and live within my comforts (which is coming at the cost of so many disasters), I continue to fail Bhopal, we all continue to fail Bhopal. Let us remember Bhopal and contribute meaningfully to the struggle for justice that has been peacefully happening for the past 27 years, and importantly let us be aware of a Bhopal around us. Read: http://www.evb.ch/cm_data/public/Panelprgnochur.pdf Sign: https://www.change.org/petitions/locog-should-drop-dow-chemical- as-partners-of-london-2012-olympic-games-and-providers-of-th e-olympic-stadium-wrap Remember Bhopal: www.bhopal.net Warm regards, Rohit -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB.
