20 years after Bhopal

Campaigners in India and worldwide have been making plans for a concerted effort to mark the 20th anniversary of the methyl isocyanate gas leak from a Union Carbide (UC) pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, on 3 December 1984.

’Today, two generations of survivors continue to suffer the grave consequences, yet UC and Dow Chemical have not been held accountable for the gas leak and its deadly legacy,’ reads a statement from Greenpeace, which reports that the disaster was responsible for the death of 20 000 people.

Greenpeace is urging US citizens to lobby senators and representatives to support a resolution on Bhopal sponsored by New Jersey congressman Frank Pallone. Pallone introduced legislation in the US House of Representatives in September marking the 20th anniversary and expressing Congress’ commitment to working with the government of India to ensure UC is held accountable.

’The Bhopal disaster is widely regarded as the worst peacetime environmental catastrophe in world history,’ said Pallone in a speech on the House floor. ’This important resolution expresses our commitment to work with the Indian government and others to ensure that UC provides environmental and medical rehabilitation in Bhopal and is held responsible for its actions.’

The International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal (ICJB) has posted details of UC/Dow facilities worldwide encouraging people to campaign on the company’s doorsteps to mark the anniversary (www.bhopal.net). UC is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Dow Chemical.

Dow acquired UC’s shares 16 years after the tragedy, says company representative Scot Wheeler: ’Ten years after UC’s legal settlement was affirmed by the Indian Supreme Court,’ Wheeler told Chemistry World.

But more than 90 per cent of Bhopal’s compensation claimants have been paid less than Rs25 000 (?300) as compensation for personal injuries, according to the ICJB, of which nearly Rs10 000 (?120) has been routinely deducted against interim monetary relief paid by the government from 1990. Funds do not cover half the recent medical expenses let alone provide for the future, say ICJB officials.

The global day of action is a recurring event for which both Dow and UC are prepared. ’While they may be well meaning, their focus is misplaced as Dow never owned nor operated the site,’ reiterated Wheeler.

But the response is similar at UC, which was responsible for the site. ’We have had discussions through the years with representatives of the various groups, both at the corporate and at the local levels, and, in general, have usually "agreed to disagree",’ said Tomm Sprick, senior communications issues manager at UC.

Bhopal was a tragedy that will never be forgotten by anyone in the industry, says Dow’s Wheeler. ’We have all learned from Bhopal and have clearly elevated the industry through actions such as community outreach and improved process safety standards.’

Bea Perks