I want to pause in the midst of the much needed debate about climate change solutions, as I do every December 2nd -3rd to remember Bhopal.
Last night was the 25th anniversary of the disaster in Bhopal, India, where a Union Carbide pesticide plant released 27 tons of toxic chemical into a crowded sleeping city, killing 8,000 immediately and injuring over a half a million people. It is widely recognized as the world’s biggest industrial chemical accident ever.
I’ve been to Bhopal, where survivors told me stories of waking in the night, feeling a fierce burning in their eyes and throat. First some thought neighbors were burning chilies. Others thought the day of reckoning had come. In the middle of the night, thousands started running. People were trampled, children lost, thousands injured and killed.
The disaster started that night 25 years ago and it continues to this day:
Unbelievably, after 25 years, the company still refuses to share its information on the toxic health impacts of the leaked gas, calling it a “trade secret,” thwarting efforts to provide medical care to victims of exposure. The abandoned Union Carbide factory, now owned by Dow Chemical, still sits there, leaking hazardous chemicals and waste left behind in the aftermath of the disaster, poisoning the next generation of Bhopalis.
Yesterday, as on every anniversary, the gas survivors marched in Bhopal demanding health care, clean water, justice and an end to the toxics-based industrial production model in widespread use today.
The survivors aren’t just asking for environmental health and justice for their community but for every community. Their slogan – No More Bhopals – means no more Bhopals there or anywhere. No more toxic chemical poisoning. No more writing off whole communities as disposable. No more sacrificing people and the planet for business as usual.
As Bhopal survivor Rashida Bee said: “We are not expendable. We are not flowers offered at the altar of profit and power. We are dancing flames committed to conquering darkness and to challenging those who threaten the planet and the magic and mystery of life.”
So today I pause, remember and renew my resolve to keep working towards a world with No More Bhopals.
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December 4th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Well this is great students for Bhopal is organizing a 25th Anniversary Day of Action. They are doing this by spreading the word through Face book or Twitter. People in Bhopal are remembering the day of gas tragedy and set a torch rally from one landmark for victims of the gas tragedy.
December 5th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
This is horrifying but Big Corp keeps getting away with this psychopathic behaviour. Unaccountable. Unconscionable.
December 6th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Hi Annie, I talked to you as we walked across to Cornerstone at Colorado College after your lecture, and you recommended a great small book about social movements. I can’t remember the title or author. Do you remember? Thanks for coming and speaking it was great!
-Alex
December 7th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
This was a horrifying incident. An entire generation has suffered because of this gas leak. The babies born here after the incident to couples of Bhopal who were present during the leak continue to suffer. But the culprit company still remains unpunished. This is an example of how big companies can ‘manage’ without getting caught for their wrongs.
December 7th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
And now Union Carbide i called??? Dow Chemical….and do they care about Bhopal or anything else other than making money for themselves, and maybe for stock holders, but more for themselves and their families, not seven generations from now, buh now only.
What are they thinking? Don’t they know by now that we are them and they are we and we re all together we really are one. But, this of course is preaching to the choir.
December 8th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Hi Annie,
Im from India and it sickens me to see that a company will not help its own local population, I remember studying about the Bhopal Accident in middle school back home, but the extent to which these bastards have done nothing to help the local people out is distusging.
But, unfortunately some of these old companies back home only ever learn when its too late. May their memory be cherished and inspire people to make other such companies realise, and be a catalyst of change!
NO MORE BHOPALS!!
- Geet
December 13th, 2009 at 12:49 am
NO MORE BHOPALS!!
December 13th, 2009 at 7:39 am
Hi Annie,
I’m came from China,and I am a college student.
My teacher asked us to browse this web.I happened to see your words.I’m really shocked by this accident.It’s unbelievable,and I agree with your idea,”NO MORE BHOPALS!”
Best Wishes to all of you.
December 17th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Hey!
I’m Akash (12 years old) and I run an kid-only organization called Kids for a Better Future (www.kidsforabetterfuture.org) Last year we supported Bhopali children. On December 3rd, we held a protest at Dow’s office in NYC. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDZOCjrdLk4)
Just wanted to say that Bhopal has not been forgotten, and Bhopali’s WILL have justice – but only if we all pitch in and help. If people are willing to help, they should get involved – Kids for a Better Future is actually now supporting homeless in NYC, but there are many organizations working for Bhopali rights.
The International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal (www.bhopal.net) is the main place for activism. Also, the Sambhavna Clinic (I’ve personally stayed and volunteered there) is a hospital in Bhopal that gives free healthcare to all affected by the disaster – go to http://www.bhopal.org to see more about them.
For Bhopal!
-Akash
December 22nd, 2009 at 12:50 pm
My grandma lives in Bhopal. I wish I was there to help fight. One day this could happen to the whole entire world……soon enough our whole body will be made out of toxins! What kind of maniac stupid chemical carefree people are they!?!?!?!
December 25th, 2009 at 5:16 am
I am one of the eye witness of that horrifying incident, was very young at that time but still i remember every moment of it.
The choas on the street, people crying,running with no idea what was happening..it was terrifying !!
Entire families killed, the scene was more like a chemical war zone.Homes had to be broken in to take out bodies.
Why was such a chemical company even allowed to setup factory in the middle of the city?
Still a long way for Bhopalis to get justice..
“NO MORE BHOPALS”
December 30th, 2009 at 7:55 am
So many stories of big industry destroying lives and damaging local flora and fauna. I never knew about the Bhopal story before, I’d heard of Chernobyl, but not this one. It is a touching thing to remember it every year and also to share it with others.
I realise the irony of suggesting this but couldn’t we use a tool like Facebook to make a pledge every year to further this story into the minds of others and also promote social justice in other areas of need.
Thanks for the story. I think I shall make a personal commitment to remembering this every year too.
January 5th, 2010 at 6:25 am
We are not alone, we are not weak – get it and don’t forget it. Go on the streets, raise your voice – no one will stop you – be brave. The 5% on the top can’t best us. Also visit the ‘zeitgeist movement’ and learn more about the possible future and the broken system. And protect the i-net – it’s our voice and instrument
January 7th, 2010 at 6:55 am
hii annie,
im a chemical engg student at BITS PILANI,RAJASTHAN ,INDIA.i watched your video and feel that it is my duty to save our planet in any way possible..
i will be happy to offer any assistance u need in ur effort..
yours faithfully…
January 11th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
u know what … this earth is a slow bhopal itself ..the way things are going !
January 13th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
I read about the events at Bhopal many years back . I can’t believe its already been 25 years.
January 27th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Does the ownership at the guilty power plant have a right to turn it’s back on these innocent people who lost loved ones and friends in this tragic incident? I think yes. 01/27/10 11:59 am
January 27th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
These people deserve better treatment than this for their misfortunes.
February 2nd, 2010 at 7:47 pm
What a horrible tragedy. I hate that people poison this world with chemicals just so they can make an easy dollar. My prayers go out to these beautiful survivors.
February 25th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Uh-huh. The EXACT SAME thing is happening out there is Ecuador, Peru: This big company, whose name I’ve thankfully forgotten, has been dumping toxic wastewater and oil, and the cancers, birth defects, infections and birds covered in oil is so bad that experts are calling it ‘an Amazonian Chernobyl’
February 25th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
PS- Muslims are NOT terrorists. That’s just something President Bush made up so that he could wage war on us and so that Americans wouldn’t have to take the blame for 9/11. Spread this message and god (Allah) will bless you forever.
And I mean it!
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:45 pm
Hoje meditava sobre a vida, não a vida pessoal, porém da raça humana. Particularmente acredito na possibilidade de um mundo onde o importante sejam as pessoas, em que as novas relações com o meio ambiente sejam consideradas não apenas as nossas necessidades, também da natureza, Para que esse mundo seja possível Bhopal deve ser lembrado todos os dias, não só Bhopal, também as Guerras do Paraguai, do Vietnã, os crimes ambientais no Brasil, mas sobretudo que a ganância capitalista está conduzindo a raça humana e a vida no planeta a extinção. Para preservar a vida no planeta, é fundamental a substituição do modelo de produção capitalista.
Gostaria também de cumprimentar aos companheiros da Story of Stuff pelo vídeo História das Coisas, uma grande contribuição para compreensão do funcionamento do sistema. Parabéns.
March 4th, 2010 at 8:44 am
Can we cut to the chase here? US$470 million was paid in settlement, and very little was paid out to victims. Nothing has been cleaned up. Zip, nada.
(That is aside from the likelihood of sabotage that caused the incident in the first place.)
So if you want to bash folks, start with India that wants yet more money for clean-up, with no intention of cleaning up anything, just pocketing the money.
Which is why no one in the US is going to throw any more money at this tragedy for any reason. Sort of like Haiti. After the earthquake, the Haitian leaders wanted cash given to them directly. The relief agencies wisely directed the relief operations themselves, knowing that was the only way any relief was going to the people.
Any questions?
March 4th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Yeah, “oracle2world”, I have a question–two, in fact. How do you sleep at night and do you have a conscience?
“…bash folks, start with India…”?! I hope an industrial plant with toxic chemicals never pops up close to you because no one will, nor should have, any sympathy for you if another Bhopal happens, God forbid.
Yes, I’m sure India is to blame for the American company (that has since rebranded and renamed itself after Bhopal) that killed 8,000 people and maimed thousands. And you’re right, it’s totally unjustifiable for a nation to try and take on a corporation so large (not to mention far away) that no members of its society could possibly find the resources, especially financially, to fight and stand up for themselves. AND, even if sabotage were a factor, I still would have nothing but sympathy for people who take the only action possible to act out against someone polluting and literally killing their community.
American companies have time and time again taken advantage of weaker labor laws, less stringent environmental protection regulations, and any other factor (nationally or internationally) that cuts costs to increase their margins and maximize profits. Bhopal was no different. Land was dirt cheap. Since India hadn’t evolved industrially to the point of having large, chemical plants of its own releasing toxins, there were no emissions regulations. Union Carbide railroaded the local government and persuaded with the power of cash to acquire the land to build the plant. They profited while people around them were getting sick to a crippling degree even BEFORE the accident. Any how to the apologize? What were the reparations? An insufficient amount of money that didn’t even seem like a meaningful gesture.
I’m not saying America is evil, far from it. I’m not saying all companies are evil, though some might be. But large corporations of all nations are without conscience and too frequently without any governance. The only rules that apply to massive corporations are the rules of capitalism and their obligations to shareholders. In other words, the sole purpose of corporation is to maximize profits.
March 5th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
dear ONE*
In fact I lived next to an industrial toxic waste site, until it burned down. (Folks were evacuated, etc.)
But I digress.
India didn’t have any problem building its nuclear arsenal (arguably the gold-standard for engineering). So it is not like India is short of talent for operating an unremarkable chemical plant.
And don’t assume American ideals apply to India’s indigenous culture. India doesn’t value human life like we do, and nepotism (favoritism granted to relatives or friends, without regard to merit) is their standard business practice.
Now I will stipulate that Union Carbide screwed up in spades. Starting with a synthetic route that was cheap but more dangerous than existing processes. And continued through no inspection of the plant and noticing all the safety systems were broken. And ending with not shutting the plant down when it was abundently clear the operators were completely incompetent.
But all that is happening now is that India wants to shake down the US for more money. No talk of America cleaning up the site. Just give us the money, and hope no one notices we are not going to clean up anything with it.
On the other hand, Bhopal led to EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory, that did wonders for cleaning up OUR environment.
You know, you have to look for the good in everything.
March 10th, 2010 at 1:52 am
Third world countries are Third world countries because the people living there are the scum of the earth. Thet deserve no sympathy. Their countries whether it is India, or another African nation, are among the most naturally blessed places on earth.
But the people spend all their resources, energy, and money to destroy each other.
I once saw in India, a man hit by a careless truck driver. He was bleeding profusely. The truck driver did not stop his vehicle. The people around the accident, instead of trying to take the victim to a hospital, were trying to pick his pocket, and steal his watch. Some other drivers stopped to see the spectacle of a man bleeding to death. They did not want to help in transporting the man to a hospital. Practically everyone of the 100 strong crowd that gathered around the accident had a mobile phone, which they wouldn’t use to call an ambulance, or the Police, or inform the relatives of the victim. They said the Police would never respond to any call from an ordinary citizen, but only to powerful politicians who are no better than street scoundrels who came to power buying the votes from the public in exchange for hooch (illegally brewed intoxicating drink).
Normally, an industry using or producing hazardous substances are not allowed anywhere near any city or any populated areas. But these Indian mother seller politicians take bribes, from companies, and insist that they put up their factories close to the politician’s properties(so that they will benefit from the resulting appreciation of value of their properties)even if they are in cities or towns.
These Indians are a blot on humanity- a cancer who should be destroyed with poisonous gases or a big Tsunami, so that the rest of mankind will live peacefully, and without corruption.
US$470 million was paid in settlement by Union Carbide out of which ,not even 5% was given to the victims. Nothing has been cleaned up. All the money was pocketed by corrupt officials (whose children are studying abroad in United States ans Europe)
So if you want to bash folks, start with India that wants yet more money for clean-up, with no intention of cleaning up anything, just pocketing the money.
Which is why no one in the US is going to throw any more money at this tragedy for any reason.
Sort of like Haiti or Nigeria, which are other banana republis run by corrupt politicians. After the earthquake, the Haitian leaders wanted cash given to them directly. If they are given money, they would buy a knife, and stab the next person they see, to steal his purse.
March 11th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
25 yrs is an eye-opening anniversary. Several groups, international organizations, local governments, pretty much lots and lots of forces have “spoken” about it outright. A few things seem to have been done but really what difference has that made in these 25years. The anniversary comes to us as a cruel reminder of the blindfolded governance of big corporation and the immense amount of uncontrolled power these corporations have over the lives and livelihoods of people of developing nations like India and communities like Bhopal’s that was affect by this tragedy. Besides saying ALAS! I don’t feel that I have contributed to the well-being of that community at all in any sense and neither has any of these campaigns that claim to be raising awareness. Until the company accepts that it was their fault on their part, apologizes and compensates the community in every possible way, there is no real justice there. Imagine this happening in the US, who will let it go away? An incident of this magnitude in the US will incite billions and billions of dollars of compensation to those affected. But it happened in India, and people in Bhopal definitely don’t count as much as citizens of a developed nation — that is what I am reminded of by the 25th anniversary of this tragedy.
March 11th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
I was in India when it happened. I was about 100 Km from the site traveling in the middle of the night. I rememeber reading the Hindustan Times that next mornining. The reportage was understated to say the least. It was reported about 100 people died from a chemical leak. That it was under control as of the report. I can’t say how within the country Bhopal was almost a non-event, at least to those of us who only read the english language papers.
Pam