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January 19, 2007
The dog pissed, Tata started whining
Tata PR department, January 18, 2006
"There seems to be considerable misalignment and misunderstanding," whines Tata's PR machine.
No, Mr Tata, on the contrary, we understand perfectly what your game is, and the only misalignment we can find is your misjudged and foolish alliance with Dow Chemical.
Clearly you want to get into joint ventures with Dow that will make you even richer than you already are. But Dow is a pariah company, whose Indian assets may one day be seized if it does not learn to behave itself better. So you step in with this disingenuous offer to start a clean up fund to which "like-minded corporates" can contribute. You say your initiative is "totally independent" of issues before the Court, but you know that this is garbage. Either you have a feeble knowledge of law, unlikely since you employ cohorts of highly paid lawyers, or you are trying to exploit the public's lack of legal knowledge.
Let us enlighten you (watching journalists please take note):
A Government-sponsored clean up could, theoretically, recover costs from the polluter - Union Carbide Corporation/Dow Chemical, but a charitable clean-up cannot be turned into liability for another. A charitable remediation fund is a donation, which is impossible to recover from a third-party. In short, Dow/Union Carbide would be off the hook.
You have also missed the fundamental point that the contamination from Union Carbide's factory has already badly damaged hundreds of children, for whom any clean up is too late. They will need help for the rest of their lives. But your proposal makes no reference whatsoever to the provision of medical care, rehabilitation and compensation, which are inextricably linked to the issue of polluter liability. If your proposal were to go ahead, it would free you and your American chums to go off happily and make billions while their Bhopali victims continue to suffer without help.
Mr Tata, you are descended from a long line of trader-brigands who aided the British in their opium dealing and have always worshipped eagerly at the shrine of Mammon. Your company today is implicated in deep human misery, contamination and violence in a dozen sites all over India. Go and clean up your own filthy messes. And next time you interpret the rumblings of your overfed gut as a hunger to help humanity, try an Alka Seltzer.
Posted by bhola at 09:59 AM | Comments (0)
Bhopal vaasiyon ke hit mein diya tha sujhaav
Raj Express, Bhopal, January 18, 2006
Posted by bhola at 09:50 AM | Comments (0)
Tata offer on Dow draws protest
Chemweek, January 18, 2007
Bhopal - Organizations working for the survivors of the December 1984 Union Carbide gas leak in Bhopal strongly condemned the offer by the Tata Group, which also owns Tata Chemicals (Mumbai), to lead an effort to pay for the clean up Union Carbide's toxic waste in Bhopal as a way to clear the path for Dow Chemical investments in India. The organizations emphasized that Dow took over the environmental liabilities of Bhopal when it became the 100% owner of Union Carbide in 2001, and they believe that Dow must pay for the clean up in Bhopal. The organizations have appealed to Bhopal survivors to boycott Tata's products as a mark of protest, and will soon launch a similar national boycott campaign.
Posted by bhola at 09:48 AM | Comments (0)
January 18, 2007
"Pissing dog" leads the boycott as shopkeepers throw out stocks of Tata tea ad salt
Bhopal, January 17, 2006
I hope Ratan Tata reads bhopal.net, for these pictures will tell him exactly what the locals think of his move to let Dow Chemical off the Bhopal hook.
Tata stands to make billions of dollars out of joint ventures with Dow - but Dow is uneasy about investing in India while the Bhopal mess remains unresolved - it is not impossible that all Dow's Indian assets may be seized to pay for the clean up of the foul mess left by its subsidiary Union Carbide.
Dow says it is being unfairly blamed for the continuing pollution, but nobody asked it to buy Union Carbide, thereby acquiring that company's liabilities as well as its assets. Probably Dow thought that as Carbide had got away with thumbing its nose at Indian authority, and given the notorious corruption in Indian politics, it would have no problems. It climbed onto the hook of Bhopal all by itself and now it cannot get off.
Enter Ratan Tata with the brilliant idea of setting up a general fund to clean the Bhopal factory. Dow could make a contribution, reap the PR benefits and claim that it had done its bit. Tata is amazed that the Bhopalis aren't licking his boots in gratitude.
The people in the pictures below are the same people who walked 500 miles to Delhi to ask the government to make Dow clean up the factory. They want a proper clean-up, to the highest international standards. They also want proper medical care for those made ill by the poisoned water. A recent study by the Chingari Trust revealed extraordinarily high incidence of birth defects and brain damage in the affected communities. The survivors want research into the long term effects of the mass poisoning and commensurate medical provision for as long as it is needed. They want a rehabilitation scheme for those left unable to work, and lastly they want fair compensation.
Tata's proposal addresses none of these points. It does not acknowledge the survivors' own voice in the matter. It's malik talking to malik as usual, not realising that the world has changed. The Bhopalis say to Tata, first clean up your own messes, undo the damage you have done in the Gulf of Kutch, Mithapur in Gujarat, Patancheru in Andhra, Jamshedpur and Bokaro River in Jharkhand, Sukinda in Orissa and many other places.
Tata's ploy is the latest in a long line of failed attempts to prevent the Bhopal survivors from getting justice.
We piss on it.
A young, vocal protester at the front of the march.
Same young marcher continues to be a vocal participant.
Another young protester, with a few words for Tata's benefactor, Dow Chemical.
The protesters get fired up as the dog takes aim.
The dog takes an encore.
Shahzadi Bee and friend doing their bit.
A shopkeeper dumps some of his Tata tea products into the soiled Tata bag.
The rally gradually worked its way through the gas-affected districts.
Good energy from the leading man (front, left) and Vikas, too.
Shahzadi Bee and Vikas at the front of the rally.
Another store owner disposes of three Tata tea packets.
The dog hits the mark.
Shahzadi leading the chant.
A shopkeeper dumps his stock of Tata tea.
Another store throws away their Tata salt.
The crowd was thick, the dog progressed through Bhopal amid a forest of signs condemning Tata.
In front of Tata signage on Chhola Road.
A shop keeper tears off a Tata packet for disposal.
Then, he signs a pledge not to sell Tata products.
Another unceremonious disposal of Tata tea, this time appropriately in front of an old Tata pay phone.
This shopkeeper reads the entire pledge...
...before signing it.
Posted by bhola at 08:06 AM | Comments (0)
January 13, 2007
Pictures from the protest at Tata Indicom
Posted by bhola at 07:14 PM | Comments (0)
Video of the protest at Tata Indicom, Bhopal
Posted by bhola at 07:05 PM | Comments (0)
January 11, 2007
Gas Survivors hold protest at Tata Indicom office
Hindustan Times, Bhopal, January 10, 2007
More than 200 survivors of the gas disaster on Wednesday held a demonstration at the local corporate office of Tata Indicom to protest against chairman, Tata Group, Ratan Tata's reported offer to clean up Union Carbide's Bhopal plant on behalf of Dow Chemicals.
Describing Ratan Tata's offer as an attempt to clear the path for Dow-Union Carbide's investment plans in India, leaders of the gas victims accused Ratan Tata of causing damage to people and environment of India by facilitating the expansion of American multinational Dow Chemicals in the country
They emphasized that as 100% owner of Union Carbide, Dow Chemical USA is liable for the environmental and health damages in Bhopal. They said that according to the "polluter pays principle" which is valid both in USA and India Dow/Union Carbide must pay for the clean up in Bhopal. They charged Ratan Tata with helping Dow Chemical escape the liabilities of the ongoing disaster in Bhopal.
They accussed Ratan Tata of helping Dow Chemicals escape the liabilities of the ongoing disaster in Bhopal.
Leaders of the NGOs said Ratan Tata should first clean up the environmental damage caused by Tata group of companies in Sukhinda, Orissa, Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, Mithapur, Gujarat, Jamshedpur, and West Bokaro in Jharkhand and other places in the country before attempting to clean up Bhopal.
The demonstration was organised by a group of four NGOs including Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationary Karmachari Sangh, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha, Bhopal Ki Aawaaz, and Bhopal Group for Information & Action
Posted by bhola at 06:22 PM | Comments (0)
January 10, 2007
Bhopal survivors demonstrate against Tata's attempt to help Dow evade its liabilities: renew call for boycott of Tata salt and tea
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
Bhopal Ki Aawaaz
PRESS STATEMENT - JANUARY 10, 2007
More than 200 survivors of the December 1984 Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal today demonstrated before the local corporate office of Tata Indicom against Chairman Tata Group, Ratan Tata's offer to clear the path for Dow-Union Carbide's investments in India.
The demonstrators under the leadership of four survivors organisations : Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha, Bhopal Group for Information and Action and Bhopal ki Aawaaz, accused Ratan Tata of causing damage to the people and environment of India by facilitating the expansion of American multinational Dow Chemical in this country.
The leaders emphasised that as 100 % owner of Union Carbide, Dow Chemical USA is liable for the environmental and health damages in Bhopal. They said that according to the “polluter pays principle” which is valid both in USA and India Dow/Union Carbide must pay for the clean up in Bhopal. They charged Ratan Tata with helping Dow Chemical escape the liabilities of the ongoing disaster in Bhopal.
The leaders of the organisations said that Ratan Tata should first clean up the environmental damage caused by Tata group of companies in Sukhinda, Orissa, Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, Mithapur, Gujarat, Jamshedpur, and West Bokaro in Jharkhand and other places in the country before attempting to clean up Bhopal.
The demonstrators distributed pamphlets condemning the collusion between the Tata Group and Dow Chemical and urging the gas affected people to boycott Tata’s salt and tea.
Rashida Bi, Champa Devi Shukla
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh
93031 32959
Syed M Irfan,
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha
93290 26319
Shahid Noor
Bhopal ki Aawaaz
98261 82226
Rachna Dhingra, Satinath Sarangi,
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
98261 67369
Contact : House No. 60, Near Cold Storage, Union Carbide Road, Chhola, Bhopal
Please continue to visit www.bhopal.net for more information on the campaign for justice in Bhopal
Posted by bhola at 06:08 PM | Comments (0)
January 04, 2007
Bhopal survivors demonstrate against Tata's attempt to help Dow evade its liabilities: renew call for boycott of Tata salt and tea
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
Bhopal ki Aawaaz
January 3, 2007
Press Statement
Addressing a press conference today leaders of four organizations of survivors of the December 1984 Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal strongly condemned Chairman Tata Group Ratan Tata's offer to clear the path for Dow-Union Carbide's investments in India by leading an effort to pay for and clean up Union Carbide's toxic waste in Bhopal.
Displaying a poster of Ratan Tata with a garland of shoes around his neck they called the industrialist an anti-national element who was causing damage to the people and environment by facilitating the expansion of American multinational Dow Chemical in this country. The leaders appealed to Bhopal survivors to boycott Tata's salt as a mark of protest, and have launched a national boycott campaign.
The leaders emphasized that Dow Chemical took over the environmental liabilities of Bhopal when it became the 100 % owner of Union Carbide in 2001. They said that according to the "polluter pays principle" which is valid both in USA and India Dow/Union Carbide must pay for the clean up in Bhopal.
According to the leaders, the Tata family had helped the East India Company in smuggling opium to China, had functioned as the commissariat for the invasion of Ethiopia by the British army and had named its textile factory in Nagpur "Empress Mills" in honour of Queen Victoria. The Bhopal leaders see Ratan Tata following the footsteps of his ancestors in the Tata family and serving imperialist interests in his role as the Co-Chairman of the US India CEO Forum.
The survivors' leaders stated that the head of the Tata family, JRD Tata had condemned the arrest of Warren Anderson, Chairman of Union Carbide in 1984 and demanded that Ratan Tata apologize to the people of Bhopal for this treachery by the Tata family.
Pointing out the links between Tata and Union Carbide, the leaders stated that Keshub Mahindra who is accused as Chairman of the Indian subsidiary of Union Carbide was also the Director of several Tata companies in 1984. David Good, former Director of the South Asian Bureau in the State Department of the US government and the official who denied Anderson's extradition to India is now Head of the Tata Corporate office in USA.
The leaders described the environmental destruction wrought by Tatas in different parts of the country. They pointed out that the Comptroller and Auditor General of India had singled out Tata's Chromite mines in Sukhinda, Orissa for causing widespread pollution and health damage. Similarly the Supreme Court appointed Monitoring Committee on Hazardous Wastes has passed strong comments against waste disposal by Rallis – a Tata company in Patancheru near Hyderabad.
In Mithapur Gujarat, Tata's factories have contaminated ground water and destroyed agriculture in villages such as Arambada, Bheemrana, Lalapur, Surajkaradi and Padli. In Jamshedpur, where Tata's run a steel plant, thousands of tonnes of boiler ash containing lethal heavy metals are dumped in the middle of the city at Jugsalai. Tata's collieries at West Bokaro in Jharkhand are responsible for the irreparable damage caused to the Bokaro river.
In the Gulf of Kutch, Tata Chemicals is currently facing two cases in the Supreme Court of India for open drainage and pipe line through a reserve forest and a sanctuary. The leaders asked Ratan Tata to first clean his own backyard before attempting to clean up Bhopal.
Rashida Bi, Champa Devi Shukla
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh
93031 32959
Syed M Irfan,
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha
93290 26319
Shahid Noor
Bhopal ki Aawaaz
98261 82226
Rachna Dhingra, Satinath Sarangi,
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
98261 67369
Contact : House No. 60, Near Cold Storage, Union Carbide Road, Chhola, Bhopal
Please visit www.bhopal.net for more information on the campaign for justice in Bhopal
Posted by bhola at 06:06 PM | Comments (0)