The Bhopal Disaster 25 Years Later: Still Suffering As A Result of Corporate Greed and Indifference

Today marks the 25th anniversary of one of the worst industrial disasters of the 20th Century. Shortly after midnight on December 3rd, 1984 in the city of Bhopal, India, tons of lethal gases leaked from a pesticide factory run by the American company Union Carbide. Clouds of suffocating gases blanketed the city. Residents awoke with throats burning and tears streaming. The gases produced so much fluid in people's lungs that many drowned in their own body fluids. Between 8,000 to 10,000 people lost their lives within days. Thousands more died in the following years. Over 150,000 are still suffering chronic and debilitating illnesses. A new report released this week by the Bhopal Medical Appeal and a local clinic has found that there are still high levels of toxic chemicals in the drinking water supply in 15 communities near the old plant.

Workers' warnings of lax safety precautions, worn and non-functioning valves, rusting and leaking pipes and storage facilities and ill-designed equipment were totally disregarded. Observance of required safety measures was non-existent.

Within days of the accident the company's US president of Indian operations Warren Anderson fled the country --- he has never returned.

Moreover, at the beginning of the 21st century-some two decades after the chemical leak-more than 400 tons of industrial waste was still present on the site. Neither Dow Chemical Company, which bought out the Union Carbide Corporation in 2001, nor the Indian government, had properly cleaned the site. Soil and water contamination in the area was blamed for chronic health problems and high instances of birth defects in the area's inhabitants. In 2004 the Indian Supreme Court ordered the state to supply clean drinking water to the residents of Bhopal because of groundwater contamination.

Last week, Indian authorities decided against reopening the plant. They had announced they would open the factory to prove it no longer poses a threat to public safety but reversed the decision in the face of protests.

In August, an Indian court reissued an arrest warrant for the former CEO of Union Carbide, Warren Anderson. The court urged the Indian government to seek his extradition from the United States. In 2001, Union Carbide was bought out by US multinational Dow Chemical. The company has refused to clean up the spreading water contamination from the abandoned plant.

NGOs around the world have fought continuously for the rights of the gas victims, who have received little or no compensation. The US courts ordered Union Carbide to settle all claims with a one-off payment of $470 million in final settlement (a pitiful small amount considering the great number of people it had to be divided amongst) --- it came to $500 for life-long injuries or ailments and $2000 for a death in the family.

Today, to mark the 25th anniversary of the Bhopal disaster, supporters around the world will be participating in an International Day of Action, including mass rallies, "die-ins", candle-lit vigils, protests and more.

No matter what protests or rallies take place, until Dow Chemical is, not only by the Indian government but the U.S. government as well, compelled to act in a more environmental responsible and humane fashion; until those who are responsible for this ongoing tragedy (such as Warren Anderson) are called to account, then there will be no justice or much of a future for the citizens of Bhopal.

References:

1. " Bhopal disaster . " Encyclopedia Britannica. 2009. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 03 Dec. 2009
    
2. "The Bhopal disaster - 25 years on." Morning Star Online . 02 December 2009
    
3. "Bhopal Disaster." Wikipedia . 2009. Wikipedia. 03 Dec. 2009
4. "India: Bhopal disaster lingers, 25 years later." Christian Science Monitor . 03 December 2009