The day after eight people people from Bhopal -- 3 disabled children, 2 contaminated-water affected children, and their parents and caretakers - attended a Jaipur Foot camp in Chennai to politely request its organisers reconsider their acceptance of R1 crore of Dow India's money (see report below), the honourable Mr. Mehta insisted on describing them as "despicable, perverse people", repeating the phrase thrice in case any of the gathered press had missed it the first two times.

Mr Mehta has much to be disgusted about, having chosen to associate his organisation with a corporation infamous for a list of crimes so long that it is dizzying to read their brief descriptions. To aim that disgust at a community of Dow's victims seems to lack self-awareness and, dare we say it, a sense of charity. Perhaps not all is at it seems with Mr Mehta after all. ed.

DR Mehta, who while unable to claim the credit for having invented Jaipur Foot, can now lay claim to the recently diagnosed 'Jaipur-Foot-in-mouth' disease...

December 16, 2008

Report by Shweta

Dow India buys the credit for the Chennai 'Jaipur Foot' camp for a mere (to Dow) R1 crore

We walked in without a problem. The "We" consisted of 14-year old Sarita, 15-year old Rafat, Suraj (a paraplegic), Sajid and Vikas (both of whom suffer from different disabilities), Meera, the children's parents, students and teachers from Vidyasagar school for disabled children in Chennai, and Roshan and Rupesh from Youth for Social Change. The Vidyasagar kids were on wheelchairs, so we were indistinguishable from the kids who were visiting the camp. The Bhopali kids were following us. We had already learnt that Venkat was stopped from entering by Group 4 Security folks, when he tried going in as a journalist (Venkat was met by Mahathi Parshuram, Dow India's public affairs manager, who said that no media had been sent invitations).

Bhopalis wait to go in

Once in, we asked for Mohan Jain who runs the Adinath Jain Trust, which partners with Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayog Samiti of Jaipur foot fame. BMVSS is the organisation that received Rs. 1 crore from Dow India's CSR coffers. The place was filled with about 20-odd Dow employees who were volunteering. We were immediately confronted by Mahathi, the public affairs person. She wanted to know where we were from. At the mention of the Bhopal word, she disappeared into a huddle. For 10 minutes after the B word was uttered, there was no sign of our hosts. Finally, we were allowed to speak to Mohan Jain. All of us stood in a semi-circle, and the Dow employees were all clustered watching us. We were not wearing anything special -- no bandannas, no nothing. But all eyes were on us. The New Indian Express photographer took a picture, but was coerced into deleting it.

Mohan Jain seemed pretty hostile and bristly initially. 14-year old Sarita and Meera did most of the talking and began explaining why we were here. Mohan Jain's protests that they were doing very important and good work gradually weakened into feeble whispers with Sarita's compassionate lecturing. When Meera opened the album of photographs, there was a palpable hush. Poor Mr. Jain. I don't think he knew anything about Dow. "I'm merely the Sanchalak (the organiser). I got instructions from Jaipur and I put together this 5-day camp," he ably ducked in defense. "In any case, we can't abandon the camp now. We'll complete it for the next three days, and we'll keep this in mind for later," he said.

When Sarita met Mohan Jain...

Then Mr. Jain landed on a brainwave. "Ninety percent of our money comes from small donors, who give Rs. 50 and Rs. 100. How can we ascertain if this money is tainted or not?" he asked triumphantly. To this, Sarita replied: "We're not talking about fifties and hundreds. When you get Rs. 1 crore, shouldn't it occur to you to ascertain the antecedents of the donor?"

Jain changed tack. "You say you've been suffering in Bhopal for 24 years. Why don't you leave the place and go somewhere else?" Aaah. That's Question No. 3 in the Bhopalis' Frequently Asked Questions list. The answer to that is: "Where will we go? Why should we go?"

Didn't work. This 14-year old girl was too smart. Let's try the chocolote route. "We will even organise a similar camp in Bhopal," Mr. Jain suggested. That did it. Little Ms. Sarita was angry now. "I don't think that would be a good idea. If you so much as step into Bhopal with Dow's money, we will oppose you straight on," Sarita bluntly told him.

And then, the final blow. Mr. Jain had no clue what a PU is. Sarita says PU. She doesn't say polyurethane, which is the plastic that Dow manufactures, that Dow in all its sincere-do-good-mood offered to the Jaipur foot guys as a replacement for the vulcanised rubber that is currently being used. What's wrong with rubber for the artificial limbs? Nothing really. But when Dow gives Rs. 1 crore, as a manufacturer of polyurethane, it does need to convince CSR-skeptical shareholders that charity is good for business, especially when charity involves spreading more of your product.

Anyway, the final blow, as I was saying -- "Mr. Jain, did you know that the PU limbs when afire will release the same gases that were released in Bhopal in 1984?" Mr. Jain did not know. Mr. Jain's face was a sight. "Are you giving these children life or death?" asked one of the kids.

Mr. Jain was visibly shaken. Kept muttering that "Aage se hum dhyan denge" (We'll pay more attention to this in the future.")

Mr. Jain seemed to suggest that he approaches all decisions on the basis of evidence. Even in this case, he said he would need evidence from us to back our claims. After all, how is he to believe all the stuff that is being told about Dow?

"How about reading a newspaper, maybe?"

In any case, Mr. Jain realised that this was not going as planned. The children assured him that they appreciate the work that is being done, and that it was their intent merely to ensure that this good work is not tainted by bloody-money from corporations like Dow. Jain was apprehensive about the media. He politely requested the kids to not release this to the media. "I knew nothing about Dow and its history. Don't let this get out in the media. Others will not come tomorrow then," he said.

But life's all about informed choice, right?

Dump Dow, Bhopal kids tell ngo (Indian Express report)

Indian Express report (large file)

We had everything in place; every little detail worked out. Things were in place. The "No More Bhopals" concert was to happen on 7th December. And on 6th December, we were ready to go. After tiring of trying to be organised, we decided it would be easier to take pride in our chaotic methods. We were not used to this level of organisation amongst ourselves. That was probably because we had John Anthony, a veteran guitarist and musician, breathing down our necks, gently reminding us that everything needs to be checked and rechecked yesterday.

At this point, we had two major worries. There was a cyclone moving in the wrong direction – towards Chennai. It was still some 900 km off the Indian coast. But it was moving in a north-westerly direction, and threatening to landfall in Chennai at around 5 p.m. on 7 December to coincide with the show. Venkat turned weather man, and would stoke our nervousness or allay our fears depending on what the reports said at the time. Our second fear was whether the venue would prove too small for the crowds that come. Both fears were unfounded. The cyclone never came. The crowd was manageable, although there were more than 400 people, as against our planned number of 350.

The large crowd settles down for the evening's events

But Sadanand Menon and late dancer Chandralekha's house on the Besant Nagar beach is a deadly place. A nicely wooded quarter-acre plot, with a semi-open Kalari (ancien Indian martial art) practice space in one corner of the plot, and an open-to-the-sky dance theatre at one end, this place had a peaceful ambience. Many of the trees have a pyol around them. There are granite slabs for seating at various places. So at least half as many people that are inside the kalari space can be found outside lounging against a tree or leaning against the well, talking to friends, strumming on a guitar, playing in the sand with babies.

Vedant, Ananth and Shiva relax outside the main space.

The "No More Bhopals"concert is the 2nd in a series of shows called "Justice Rocks" targeting youth in Chennai with the aim of sensitising them to social issues. Youth for Social Change – a motley crew of school and college students, recent graduates and a few young-at-hearts – is organising the show expanding the message of the 24-year-old Bhopal struggle to its logical end. The concert will be organised by a massive mobilisation of voluntary contribution – of effort, money and services – from the musicians, the sound and light technicians, from the folks who own the venue, even journalists.

More than 30 posters, hand-painted by musicians, music lovers, and other friends had been put up in various colleges and prominent youth hang-outs. Tickets had been handed over to the young musicians to be sold among their friends. "The advantage of having hand-made posters is that it gives us one more excuse to have fun with friends. We call for a poster making session, supply the paints and paper, clear the Collective's office of all furniture, spread ourselves on the floor and go at it with music and constant chatter as our companions," says Lakshmi Premkumar, a YSC member and one of the coordinators of this event.

No corporate sponsors are allowed. In fact, one of the media houses that wanted to partner with us in this event was turned down. They were told to come and cover the event and not bring any banners. Red Bull sent a regiment of curvaceous 20-somethings to handout free jolts of the high-caffeine drink. Our logistics man-cum-non-violent bouncer Rupesh managed to drive the bulls out.

Actually, all Justice Rocks concerts will be unsponsored. When a sponsored show is held, organisers usually sing praises of the sponsors. In unsponsored shows, we make fun of our unsponsors. The No More Bhopals show had to be unsponsored by Dow and Union Carbide, with contribution of course from the Indian Government.

The line-up was impressive, two school bands, five college student bands and one band of young graduates: Blue Light Daze (School students), Pencil Box (School band), Sofie and Ajai with Nandini and Ameena , Downhill Automatic, Skrat, Dogs, Greyshack and Vedant, Darbuka Shiva and Ananth.

'The Dogs' play their set

Pencil Box

Many performers were debutantes on stage. Others were seasoned veterans, although none was above 28 years in age. In fact the average age of the band members was in the neighborhood of 20. The show opened with a short film called "Hush Baby" following which Vedant, Ananth and Shiva opened with a song written by Bhakti cult poet-saint Namdeo. That was in honour of the role played by the warkaris in bringing construction work at a chemical experimentation facility near Pune to a standstill through concerted non-violent direct action. Warkaris are the followers of revolutionary Bhakti poets Tkaram, Gnaneshwar, Namdeo and others. Shinde Vasuli, the village where Dow chose to set up its ill-fated chemical experimentation facility, is in the heartland of the Dehu region, famed as the roaming grounds of Tukaram. This is sacred land, and local villagers and warkaris across the state of Maharashtra were deeply offended when Dow Chemical – a company notorious for its deadly products of war against humans and nature – desecrated this holy land.

Sofie and Ajai had met barely two weeks back. Sofie, a diminutive, even timid-looking burkha clad rapper, transforms on stage into a dynamic whirlwind of black flowing robes, and gutsy, evocative rap lyrics. Looks can deceive. That was, in fact, Sofie's message in her first song, set to Ameena's plaintive rendition of the arabic prayer "Salat-ul-lah, Salam-ul-lah." Sofie looks challengingly at the audience accusing them of only seeing her Hijab – the black veil worn by Muslim women. Defiantly, she defends her islam saying Islam and Muslims cannot be blamed for the acts of a few "idiots." “All I want," she says, "is to put Islam's name in the clear and let Islam be known for spreading love, not fear."

Sophie and Ameena take the stage

Ajai and Sofie belted out a highly charged rap battle, with Ajai rapping on behalf of Dow inviting youngsters to work for Dow, taunting Sofie (who was rapping for the Bhopalis) by reminding her that she only had the Sambavana Trust, while Dow had the PM, the Ministers on its side. The battle ended with the Bhopalis clearly in victory, as all people in the audience joined Sofie in chorus rapping "Don't, Don't, Don't, Don't, Don't Work for Dow" drowning poor Ajai's "Come on, Come on, Come on, Come on, Come on and Work for Dow."

Downhill Automatic performs 'Don't Work for Dirty Dow'

The other highlight was Downhill Automatic's song, also named "Don't work for Dirty Dow." Band member Sid Hande was also one of the most involved musicians in the concert. Having internalised the Bhopal message, this 20 year old curly topped singer, lyricist wrote this goose-bump-inducing rock song with help from a number of other friends on the same evening that the posters were being made. It starts with a kick to the stomach -- "I am the man, who lost his land. It used to be where your factory stands," and returns with a double punch when capitalists are reminded of who we are: -

"I am the wind and I do not lie

I am all the things that money can't buy.

You say sit, but I think I'll stand

'Cos I am the spirit of this land."

Don't Work for Dirty Dow (Full version)
by Downhill Automatic

I am the man who lost his land
it used to be where your factory stands
it’s not that I’m against progress
but what is the measure of your success?

I say no, but you push me away
What’s bad for me is gonna get you someday!

I am the fish wild in the sea
I am the bird and the mango tree
Close-minded man, can’t you see?
what you call your business is hurting me

I say no but you push me away
What’s bad for me is gonna hurt you someday!

holding on holdng on don’t work for dirty dow!
fighting on fighting on don’t work for dirty dow!

I am the wind and I do not lie
I’m all the things that money cant buy
you say sit but I think I’ll stand
'cos I am the spirit of this land!

You say no and you push me away
What’s bad for you is gonna kill you someday!

holding on holding on
don’t work for dirty dow!
fighting on fighting on
don’t work for dirty, filthy, mangy, creep crawly, dow!

The Dogs!

Between acts, students of social work from a local college and some members of Youth for Social Change staged two skits. The first one, called Prime Minister's Dogs, was set in a dog show, where VVIDs (very, very important dogs) were on display. Pukki, Chhaatu and Mega Chaatu are the dogs of the three persona of Dr. Manmohan Singh the person, Manmohan Singh the Sonia loyalist, and Manmohan Singh the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister's Dogs get a run out

The second skit highlighted the ironies in inviting celebrities to endorse causes. This featured Aamir Khan of Coca Cola fame as the celebrity of choice for the Bhopal cause. With every mention of the tragedy in Bhopal, Aamir (played by percussionist and Radio Mirchi anchor Darbuka Shiva who is famed for his nonsensical wit) goes on dreamily converting the tragedy into a script for a blockbuster, reducing the 25000 currently condemned to drinking poisoned water to a calculation of how many extras would be required to shoot the scene. The play ends with someone from the audience asking what should people do for Bhopal. And Aamir answers: "Just be sure to watch Rang De Basanti Part II. Not on DVD, but in the cinema hall."

The five hour concert ended in a mellow note with Vedant, Darbuka and Ananth playing melodies accompanied by two acoustic guitars and a percussion instrument ably wielded by Darbuka. We raised more than 3 times what we spent on the concert through ticket sales. "The next event should not be just a concert. We should have a day-long festival," says Sid Hande. "Rock has historically been an expression of constructive dissidence, and music is a great way to get to youngsters," he adds. Watch this space. A week back, the kids in Bhopal launched a struggle group called "Children Against Dow-Carbide." The party against Dow has begun, with the youth in the lead.

Downhill Automatic's "Don't Work for Dirty Dow"

Sophia Ashraf and Ajay's Dow Rap battle

Sophia Ashraf and Ameena's "Salat-ul-lah"

Candle light vigil at Semmankuppam Middle School: Semmankuppam is the village in SIPCOT where Chemplast Sanmar's 1,70,000 TPA PVC plant is currently being constructed

Bhubaneswar: On the No Pesticides Use Day to commemorate the 24th year of the Bhopal gas tragedy which left nearly 8,000 people dead and affected 5,20,000 others, a city-based organisation Living Farms, fighting pesticides, at a discussion on the Bhopal tragedy held here on Wednesday, pointed out that there are 48 “Bhopals” waiting to happen in Orissa unless the Government wakes up.

As per available statistics there are 48 major hazardous industries in 15 districts of Orissa that deal with 44 extremely toxic and highly inflammable chemicals. Out of those 15 districts, nine districts have no on site safety plans.

The Bhopal tragedy occurred because safety measures were not in place and also the factory was located in a densely populated area.

This situation abounds in the State which has an abysmal record of industrial safety.

Living Farms in association with Pesticide Action Network — Asia Pacific also campaigns against the use of pesticides in Indian agriculture many of which are banned in other countries, like Endosulphan and Paraquat. According to health experts, even very little amount of such pesticides can do great harm upon exposure.

The World Health Organisation estimates that yearly, at least 3 million people are poisoned and 200,000 die after using pesticides.

While many of the reported ill effects constitute acute cases of pesticide poisoning, it is the chronic long-term effects such as cancers that are of increasing concern.

A presentation on Bhopal, a photo exhibition on Bhopal and two short documentary films were shown in this meeting titled, “Remembering Bhopal”, which was attended by concerned citizen, activists and members of civil society organisations.

Read today's press release

At times like this, when innocent people were being killed in a horrendous attack in Bombay, detoxification of our society and our lives takes on a deeper meaning. When Delhi-ites gathered for the 24th anniversary of the Bhopal disaster, our goal was to participate in the worldwide shaking free of our shackles of helplessness in the face of spreading poisons. We reject chemical toxins that find their way into our bodies in catastrophic holocausts like Bhopal, or in insidious ways into our water, air and food supply; we reject toxic hatred being spread in the world under the guise of communalism and terrorism (and its twin – the "war on terrorism"); we reject the toxic greed, personified by unscrupulous corporations, that kills the defenseless that get in its way; and finally we reject the toxic indifference of our elected leaders that, caught up in their own greed and ambition, fail to protect us from all of the above.

Our anger was subliminated into a creative, life-affirming program, compeered by Madhuresh of the Cacim group, of supportive speeches and inspirational songs.

the Manzil group

The site itself, close to our dharna site at Jantar Mantar, was surrounded by posters and photographs and passers-by who stopped by to examine them and stayed for the program.

Debayani Kar, read out a poem 'Torture Me', Shashank from IIT read out a list of successes that IIT and other universities have had over the past year in rebuffing Dow. The Delhi-based group, Manzil, performed several songs – a few kids who had gathered enjoyed dancing to the popular "Yeh taara- woh taara" from the movie Swades – and a particularly poignant song of their own – "Maanavtaa se naataa jodo" (form a kinship with humanity).

A supporter shares a testimonial

Vimlendu and Sunny sang, Shalini made a fiery speech, Aashish handed out pamphlets to passersby, reminding us of the eventful dharna a few months ago where he was our official pamphlet-hand-outer. S.A Khan from Jharkhand Forum connected splendidly demands and spirit of Bhopal, jharkhand and other movements in the country.

Sunny sings to the crowd

Shalini in calmer voice with the media

Some journalist friends also shared their connection with the struggle and the different stories they did during the Padyatra and Delhi protests. Several friends from different dharnas, protest groups and stalls also shared their stories and experiences with Bhopalis during their five month stay at Jantar Mantar.

At the end, in a sombre moment, we lit candles and stood together in two minutes of silence.

Our two minutes, compounded with those of thousands of schools and dozens of citizens groups all over India and the world, rang loudly. Twenty-four years has been far, far too long.

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