Upon hearing the news, Bhopal erupted into its now customary wild dancing. Here are the photos...

August 1st:
Last night a large number of policemen went to individual houses in Shinde-Vasuli village and broke down doors in over 20 houses. Fearing harassment by police, many villagers have left the village. The list of persons charged by the police now includes an additional 20 who are missing from the village. 44 persons are thus charged with committing dacoity (punishable by 10 year jail sentence), causing damage to property (punishable by 2 year jail sentence), causing damage by fire (punishable by 7 years imprisonment), destruction of building by fire and/or explosive substance (punishable by 10 years jail sentence). While there is significant police presence in a large area, Shinde-Vasuli has been specially targetted. According to residents the police aim to terrorize people into submission on the issue of the construction of the Dow R&D lab in this village.

July 29th:
There are still 14 villagers imprisoned and charged with serious criminal offenses despite the fact that Banda Tatya Maharaj Karadkar and his followers have accepted full responsibility and took pains to video tape themselves taking responsibility during the attack itself. These villagers are being scapegoated because the government dares not go after the Warkaris. Please call the following numbers at any hour to request the release of the villagers who are clearly falsely charged:

Collector of Pune Mr. Dalvi
Residence No. +91-20-26361817 / 26362828
Office No.+91-20-26114949

Superintendent's mobile: +91-9423116999 

1)      The villagers are clearly not responsible for the fire and property destruction at the Dow site in Chakan, the Warkaris have taken full responsibility. This is a glaring example of scapegoating and miscarriage of justice. Release the villagers immediately.

2)      Your thoughts on Dow's right to build in Chakan given its refusal to respect Indian law and widespread local opposition.

July 26th:
The entire area - including the surrounding villages - has been cordoned off by a huge police force. Yesterday afternoon and post midnight the police arrested 16 villagers (who were not part of the warkaris who caused damage at the construction site) under charges of dacoity and arson. Top police officials - who have been recently transferred to Pune (replacing at least one sympathetic official) - are determined to crush the opposition.

July 25th, Shinde near Pune:

Please take action immediately to help get the Shinde villages released and protect them from almost certain physical abuse.

The warkaris, under the leadership of Banda Tatya Maharaj Karadkar, have destroyed the construction site of the notorious Dow Chemical at Shinde.

The construction site of Dow's planned R&D centre near Pune on Friday

Since then, four arrested villagers have not been released, instead more arrests are made. The authorities do not have the courage to arrest the Warkaris, who are the major sect propagating the egalitarian and progressive bhakti movement in Maharashtra.

Call now!

Collector of Pune Mr. Dalvi, residence: +91-20-26361817 / 26362828

Office: +91-20-26114949

Superintendent's mobile: +91-9423116999

Call around the clock! Talking points:

1) I am very concerned that the rights of the villagers are being violated; for what reason have they been arrested? Have they been charged with anything?

2) The villagers must be well treated, if any harm comes to them there will be international outrage. If they are held without having committed any crime, or required to pay exorbitant sums in order to be released from jail, there will also be international outrage.

3) Please release the villagers you have arrested unless you can provide some evidence that they are guilty of some crime.

CONDEMN THE MAHARASHTRA GOVT'S COWARDLY HARRASSMENT OF INNOCENT VILLAGERS

Friends,

The Warkaris, under the leadership of Banda Tatya Maharaj Karadkar, destroyed the construction site of the notorious Dow Chemicals at Shinde.

After the destruction of the construction site by the warkaris, the police have now unleashed terror on the common villagers who have been fighting against Dow Chemical peacefully and non-violently. The latest information is that the Police have now surrounded the village and have laid nakabandi to all the roads going towards Shinde at Vasuli phata, Sadumbre, Shindegaon-Mindewadi, Koregaon phata, Varale. The police have launched a combing operation in the village and have started arresting innocent activists and villagers.

They have arrested Madhusudan Patil Maharaj, President of Bhamchandra Dongar Bachao Warkari Shetkari Sangharsh Samiti. He had just returned from Pandharpur. Up till now the police have arrested Gorakshnath Panmand, Pandit Panmand, Rajaram Panmand, Mauli Temgire, Appa Matale, Shantaram Panmand, Shantaram Baban, Sham Hari Panmand, Shivnath Panmand and Banda Tatya Maharaj Karadkar, one of the prominent leaders and revered Kirtankar of Warkari. Sampradaya bravely took the initiative and led his followers and warkaris to destroy the construction site of the notorious Dow Chemicals and he publicly took the responsibility and has challenged the authorities to stop the warkaris from destroying the construction site of the proposed plant of Dow Chemicals. The warkaris of entire Maharashtra are now determined to throw Dow Chemicals out of their sacred land of Sant Tukaram Maharaj and Sant Dnyaneshwar of the Bhakti Movement.

The government authorities, who have no courage to oppose either their American masters' pet project of the notorious US multinational Dow Chemical or the Warkaris of Maharashtra - who carry strong resentment against the notorious Dow Chemicals - are instead unleashing reign of terror on the common villagers of the Shinde and surrounding villages.

We strongly condemn Government's cowardly act and demand that the innocent villagers should be immediately released.

Shashi Sonawane

National Convenor - Yuva Bharat

Representatives of 44 organisations from 15 different countries who came together for a Climate Justice Conference at Bangkok endorsed a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India asking him to take immediate action on the Bhopal issue. The endorsed memorandum was given to the Indian Embassy in Thailand this morning.

Six of us left to the Indian Embassy from the Hotel around 10.30 in the morning. It happened to be more like a youth delegation and there were representatives from China, Phillipines, India and Indonesia. We reached the embassy and asked to meet the Ambassador. Though the people in the reception called an official, they kept asking us what the letter was about, in spite of reading it many times.

As usual we were made to wait while everyone went about doing their work. After reminding them twice, friends who accompanied me started taking out pieces of papers and wrote messages like "Justice for Bhopal Now" and "Come out and meet us" and stood so close to the Reception that nobody could acess the reception. We also spoke to the people who were sitting there in the lobby and got them to sign the memorandum. In no time the Second Secretary, whose name I am forgetting, came down and met us. We asked him to fix an appointment with the ambassador and he promptly said that 'she is in india'.

Then he brought Bhagwant S. Bishnoi, Deputy Chief of Mission to speak to us. With his excellent PR skills he listened to us, asked questions about Climate Justice and said that the case is in the court and that the Prime Minister would do what is needed to fulfill the demands of the Bhopalis. He said he would send the letter to the concerned people and that he was happy that we had visited him at the embassy.

Clearly, the last thing he expected from a motley bunch such as us, in such an unlikely place as the Madurai airport, was a word about Bhopal. He took the petition and walked away without saying a word to the main lobby, where he stopped again to address his party men.

June 28, 2008

The first few hours aren't hard. I just imagine that I skipped breakfast…and lunch. It's after half the day has passed that the first gnawing pangs of hunger scrimmage through my stomach, searching for a morsel of food. I wash the desire away with a glassful of water, something that every faster should do ever so frequently. The water temporarily fills me up.

As the day continues, my mind is constantly battling itself. On one side of the battlefield, the scrunching of a newspaper is interpreted as food unwrapping and every smell becomes oh-so-tantalizing. On the other side, I keep telling myself – this is nothing. The Bhopalis are on their 19th day of fasting. If they can do this for more than two weeks, I can do it for a day.

It becomes easier when a few of us gather at the corner of 24th and Guadalupe to collect signatures for the fax campaign directed at Manmohan Singh. There are nine of us, ranging from eight year old Stefanie to 52 year old Jogendra. Spread out on the high people-traffic area known as The Drag, we approach hundreds of individuals over a two hour span. Most of the shoppers on this fine Texas afternoon quickly hustle by us, many read the "I am fasting for justice in Bhopal" speech bubbles taped to our shirts, and some even stop by to talk to us about how they can help.

We try many approaches to increase the number of interested passer-by. Some work better than others.

"Do you have a second to sign a petition?"
"Do you have a minute to talk about corporate responsibility?"
"Yes, I am fasting in support with the Bhopal survivors in India."
Eye contact. If they slow down, they are more likely to listen. Look for desis.

Two hours fly by and we have run out of our three hundred fliers. The nine of us have collected more than one hundred and thirty signatures. Despite the constant presence of the unforgiving sun, we make it through. I break my twenty-four hour fast with a raisin, having gained a previously unrealized appreciation for those seven hundred plus individuals who are also participating in the Global Relay Fast. I can't even fathom what nineteen days of fasting must be like, and what sort of self-discipline one must need in order to smile every morning instead of mentally complaining like I did for the beginning of the day.

What has this experience taught me? The fierce seven who are fasting indefinitely have put their lives on stake for the communities that were poisoned twenty-three years ago. These communities can not and should not struggle aloe; we must help in whatever capacity we can to ensure that corporate crime does not go unpunished. Food should not be taken for granted, and water has just become my new best friend. I encourage all of you to support the Bhopalis' struggle for justice by participating in the Global Relay Hunger Fast. It is definitely an experience you will never forget.

Solidarity: Members of International Campaign for Justice, along with students and supporters of Bhopal gas victims, taking part in the candlelight vigil on M.G. Road in Bangalore on Saturday. — Photo: K. Murali Kumar

Bangalore: Expressing solidarity with the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984, members of the Janaarogya Andolana Karnataka held a candlelight vigil in the city on Saturday.

Several students and members of various social organisations and Dalit groups, who were part of the protest, read out poems on the Bhopal tragedy.

Actor Shivaram, who joined the protest, said justice was delayed in this case only because of the Government’s apathy.

Victims and supporters of the Bhopal tragedy have been struggling for justice for more than 23 years.

Early this year, the victims marched from Bhopal to Delhi.

They are holding a dharna, which has entered its fifth month now. They have started an indefinite hunger strike from June 10.

“It is unfortunate that the victims’ legitimate demands of an empowered commission for Bhopal and legal action against the perpetrators of crime has been met only with arrests and police brutality, backed by an insensitive Government,” the organisers said.

The candlelight vigil was coordinated by the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal and Janaarogya Andolana Karnataka.

Supporters from Chennai joined the Global Hunger Strike Relay today, in solidarity with the nine Bhopalis who are on an indefinite hunger fast in Delhi. Students from various colleges, unorganized workers unions, fishermen associations, traders association, women's and gender rights movements joined the hunger strike.

Shweta Narayan, who is on her 8th day of hunger fast, joined the dharna braving the heat of Chennai. 150 members including Kirtana, a 5 year old girl sat through the day singing songs of oppression and struggle and sloganeering against the government's apathy. The protestors demanded that the central government fulfill the just demands of the Bhopal survivors, which included an empowered commission for implementing rehabilitation schemes for the affected people as well as taking legal action against DOW chemicals.

Ms. Chandra from Tamilnadu women's collective spoke fervently about the callousness of the state, questioning time and again the legitimacy of a government that fails to stand by its people. She also referred to numerous issues in Tamilnadu, where the state government has acted with the same apathy. Extending her solidarity with the Bhopal survivors, she called for a long and sustained struggle for justice. Pughazhendi, a film director who has been consistently supporting the Bhopal cause, said that there was a danger of other Bhopals if we are not careful and take preventive action. Talking about the nuclear power plant in Kalpakkam, he said "we (residents of Chennai) are sitting close to a nuclear time bomb and the government has never even informed us about the danger". He added that justice for Bhopal was justice for all the people of this country. Tha. Vellaiyan, president of the Tamilnadu Small Traders Association, extended his full support to the Bhopal gas survivors and assured that they would whole heartedly participate in the struggle to bring a guilty corporation to justice. Student leader Balasubramaniam said "leaders like P. Chidambaram who has no support among the people will only act for the good of companies even if it means betraying the people of the country." He extended the support of the student community to the campaign against DOW and other criminal corporations.

Representatives of various political parties also joined the hunger strikers to extend their solidarity with the cause. Com. A.M. Gopu, national council member of CPI, while addressing the gathering said that his party has always stood beside the Bhopal survivors. He also said that they were updated about what was happening in Delhi and have expressed their disappointment to the PM. "We fully understand your demands and are in full support of them, we extend our whole hearted support to your struggle." Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi (Dalit Panthers of India) MLA, Mr. Ravikumar and AIADMK MLA, S.Ve Sekhar also joined the hunger fast. Poetess Thamizhachi visited the dharna stal to enquire about the health of Shweta Narayan and to show her solidarity with the people of Bhopal.

The Statement to the Prime Minister was endorsed by Tamilnadu Womens Collective, Kanchi Makkal Mandram, Coastal Peoples Protection Movement, Tamilnadu Manual Workers Union, Tamilnadu Fisherpeople Progressive Organization, Chennai Metro Workers Union, PUCL T.N and Puducherry, South India Fishermen's Welfare Association, Penn Thozhilalar Sangam (Women Workers Union), WCCD Trust, Penn Urimai Iyyakam (Women Rights Movements), Unorganized Workers Federation, Community Environmental Monitoring, Tamilnadu Traders Association, Corporate Accountability Desk and The Other Media.

Mr. Vijaya. T. Rajendar, founder president of Illatchiya Dravida Munnetra Khazhagam, offered juice to the hunger strikers to conclude the one day fast. Shweta Narayan has decided to continue her fast. Before the end of the fast, the protestors also passed resolutions seeking high level probe into the death of Lalit Mehta and seeking the release of Dr. Binayak Sen.

Shweta Narayan (right)

June 16 , 4-7 pm,
Tilkak Putla, Mandai, Pune

A Pune supporter writes...

Please find attached photographs of the dharna (sit-in) for solidarity with Bhopal, organized today at Tilak Statue, Mandai in Pune.

We did a "GhanTaa-Naad (Bell-ringing) aandolan" along with the sit-in.

Activists from Lokayat, Pune Ma.Na.Paa. Kaamgaar Union, Shramik Mahilaa Morchaa and Sathi-Cehat joined in the sit-in. Lot of citizens from the passers-by also chose to sit along with us after hearing about the atrocities of the government.

Attached is an email that we had circulated for participation in this protest.

Wishing that the sound of the bells that we rang will help open the deaf ears of the Government,

In Solidarity,
Abhijit K
Lokayat, Pune
+91 9422308125

Email to supporters:

23 long years on the path to justice!

You are all probably that the Bhopal gas survivors took out a padyatra from Bhopal to Delhi in Feb-Mar this year to press for their demands. Despite the long march, the PM refused to meet them, and the Bhopalis then sat down on a dharna at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Despite 77 days of the Dharna, the Prime Minister is yet to meet the people of Bhopal and their demands. They have tried all possible means from silent peaceful protests to street theatre to demonstrations and even 'chaining themselves up', to try and convince the PM to meet them. Activists of Delhi have held their hands in support. Even some Ministers, a few Members of Parliament and eminent people from the city have assured them of their support and promised them justice. But such is the clout of Dow Chemicals over the Prime Minister Office that the PM has only given vague assurances of meeting the demands of the Bhopalis. Considering the behaviour of the Indian government for the past 23 years, it is obvious that nothing will be done.

On 9 June, 33 people, women, children and men, who were staging a peaceful protest in front of the PMs Office were arrested, whipped with belts, the women strip-searched and their clothes torn, and then jailed. Rather than meet their demands promptly, the Government has ignored their march from Bhopal to Delhi, met their 2 month-long dharna with empty promises, and dealt with their non-violent protests with beatings and jailing. The attitude of the authorities clearly shows that they "want to teach the protestors a lesson." It seems to be a coordinated effort to discourage democratic protest.

Since 10 June, nine activists, including gas survivors are on an indefinite hunger strike seeking justice. Three of the activists on indefinite hunger strike have begun their fast in jail. They demand: An Empowered Commission on Bhopal by endorsing the bill proposed by survivors organizations and committing to introducing it in the Parliament in the monsoon session; committing the funds required to allow the Commission to function for 30 years for medical, economic, social and environmental rehabilitation, and Immediate legal action against Dow Chemical and Union Carbide.

Supporters from different parts of the world, including Booker Prize nominated author Indra Sinha, are on a fast in support of the Bhopalis.

It has been 23 years of waiting, the Bhopalis refuse to be led on with false promises anymore.

Come and join, let us raise our voice in solidarity with the Bhopalis.

DHARNA IN PUNE IN SUPPORT OF THE HEROIC BHOPALIS

13 June, 2008

 
San Francisco, CA: Activists in San Francisco joined the Global Hunger Strike Relay today by having a public fasting event at the Indian Consulate at 540 Arguello Blvd. The event was a protest with chants and great visuals by a diverse group of supporters of the survivors of the 1984 Bhopal Gas Disaster. The protesters included four people who will be fasting for the entire day. A delegation from the group also had a meeting with the Consul Community Affairs.

 
Local activists have joined the Global Relay, which is being supported by hundreds of activists in many countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Canada and India.  Actions are being planned in cities across the North America, from Boston to Toronto to San Francisco.  

Activists participating in the Global Relay are in solidarity with the nine activists, including supporters and survivors of the ongoing disasters in Bhopal, who began an indefinite fast Tuesday in Delhi.  Author Indra Sinha, a 2007 Booker Prize finalist, has joined the indefinite fast from his home in France. The brave yet perilous decision to begin an indefinite fast has been undertaken only after numerous unsuccessful attempts to focus the attention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh toward the grave situation in Bhopal.  

“We extend unwavering support to the survivors who are bravely standing up to the oppressive force of India’s government,” said Shana Ortman, the US Coordinator for the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal, who also helped organize today’s event. “These global actions display tremendous unity toward the common end of justice in Bhopal.”

 
Survivors are demanding the establishment of a special commission to deal with the issues that still plague the people of Bhopal. They are also demanding that the Prime Minister hold Dow Chemical legally liable, following Dow’s purchase of the initial disaster offender, Union Carbide, in 2001. Though survivors have gained support from many influential lawmakers, as well as the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, the Prime Minister Singh has not budged from his ongoing support of this rogue chemical company.
 
Nearly half a million people were exposed to poisonous methyl isocyanate during a runaway chemical reaction at the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal on December 3rd, 1984. Since then, more than 22,000 people have died and 150,000 survivors continue to be chronically ill, as the Indian government and Dow have repeatedly failed to address their liabilities in the atrocities of the world’s worst industrial disaster.

Unlike other days, Chennai weather was pretty favorable for those of us who prepared for the human chain in the evening, which would condemn the Delhi Police violence against peaceful Bhopali protestors. 

Shweta, in 3 day of her hunger fast, was tirelessly writing placards of slogans like "shame shame, Delhi police", "Do Justice, Not Violence", "Beating Bhopali kids, act of Cowardice" and some more in tamizh and English with other young volunteers. 

A young supporter signs the banner

By around 5 in the evening nearly 80 of us gathered at Elliots Beach, the venue for the human chain.

The supporters including, 20 kids from Olcott memorial School, 6 kids from Vidyasagar school for the differently abled, other friends and youngest supporter, less than two year old Madhura, with bright red bandana stood in a row facing the road demanding "Justice for Bhopal and the kids who were beaten up by wicked Delhi Police". 

Differently abled children from Vidyasagar School, Chennai

After remembering the reason behind the human chain with pain and anger, supporters were informed about the solidarity hunger fast. Four kids (Parthasarathy 16, Amalraj 15, Murugan 16 and Rajkumari 15) from Olcott memorial school volunteered to express solidarity with the Bhopalis by going on hunger strike for a day.  

Our human chain came to an end with young volunteers Ciddharth Hande and couple of others singing "Blowing in the Wind" and with the powerful lyrics echoing in our minds we left the place.  

"How many ears must one man have
before he can hear people cry?
How many deaths will it take till he knows
that too many people have died?"
Bob Dylan, Blowin' in the wind 

Jeny Dolly, Chennai Volunteer

I got to the Midland Center for the Arts at 9 AM, and joined a group of about 20 protestors from the surrounding area. We had signs and posters that said "WE are the human element" and "Deadly Dow Dioxin" and larger than life fish puppets labeled "sick fish" and "not for children."

Just before 10am, about five of us went into the meeting. The official meeting agenda included presentations and voting of board nominations and shareholder resolutions.

Our allies had two resolutions on the floor: “Proposal for Report on Chemicals from Dow Chemical with Known Links to Asthma and Other Respiratory Problems” and “Proposal for Report on Environmental Remediation in Midland Area” (mostly about Dioxin).

After the results were tallies and presented, and after Andrew Liveris presented an unsettling state of the corporation report, the meeting was officially closed.

But before anyone left, everyone was given the opportunity to ask a question or make a comment to Liveris. A number of people, including myself, filled out cards and waited to be called on to speak. As I waited I closed my eyes and tried to channel the strength and moral conviction of our brothers and sisters sitting at the Dharna Stahl in Delhi. Considering that as soon as I started to speak I quickly became one of the most, if not the most, hated person in the room, I was very calmed and comforted to have that strength behind my voice.

Shana's speech:

I come with a message from the Bhopal Disaster survivors:

*I’m holding in my hand a recently uncovered internal document from the Indian Ministry of Law that affirms that Dow Chemical will be held legally liable for any judgment against Union Carbide to clean up the toxic waste and water contamination in Bhopal. The document states that Dow's assets in India will not be protected in the event the company is forced to pay for the clean up.

* The Indian Ministry of Chemicals has filed a petition to require Dow to pay a $23 million deposit for the Bhopal toxic clean up.

*Yesterday seven institutional shareholders filed a complaint with the SEC, asking for an investigation and action against Dow for failing to inform shareholders about these developments.

* Bhopal survivors walked 500 miles from Bhopal to New Delhi to demand the right to live free of Dow's chemical poisons. They are drinking water laden with your poisons and their children are being born with horrific birth defects.

*I express solidarity with the people of Midland and the Tittabawasee River Basin, who demand that Dow clean up the dioxin mess it has left here.

*The Bhopal survivors will never give up until you clean up Bhopal. Because of Bhopal people have blocked the road to your facility construction site outside of Bombay for 5 months. Dow has been kicked off 4 of the campuses of India’s top technical institutes, the IITs.

* We are the faces that never show up in your Human Element campaign, but we are more powerful than you. You will never succeed with your investment strategy in India as long as we are alive. We grow more powerful every day!

*Dow has made plans to invest more than $1 billion in India, but now these plans are at risk, and your opposition in India is growing. Why have you failed to inform your shareholders that Dow's efforts to avoid liability in Bhopal have failed?

Liveris gave an expected response, mainly:

# He had not heard anything from the Law Ministry in regards to the document I mentioned, so he would not comment on that.

# Dow's investments in Industry has been warmly welcomed by the Indian goverment.

# The never owned nor operated the UC facility so therefore they are not liable.

# NGOs are the ones that keeping this issue going and resisting clean up of the site, and we should go to the Indian Government for remediation.

These are, of course, the same false talking points we’ve heard for years. Liveris' response got a disturbing applause from the shareholders present.

After the meeting was over came the fun part. I went to the "Little Theatre" where Liveris had announced that anyone could go to further discuss issues brought up in the meeting. Kanina Blanchard, director of Dow's Global Issues of Industry Affairs, immediately approached me.

Dow's Director of Global Dissimulation, Kanina Blanchard

We had a lively and long conversation. At one point a Dow Lawyer joined us for a moment. During the last half of our conversation Scott Wheeler, Director of Communications, joined us. They were all very interested in who I was, what my role was, where I had worked before ICJB, and what the ICJB's plans were. Kanina was very soft-spoken, but I was happy to speak loud enough so that anyone else in the room could hear me. We spoke for about 20 minutes. Pretty quickly it seemed that they ran out of talking points to respond to my statements and documents. By the end of the conversation, Kanina and Scott had to rely on repeating, "Well, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree" because they were unable to respond to my arguments.

Here are a few highlights of our conversation(these are not quoted verbatim, just my best attempt to remember exactly what was said):

Kanina: As you know, Dow bought UCC 16 years after the tragedy, and there were no longer any shares of UCC in India.
Me: As you know, the civil case about Bhopal was still pending when Dow bought UCC, and it's still open today. Dow bought UCC knowing full well that the Bhopal issue was far from resolved.

Me: I don't feel like my question about why Dow has failed to inform it's shareholder that their attempts to avoid liability in Bhopal have failed was answered.
Kanina (her long answer was basically): There is clearly a lot to be done in Bhopal, but it's not our responsibility. We think that we should stand back and let the Indian Gov't deal with the existing cases and issues.

Me: According to this document, The Indian Government says that Dow will be the liable party on any judgments passed regarding the Bhopal disaster, clean up and water contamination. So, you will not be able to ignore or disregard the legal cases that are still pending.
Kanina: Well, I'm not a lawyer so I cannot comment on this document.
Lawyer: I'm a Dow lawyer, and I can comment on it..... This appears to be a summary of another document, so this isn't a real document so it's not important.
Me: Actually, this is a memo from the Ministry of Law to the Prime Minister's office and it clearly states that Dow will be held accountable for judgments against UCC.

Kanina: We use this analogy, and it's not a perfect analogy, but if you'll allow me; It's like if you bought a used car, and there were major problems with the car, it wouldn't be your fault, it would be the fault of the previous owner.
Me (loudly): It is extremely offensive to compare the suffering of hundreds of thousands of people in Bhopal to a used car. But using that analogy: If you buy a used car, and that car breaks down in the middle of the highway and causes a pile up, then it IS your fault because you chose to buy and drive that car. (Kanina Blanchard is at +1.519.472.9984 and kblanchard@dow.com if you'd like to ask her about her understanding of negligence laws - let us know how you get on)

Kanina: What is your role in the campaign, and what are the plans of the ICJB.
Me: I'm the new US coordinator for the campaign. The goals of the campaign have always and will continue to be fighting for the demands of the survivors. Those demands include clean up of the site, clean water, healthcare, and holding Dow liable for the tragedy.
Scott: I think we can all agree that it is a tragedy that the factory and site of the accident was never cleaned up, and we all hope that that happens very soon.
Me: Dow has a very important role to play in that clean up.
Scott: I guess that's where we have to agree to disagree.
Me: Fortunately the Indian Government seems to agree with me that the liability for the clean up will likely fall on Dow.

Thank so much to Amy O'Meara and Amnesty International.

Dear Prime Minister,

In Bhopal, hundreds of children with horrific deformities are being born to parents affected by Union Carbide's poisons. People are forced to drink contaminated water, and tons of toxic wastes lie in the open.

More than 23,000 people have died from the 1984 Bhopal Gas Leak. Over 100,000 still suffer from diseases of the lung, brain, eye and other systems.

Meanwhile the Government of India is reported to be negotiating deals to let Dow Chemical (Union Carbide's current owner), off the hook in return for its investment in more toxic plants. In April 2006, after a long march and 7 day fast, you promised you would do all within your power to help the victims of Bhopal and all within the law to punish the offending corporation. Now the survivors have walked the 800km to Delhi again, to remind you of these promises that have not been kept.

We fully support the Demands of the Bhopal survivors:

1. Set up a Special Commission on Bhopal for the next 30 years to address the following issues affecting people (and their children) exposed to Union Carbide's poisons. The Bhopal Commission must have survivors' representatives and the necessary funds and authority to carry out its tasks.

a) Medical Care Research and Monitoring
b) Social and Economic Rehabilitation
c) Environmental Remediation
d) Safe Drinking Water

2. Take legal action against Dow

a) Pursue Clean up by Dow in High Court
b) Move to extradite Carbide and its former CEO
c) Revoke approval given for purchase of Union Carbide technology, which must be confiscated as Carbide has been absconding from Indian court since 1992
d) Cancel registration for Dow pesticides obtained by bribes

Sincerely

1. Association for India's Development.
2. Friends of South Asia, California
3. People's Resolve to Account for Justice and Accountability, California
4. India Resource Center, California
5. Indians for Collective Action, California
6. AIMS India, Washington DC
7. Young India, Washington DC
8. Art of Living Portland, Oregon
9. Greater Portland Tamil Mandram, Oregon
10. Portland Hindi Sangam, Oregon
11. SAWERA, Oregon
12. Pragati, Texas
13. Asha for Education, Austin, Texas
14. Stop HIV and AIDS Initiative, Washington DC.
15. Alliance for a Secular and Democratic South Asia, Massachusetts
16. Women's Institute for Leadership and Development (WILD) for Human Rights, San Francisco, CA
17. SAMAR Magazine, Massachusetts
18. Harvard South Asian Law Student Association, Massachusetts
19. Sangati, Washington
20. Chaya, Washington
21. Allgorhytms, Washington
22. Child Relief and You, Washington.
23. Greenpeace, USA
24. Amnesty International, Austin, Texas.
25. Omega Phi Alpha, Austin, Texas.
26. Environmental Law Society, Austin, Texas.
27. Campaign for Alternative Industry Network (CAIN), Thailand
28. Women in Europe for Common Future, Germany.
29. Pesticide Action Network, Latin America, Uruguay
30. Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance, Maine
31. Clean New York, A Project of Women's Voices for the Earth
32. Communities Against Toxics, Cheshire, UK
33. Citizens' Environmental Coalition, NY
34. Mother Earth Foundation, Phillipines
35. TEST Foundation
36. Communities Against Toxics (CATs), Scotland
37. Programa Ambiental Fronteras Communes A.C., Mexico
38. AerztInnen fur eine gesunde Umwelt (ISDE), Austria
39. Central Asian Toxic Action network
40. Galveston Bay Keeper, Texas.
41. Dominican Sisters of Hope
42. Mercy Investment Program
43. Sisters of Mercy Regional Community of Detroit
44. Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk-U.S. Province
45. Stay-Green Foundation, Gambia
46. Arnika - Toxics and Waste Programme, Czech Republic
47. Santos-SP, Brazil
48. Citizens Environmental Coalition, New York
49. National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE), Uganda
50. Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific, Malaysia
51. Health Care Without Harm-Boston
52. North Carolina Fair Share, North Carolina
53. Alaska Community Action on Toxics
54. For a Better Bronx, New York
55. Kentucky Environmental Foundation
56. Chemical Weapons Working Group
57. Farmworker Association of Florida
58. Environmental Research Foundation, New Jersey
59. Healthy Child Healthy World, California
60. Green Action for Health and Environmental Justice, California

Amnesty International Group 133 threw a fantastic 'Get on the Bus for Human Rights Action' this year! Bhopal was a side action organized with help from the Boston Coalition for Justice in Bhopal and the Columbia University Amnesty Chapter.
 
Side actions usually consist of 10-30 people who are specially gathered for the purpose, out of the over 1000 who come to Get on the Bus. Before the action, I spoke to all 1000+ protesters in a packed church. I gave a 5 minute talk about the children of Bhopal who are living this disaster out every day. The audience was roused with chanting - Justice for Bhopal! Walk your Talk! Justice for Bhopal! Walk your Talk!

On the way to the Indian consulate in New York
 
We managed to get more than 100 screaming and angry protestors from ages 10 to 40 out right smack in front of the Indian Consulate on this small street from 1:10-1:40. Firebrand Emily Setton had them chanting passionately for at least 5 blocks, before they even got to the embassy. Without a single bullhorn, those who joined later said we could be heard blocks away. In the past, we have only been able to protest along Central park about a half block away from the consulate. This year because we had smaller numbers and no noise permit, we were able to face the consulate with our full fury. 

As if that was too little to ask, the students gathered signatures for the fax action, pushing the total gathered by the Bhopal campaign past 1000 (so we have sent 2500 faxes total including those that PANNA gathered). NDTV and Associated Press came to the event and interviewed several people.

 
We had been writing, emailing, calling and faxing the consulate for over 3 weeks, in order to get a meeting with a key official at the Consulate with no results.  After the protestors left, Roshan, Emily and I walked into the consulate uninvited and were summarily escorted back out. But we didn't back down in asking for a meeting, so the guard took our names and after about 5 minutes came back out and escorted us to meet with Consul (HOC) and CPV P.S. Sasi Kumar. Kumar was relatively sympathetic - we talked for about 15 minutes with him and he heard the demands fully. I put a picture of one of the kids affected by a mild birth defect in front of him and asked him if he had kids. We pressed upon him that this not a meeting about a peice of history, that these kids are living this disaster every day, and until there is a Commission that includes the survivors the state government will continue to delay progress and waste resources, while not meeting the survivor's basic needs. Emily told him about her meetings with government officials in Bhopal last summer and how clear it was how little had been done. Roshan impressed upon him how urgent it was that this be addressed immediately. He seemed to hear us and said he would forward our concerns on.
 
Roshan Kumar of the Boston Bhopal Coalition took the lead in the many months of planning and coordinating this fantastic action. We owe him a great debt of gratitude. (He even bought pizza for the ravenous protestors who had skipped lunch ahead of 4 solid hours of pounding the pavement and screaming thier lungs out -  in order to demand justice for Bhopal). Emily Setton of Columbia's Amnesty Chapter and of the Students for Bhopal Advisory Board played a key role in the planning and coordinated the bulk of the media outreach, along with Arielle Schwartz who wrote our press materials and Daniel Yoew who was our photographer. Tony Millard the Padyatra Media Coordinator edited releases and advisories as well and none of this would have happened without the wonderful Amnesty Group 133 who are too many to name.

In addition to full coverage of the Bhopal protest by NDTV, the Bhopal rally was mentioned in the following papers that covered other aspects of the Get on the Bus for Human Rights Day of Action:

Daily Mirror
Common Dreams
Belmont News

Legacy of Bhopal

Nearly a quarter of a century after the Union Carbide gas disaster in Bhopal, the company's factory remains uncleaned while chemicals leaking from the site continue to poison the drinking water of tens of thousands. Children in the affected communities are being born with deformities so severe that their pictures could not be published. Union Carbide, now wholly owned by Dow Chemical, disclaims responsibility for the factory and for the last 16 years has refused to appear in the Indian court where it faces serious criminal charges. In these circumstances, we urge India's prime minister, Manmohan Singh, and his ministers to honour their promises made two years ago on proper healthcare and monitoring for those affected by the gas and poisoned water, to obey the Indian supreme court's 2004 order to provide safe drinking water for communities whose water is poisoned, and not to have business dealings with Union Carbide or its owners while the contempt of court continues.

Indra Sinha writer, Tahmima Anam writer, Michael Anderson filmmaker, Saffron Burrows actress, Matthew D'Ancona writer, Anne Enright writer, Hari Kunzru writer, Arundhati Roy writer and 95 others

Go to the full list of signatures and find out how to add your name.