New Delhi, India, November 19, 2009
Thirty two years ago, on the night of December 2, 1984, the world’s worst industrial disaster took place.
The Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, released at least 30 tons of a highly toxic gas called methyl isocyanate, as well as a number of other poisonous gases and killed more than 15,000 people over the years. The Indian Government figures now refer to an estimate of 15,000 but in reality this figure is way higher. More than 600,000 people living in the surrounding area were exposed to the deadly gas clouds that night.
These gases stayed low to the ground, caused burning of victims’ throats and eyes, induced nausea, and many deaths on that night. Estimates of the death toll vary from as few as 3,800 to as many as 16,000 by the sources.
Toxic effects of the poisonous gases and material remain in these areas even after 30 years. Many of those who were exposed to the gas have given birth to physically and mentally disabled children.
The suffering, pain and frustration of innocent villagers are mounting. For decades, survivors have been asking to have the site cleaned up, but neither Indian nor the US government is taking responsibility in directing the accountable company to do its humanitarian work immediately instead listening to their business excuses.
They say the efforts were slowed when Michigan-based Dow Chemical took over Union Carbide in 2001.
How can anyone in the world appreciate a three decade long sluggishness of these companies in doing their most urgent work? How can the innocent villagers living in the remote rural areas approach this company to do justice for their insensitive act?
Human rights groups say that thousands of tons of hazardous waste remains buried underground and the government has accepted that the area is contaminated. If that is the case, then why there are no long-term epidemiological researches sponsored by with governments, companies, or universities in the world? These could conclusively prove whether birth defects in these areas are directly related to drinking of the contaminated water.
There are thousands of heartbreaking stories of Bhopal gas disaster survivors. The Association for India’s Development (AID) has decided to help and support the struggle of Bhopalis and make their voice and suffering heard in the US White House to find relief to their several decades long fight.
The Bhopal campaign is one of the many struggles that Association for India’s Development (AID) is supporting.
Up to now, survivors have been demanding that the US Corporations responsible (Union Carbide Corp. and its current owner Dow Chemical Co.) along with the Indian Government, readdress the issue by compensating the affected, cleaning up the premises, and providing reasonable medical care for the survivors. However, it has become clear that the US government too has played a role in hindering justice for the Bhopalis.
The US Department of Justice has been silently shielding the corporations responsible by blocking the court notices to Dow Chemical in relation to the pending criminal case against it. The next hearing for this case is on July 13.
AID is proud to stand with the Bhopalis in this historic effort to petition the White House to stop shielding Dow Chemical. When they reach the magic number of 100,000 signatures, the White House has to respond to the petition and take action in the case.
AID’s volunteers are requesting all the sensible people to join them in their effort to get justice. Their ‘sign the petition’ is available on the website at
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov//petition/uphold-international-law-stop-shielding-dow-chemical-accountability-corporate-crimes-bhopal-india.
Forward the link to your friends and family and post about it on your social media accounts.
NOTE: After you sign the petition, you will immediately receive an email from the White House asking you to verify your signature. Your signature will only be counted after you verify. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please make sure to check your spam folder.
In brief, AID is a volunteer movement supporting just, equitable and sustainable development in India. AID is a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt organization with tax ID 04-3652609. AID supports grassroots
organizations in India and initiates efforts in various interconnected spheres such as agriculture, energy, education, health, livelihoods, natural resources, social justice and women’s empowerment.
