On the night of 2-3 December 1984, following a release of a toxic gas in a poor, crowded Indian city, 7-10,000 people died in the first 3 days (figures are disputed) and 100s of 1000s suffer life-long disabling conditions.
Toxic waste continues to leak from the site and spread, contamination now reaching the soil and drinking water of over 40 communities.
There has still not been adequate justice – either criminal or civil – and no one has taken responsibility for cleaning up the site to a satisfactory standard.
The current owners of Union Carbide, responsible for the factory at the time of the leak, are monolith chemical company Dow-DuPont. They plan to break Union Carbide, potentially putting it out of reach of justice.
This disaster could have been avoided. Trade unions at the factory, and local community campaigners, had been highlighting the safety risks for years and had been met by denial and intimidation from the company.
If Dow-DuPont escape accountability, this will send a message to other global corporations that they can disregard life and environment in their operations, in particular in poor communities and countries.
We need to join the courageous fight of the survivors of Bhopal for justice for all victims of toxic globalisation and for a system of global regulation that places protection of human life and environment at its centre.
Trade Union Friends of Bhopal (Bhopal Saathi) ask you to help in their aims of raising awareness and building solidarity with the survivors of the Bhopal disaster in their fight for justice.
Contact details: Sara Marsden, TUFB Coordinator
Phone: 07512-227924
Email: TUFriendsBhopal@gmail.com
Twitter: @TUFriendsBhopal
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TUFriendsBhopal/
Website: tufriendsbhopal.wordpress.com