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.

Washington, April 8 (IANS): A group of Indian Americans under the banner of Association for India's Development protested outside the Indian Embassy here in support of the survivors of the 1984 Bhopal gas leak.

Asking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to fulfil the promises he made in 2006, the volunteers spelled out the slogan "Walk Your Talk" at the Gandhi statue in front of the embassy here Monday.

Organisers said their protest was in support of the survivors of the world's worst industrial disaster - when poisonous gas leaked out of the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal on the night of Dec 2-3, 1984, killing thousands of people.

Some of the survivors have been demonstrating in New Delhi last weekend demanding to meet the prime minister after an 800-km march from Bhopal that started in February.

The survivors are asking for a Commission on Bhopal to provide adequate healthcare, clean water, and social and economic rehabilitation, as well as justice by pursuing the existing legal cases against Union Carbide and its current owner Dow Chemical.

The protesters shouted slogans like "Prime Minster, meet the Bhopalis", "Clean water for Bhopal" and "No more Bhopals".

The volunteers said they are planning to continue with similar actions of support till their demands are met. Similar protests have already taken place in Boston, Massachusetts, and Austin, Texas.

"The undelivered promises to the Bhopal survivors must be one of the cruellest jokes by an Indian prime minister on his people. We will stand by the survivors till their just demands are met," said Arun Gopalan, a software consultant.

"The prime minister's broken promises made ailing Bhopal survivors walk 800 kilometres yet again. That the Bhopal survivors are waiting on the streets in Delhi for an appointment with him after this tortuous walk is very worrying," said Vineeta Gupta, activist of Justice for Bhopal coalition.

"The prime minister should meet the Bhopal survivors immediately and agree to their just demands," she said.

His Excellency Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India

Dear Prime Minister Singh:

We write to urge you to act on your two year old promise to the victims of the Bhopal gas disaster of 1984.

On April 2006 you assured welfare measures for Bhopal survivors and their families. In your statements, these measures included the provision of clean water, the clean up of toxic wastes, and the creation of a national commission for medical and economic rehabilitation.  None of these promises have so far been realized.

This month, Bhopal survivors and their families have once again undertaken a 38- day padayatra from Bhopal to New Delhi. The Bhopalis have made a huge sacrifice in leaving their homes and their livelihoods, walking 800 kms for 38 days in order to seek audience with you.  They have undertaken this grueling walk to demand justice that has remained elusive for more than 24 years. Meanwhile, the poisoned soil and waters of Bhopal will continue to cause monumental damage to the lives, health, and livelihoods of these survivors and their families for several more generations.

The Bhopal Gas Leak is one of the worst chemical disasters the world has ever faced, snuffing out thousands of lives on the night of the disaster, the count reaching about 20,000 within a month. Yet, full accountability from the perpetrators, Union Carbide (now Dow Chemicals), have not been exacted.

As early as a month ago, requests have been filed before your office to arrange a meeting between yourself and the fifty Bhopalis and their supporters so that they may follow up on your promises. Sadly, these requests have been ignored.

We wish to express that we support the Bhopalis in their demands for:

1. the creation of a specially empowered commission, headed by a person of unquestionable integrity who enjoys the confidence of the Bhopal survivors, to oversee the implementation of legal and rehabilitation measures in Bhopal; and

2. unyeilding sincerity on the part of the Government in pursuing the existing cases against Dow Chemicals and Union Carbide.

We believe that your assurances to the Bhopal victims should finally be set to motion so that justice may finally be served in their favor.

Signed:

Ira Beau L. Baconguis
Toxics Campaigner
Greenpeace Southeast Asia

Beau Baconguis
Toxics Campaigner
Greenpeace Southeast Asia
24 K-J St., Brgy. East Kamias
1102 Quezon City, Philippines
Tel. + 63 (2) 4347034 loc 102
Mobile: + 63 917 8036077

Scotland-based Bhopal supporters gather outside the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh

A delegation of Members of the Scottish Parliament, campaign groups and supporters met with the Indian Consul General in Scotland on Thursday in solidarity with the padyatris and in support of their demands.

Twenty five people walked from the Scottish Parliament to the Indian Consulate and handed in letters from the paliamentary cross-party group on international development, Amnesty International, Friends of the Earth Scotland, the Scottish Trades Union Congress and Scottish Hazards Campaign as well as about 100 postcards signed by concerned citizens.

Centre of photo: Aileen Campbell MSP and Bill Wilson MSP of Scottish Nationalist Party. Between and behind them: Patrick Harvie MSP of Scottish Green Party

Although international issues are not within the remit of the devolved parliament in Scotland, members of the parliament are able to raise international issues which are of concern to Scottish citizens.

Whilst singing group 'protest in harmony' sang outside the consulate, the Consul General Ramesh Chander and Consul S.N.Srinivasan spent a half hour meeting with three MSPs (Patrick Harvie of Scottish Green Party, Aileen Campbell and Bill Wilson of Scottish Nationalist Party), John Watson of Amnesty International, Owen Davis of Friends of the Earth Scotland and myself.

'Protest in Harmony' at the Indian consulate, Edinburgh

Mr Chander provided a copy of the official version of what the government of India is already doing for survivors and we were able to counter with the need for a Commission with teeth to ensure health, water etc needs were met, and the urgency of pursuing Dow in court.

Outside the Indian Consulate in Edinburgh. Left to Right: Eurig Scandrett; Patrick Harvie MSP (Scottish Green Party); Consul General Ramesh Chander; Consul Mr. S.N.Srinivasan; Aileen Campbell MSP (Scottish Nationalist Party); John Watson (Amnesty International)

The meeting was polite and cordial and the Consul General assured us that our concerns would be conveyed to the Prime Minister. He emphasised that India is a democracy and said he was sure that the Dr Singh would be willing to meet with the padyatris to hear their demands. We hope he's right.

Eurig Scandrett
Lecturer in Sociology
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

March 27th, 2008, London

Five of us travelled from Brighton to London carrying our solidarity bannner, 'umbrage' umbrella and 1000 leaflets about the fax action targetting the Prime Minister's office. In London we met with supporters at Pan-uk and collected a number of 'walk your talk' placards showing photos of child deformities caused by Carbide's factory in Bhopal.

We caught public transport to Parliament Square where we were met by a group of Bhopal supporters. Two were familiar faces: recent volunteers at Sambhavana, one of us had met them at last year's dharna site in Newmarket, Bhopal.

We had about 1.5 miles to walk until the Indian High Commission, and we imagined ourselves walking in step with the Padyatris as they marched the last few kilometres to Jantar Mantar at the same time.

As we walked we handed out the leaflets asking people to fax the Manmohan Singh, containing also facts, history and information on the padyatra campaign.

All 20 of us carried placards.

En route a dreadlocked rasta dressed in a dazzling, silky stars and stripes suit and Uncle Sam hat saw us coming, guessed our banners had something to do with the u.s.a. and sheepishly appologised [on behalf of the usa or for his awful dress sense, we weren't quite sure].

Whatever leaflets were left were distributed outside the Indian High Commission.

In the alleged absence of the High Commissioner himself, who was purportedly away on business in Delhi, officials comprising the Coordination Minister and one other came out to collect the materials we had brought them. We asked them to wait and remain outside until we'd finished a poetry reading and cleared our throats with some lusty chanting.

We presented the officials - who were sticking uncomfortably to the security locked main entrance of the High Commission - with a copy of the Bhopal Early Day Motion tabled in the House of Commons the previous day and an UK Bhopal supporters' petition, accompanied by a letter from the Bhopal Medical Appeal, the ICJB and PAN-UK and PAN-Europe. We took time to explain the purpose of the padyatra and the strength of feeling across the UK and elsewhere about the continuing abuse of the Bhopali's rights. We were assured that our message would be passed to Manmohan Singh, though imminent events were about to cast doubt upon the word of these particular representatives of India.

Indian officials receive our material

The officials retreated inside, leaving the stage set for four year old Sameera to belt out an unceasing chant of "justice for Bhopal".

Four year old Sameera makes an impression against the windows of the Indian High Commission

Not five minutes passed before the High Commissioner himself arrived in his ambassadorial car and scuttled straight into the safety of his office, face turned firmly away from the protest positioned a few feet away.

Proof that the High Commissioner was 'in station' after all

Evidently, his eminence, Mr Shiv Shankar Mukherjee was too intimidated to pause and talk to the closest protestor Claire, bearer of the placard "Sweep Dow Out".

We continued our chants and talked to the number of people interested enough to stop. We also leafleted the 50 or so people queueing for visas around the corner.

Some of the supporters had travelled for 3 hours to join us. We stayed for around 2 hours and made sure that the officials inside the building knew the entire time that we were there.

Bhopal 23 Years On - Early Day Motion 1266, Houses of Parliament, London, UK

Turner, Desmond

That this House deplores the continuing suffering of the people of Bhopal 23 years after the world's worst industrial disaster; notes that Amnesty International has reported ongoing violations of human rights, that contaminated factory land is still not properly cleaned up, that high quantities of organochlorines and lead pollute local water supplies, that there are continuing occurrences of birth deformities and ill health and that 15 people die each month as a result; congratulates the work of the Sambhavna medical clinic in treating victims of gas and water poisoning and that of the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal in trying to make the government of India meet its obligations to provide clean water and adequate medical, social and economic rehabilitation; and further applauds the campaign for pursuing polluter pays principles against Dow Chemical and extradition of its fugitive subsidiary Union Carbide, which refuses to face charges in India of culpable homicide in connection with the deaths of 23,000 people.

Signatories as of April 9th, 2008:

37 signatures

Turner, Desmond
Gibson, Ian
Spink, Bob
Dismore, Andrew
Drew, David
Cohen, Harry
Harvey, Nick
Holmes, Paul
Jenkins, Brian
George, Andrew
Prentice, Gordon
Hoyle, Lindsay
Jones, Lynne
McCafferty, Chris
Moffatt, Laura
Corbyn, Jeremy
Cryer, Ann
Hancock, Mike
Wareing, Robert N
Clark, Katy
Sharma, Virendra Kumar
Lepper, David
Owen, Albert
Caton, Martin
Durkan, Mark
Weir, Mike
MacNeil, Angus
Pope, Greg
Robertson, Angus
Llwyd, Elfyn
McDonnell, Alasdair
Meale, Alan
Davey, Edward
Vis, Rudi
Willis, Phil
Hosie, Stewart
Heyes, David

Around 100 people gathered at the Gandhi Statue on Marina beach to hold a candle light vigil in support of the second padyatra of the Bhopal gas survivors.

Around 6’o clock we started readying the place for the vigil. We had two banners in Tamil and English which had the story of Bhopal and Padyatra in brief. These banners were spread out for people to read. The big banner asking Prime Minister to Walk his Talk was spread too for people to sign.

We started the vigil with Mangai, Poet and theatre artist introducing the padyatra and the demands of the Bhopalis to the people gathered there.

The first event of the day was a small skit enacted for a poem written by Poet Inquilab called “Atharku Munbu, Atharku Pinbu, which translates into English as “Before that and after that”, “that” referring to the Bhopal Gas Disaster. It was written one week after the Bhopal Gas Disaster way back in 1984. Children from Bairava community (fortune tellers) enacted the Poem for the people in a very beautiful way.

Vedant Bharadwaj , a singer from Chennai, sang beautiful songs in Tamil, English and other languages. More than 30 students from Good Earth School, Chennai participated in the vigil and also sang songs together. Viraj and Daanish dedicated the song “ASHAYEN” to the Bhopalis and said that they really hope that Bhopalis would win the struggle.

Lot of Tamil and English poems were read out by poets and also people who had come for the vigil. The Vigil was extremely participatory and saw a lot of first time Bhopal supporters, especially children and young people.

While this was happening on one side, pamphleteering and talking to people about the padyatra also went on very well. At any given time we had at least a hundred people gathered around us watching us, reading the banners and enquiring about the padyatra and the struggle. Lot of people came forward to sign the banner saying that they wanted to do their bit for the struggle.

On the whole the evening was fun filled and successful. It was one of the best events we have had in support of Bhopal and we definitely reached the message of Bhopal Padyatris to a lot of people.

Jeny Dolly

report by Shalini

Hundreds of engineering students were in IIT Delhi for the Institute’s well reputed technical festival yesterday. Bhopal supporters were up and active. Three emails, five calls and few sms' later we were in IIT Delhi yet again with full zest to say loud and clear- We won’t let Bhopal die!

Aim was to meet students from several different engineering colleges and talk about the worst engineering disaster of the country. After all, companies like Union Carbide and Dow Chemical manipulate the well meaning intentions and talent of us - young Professionals - to further their profit graphs. So what if we don’t have millions to spend on the advertising campaigns like them, we have our conscience and we will voice it till that's the only voice they hear from all corners.

The corridor adjoining the main building of IIT became the exhibition gallery. Only this time, the pictures were put on the ground. It wasn’t eye catching in the traditional way of mounting exhibitions, but it was more than that.

Students will stop because faces of children cried out to them, Ronak’s hand reached out to them and they found themselves unable to move. Not until they have read what the faces have to say.

And students were not the only ones.

The impact was strong. Not satisfied with pictures and pamphlets, you would move on to know more…

Reflections and reactions!

Students took pictures of the exhibition to share them with their friends who could not come to IIT this time. They came back to us to know how to organize similar events on their campuses. It is difficult to know Bhopal and not tell others about it. The shock it gives is deep and the reaction it generates is hard. But most of all, it leads to an overbearing urge to say… to shout… to scream!!

And soon students were lining up in huge numbers.

To say what they had to…

Because the voice in their head wouldn’t let them turn a blind eye.

“Prime Minister- We won’t rest till Justice is done!”

“YES, I Want To Be a Student for Bhopal!”

If you were hoping, Mr. Prime Minister, that struggle would die, think again. Thew Young Bhopal Brigade is in the making. If the buzz that was generated on 2nd March in IIT Delhi was anything to go by, we are sure you will be hearing the music. Mr. Prime Minister, first Walk your Talk and then claim your stake for the next elections. Youth is watching you. Closely and keenly!

Please join this circle of trust, tell your friends about Bhopal, organize film screenings and exhibitions. Distribute pamphlets on Bhopal. Place website links on your orkut, facebook and messenger status. And if you need any help, feel free to contact Shalini (shalini@studentsforbhopal.org). But, most important, whatever you decide to do share with us. Let us join the voices of survivors!

I wanted to update you all on my trip to Washington DC.
 
The first thing we did, on Friday the 22nd, was protest at the Indian Embassy. The reasons are obvious – they don’t like it. It’s embarrassing. It makes them look bad. It draws employees to the window and sets them all a-muttering. And we shouted loudly enough that (hopefully) the Ambassador, in his cushy office, couldn’t escape our cries for justice.

 
We have a long history of protesting at the Indian Embassy, and while folks in other cities have occasionally managed to meet with their Consul General or otherwise high-ranking officials, the Embassy itself usually tries its best to shoo us away with low-level flunkies. When we protested outside the embassy in 2006, they agreed to meet with us – but refused to meet with us inside the building. Instead we were forced to stand awkwardly outside, shifting from foot to foot and surrounded by traffic.
 
This time was no different. After about an hour of persistent chanting, two of us went to present a petition to the embassy officials. They refused to let us in.

On March 23rd the Bhopalis are expected to reach Delhi. Between now and then we’ve got lots of work to do. If you’d like to help, you can begin taking action RIGHT NOW by visiting the March to Delhi page on our website Students for Bhopal

February 28, 2008

Friends, as you are aware, since last night there was tension in the village of Shinde (Chakan) Dist. Pune, Maharashtra. This is the latest update.

Yesterday, the govt. tried to forcibly start construction work at the site of the proposed R&D facility of the notorious DOW Chemicals.

Dow's R&D construction site at Chakan, near Pune

Since the last 43 days, the villagers, who have been organised under the leadership of Justice Kolse-Patil and Com. Vilas Sonawane (Lokshashan Andolan), formed Bhamhandra Dongar Bachao Warkari Shetkari Sangharsh Samiti and had stopped any kind of construction work at the site for the last 42 days.

Villagers use bullock carts to blockade Dow's construction site...

Yesterday, the govt. tried to start the work forcibly by terrorising the villagers. However, the same villagers who have blocked the road organised a massive protest rally. This protest meeting was addressed by Justice B.G. Kolse-Patil (President Lokshashan Andolan) and Com. Vilas Sonawane (Working President Lokshahan Andolan). Justice Kolse-Patil challenged the authorities to arrest them. However, the Police did not take any action.

Soon after the meeting, when Justice Kolse-Patil, Com. Vilas Sonawane left the place, the police took action and arrested 12 leading activists of the Bhamhandra Dongar Bachao Warkari Shetkari Sangharsh Samiti. The women protestors soon gheraoed the remaining police force, who were literally held as hostage. The women demanded the immediate release of those arrested. Till then, they refused the police force (numbering approximately 200) permission to leave the village. The situation became worse when an additional force was called. The women protestors and the other villagers were arrested after midnight between 12.30 am to 1.30 am. Around 143 villagers were arrested, including 69 women who were arrested after midnight. Police even arrested 16 children (below 18 yrs).

The fearless women of Shinde and Vasuli villages

In the morning, the tension increased manifold. Finally, due to the initiative of Justice Kolse-Patil, the police agreed to release the protestors unconditionally. They even agreed to maintain the status quo, whereby no construction work at the site shall be taken up till the govt.'s committee on this issue submits its report. Even now the road blockade is there and the protesting villagers - who have no faith in the govt., which is protecting the interests of the notorious DOW Chemical - have resolved to fight DOW and the govt. tooth and nail.

A formidable, unlikely barrier to Dow's plans for Indian expansion

Activists of Lokshashan Andolan and Yuva Bharat are in the village and organising the protests.

Victory!

Kindly go through the earlier report (below).

DOW Chemicals Go Back!
DOW Hatao Pune Bachao!
Bhamhandra Dongar Bachao Warkari Shetkari Sangharsh Samiti Zindabad!
Jai Tukoba Jai Shivraya!

Dow go back!

--------------------------------- 
The latest information about anti-DOW struggle.
 
17 villagers have been arrested by the Police in Shinde. They have been kept in Chakan Police Station. Women protestors have still gheraod the police at Shinde. Police planning brutal action against the women. Anything can happen in the coming hours. Kindly circulate this message and help as you can in this situation of crisis.
 
Shashi Sonawane
LOKSHASHAN ANDOLAN
 
The list of 17 villagers who have been arrested.
 
Shantaram Panmand, Vithal Panmand, Gorakshnath Panmand, Balu Timghire, Navnath Ghanvat, Ankush Ghanvat, Fakira Tamboli, Babaji Mhatale, Subhash Panmand, Shrikant Gaikwad, Suresh Gaikwad, Kisan Karle, Mahadu Panmand, Kailash Panmand, Shivnath Panmand, Tukaram
Mhatale, Narayan Mhatale
 
Dear Friends,
 
Police action against the protestors who are opposing the coming up of so-called R&D facility of notorious DOW Chemicals
 
As you all, an R&D plant of notorious DOW chemicals is proposed at Shinde and Vasuli villages of Khed taluka in Pune district. The farmers have come together and formed Bhamchandra Dongar Bachao Warkari Shetkari Sangharsh Samiti under the leadership of Justice B.G.Kolse-Patil (retd.) and have been opposing the coming up of the facility. Since 16th January, the villagers had stopped construction work at the site. Even the suppliers have boycotted supply of raw material to the site. However, the govt. has been making every effort to somehow start the work.

Villagers have been opposing the chemical plant on valid grounds to which the govt. has no answers. The notorious DOW has not taken any responsiblity of Bhopal Gas Victims.
 
The details of the agitation have been sent to all you regularly. On 23rd Feb, 2008, the organisations, concerned citizens of Pune had come together under the banner of DOW Hatao Pune Bachao and demonstrated against the proposed DOW R&D facility. After consistent agitation, the govt appointed a committee to look into the matter. On 25th Feb, in its second meeting, the govt. officials were not able to give satisfactory answers to queries by villagers pertaining to the hazardous chemicals to be used, the project report, about disposal of chemical wastage, emissions, environmental impact etc.
 
The issue is yet to be sorted out and now the govt. has resorted to represssive action for the vested interests of a notorious company like DOW which has been responsible for making chemical warfare materials and other hazardous chemicals and has never taken any responsiblity for its criminal acts.
 
Today at this moment police have taken brutal action against the peaceful protestors of the village of Shinde and the surrounding villages of Bhamchandra Dongar in Chakan (Pune). Today, in the morning, police forcibly tried to start the work of DOW Chemicals. Villagers opposed this move. Large number of villagers, farmers and warkaris of the surrounding villages assembled at Shinde (at the site) and a massive protest meeting was organised under the leadership of Justice B.G. Kolse-Patil (retd.), Com. Vilas Sonawane (Lokshashan Andolan.

Following the meeting, in the evening police arrested 7 villagers and took them to an unknown place (Right now we are trying to trace
them and worried about their security). Around 400 women have now gheraoed the Police who are there for bandobast in large numbers. The women have demanded the immediate release of those 7 villagers who have been arrested. Police are using brutal force against women (without sufficient women constables being mobilised). There is a tension in the village and we fear for the security
and well-being of the women protesters.
 
List of those arrested -
 
Shantaram Panmand, Vithal Panmand, Balu Timghire, Navnath Ghanvatm Ankush Ghanvat, Pradip Tamboli, Babaji Mhatale, Subhash Panmand, Shrikant Gaikwad, Suresh Gaikwad, Kisan Karle, Mahadu Panmand.
 
On one side, the govt. claims that Maharashtra is a progressive state, it is the land of saints and warkaris and on the other hand it is shamelessly unleashing a reign of terror on the warkaris and shetkaris of these villages for the sake of a foreign company like DOW, which has only worked against humanity. The Govt. is trying to give the land of Saint Tukaram Maharaj to the notorious DOW Chemicals.  
 
We appeal to all of you to support this struggle and pressurise the govt. to stop the Singur-Nandigram style police attack on peaceful agitators in the Bhamchandra Dongar area.
 
 
Stop the brutal police action against the warkaris-shetkaris!
DOW Chemicals Go Back!
Release the those arrested immediately!
Immediately stop the Police action at the village Shinde against the women protestors!

First of all: THANK YOU to all those who called.
 
Vilas Sonawane of Lokshasan Andolan, Pune, reports that police and villagers have arrived at an understanding that until the report of the Committee is submitted:

a) the status quo would be maintained. There will be no further construction or supply of material to Dow's R&D site.

b) NO provocative action will be taken by police against villagers. NO intimidation or night visits by the police. 
 
Your calls averted violence and led to an outcome that we can live with for the time being. The vigil is on, and the villagers are even more enthused now that they have seen their strength, and the support from overseas.
 
Calls to the District Administration and Police may be stopped now.

***URGENT ACTION ALERT***

February 27th 2008

CALL IMMEDIATELY

Dow Sets Police on Indian Villagers

Police at a meeting at Shinde village this month

Five men from Shinde Vasuli village, near Pune, were arrested today after nearly 250 armed police from the State Reserve Police made their way to the construction site of Dow's proposed R&D facility. Construction at the site remains suspended for more than 40 days. More than 1000 villagers, including at least 300 women, have closeted the police contingent inside the Dow site, and are demanding that the police should release the five arrested villagers.

The State Government has ordered reinforcements and a lathi charge is feared overnight tonight.

TAKE ACTION:

Please call:

District Collector. Mr. Deshmukh: +91 9881221144

Rural SP. Mr. Nangre Patil: +91 9923088887

Talking Points:

a) The Collector had assured that no work will begin until the report is submitted and the villagers are convinced about the nature of work. Why has he gone back on his word? Newspapers have reported this.

b) Any violence against villagers and on behalf of Dow will be viewed very negatively by the world. Release the arrested villagers, and withdraw the police force, and talk to the villagers to find out what their concerns are.

Background: Construction work at the site had been suspended after local villagers took over the approach roads and stopped all work more than a month ago, triggered by fears about the pollution impact of Dow's facility. The villagers had also questioned Dow's right to go about business as usual while the company's Bhopal liabilities remain unresolved.

The blockade by the villagers was lifted after the District Collector assured them that no construction would take place until a committee set up to evaluate Dow's proposal presented its report. The report has not yet been submitted. But Dow has managed to strong-arm the
Government into sending police reinforcements to escort construction material. The site has no construction workers as all of them left as soon as the blockade began.

With Dow breathing down the necks of the State Government, it is highly likely that the State will resort to use of force to enable Dow's construction. The villagers have said they will not move until their men are freed.  

17 villagers have been arrested by the Police in Shinde. They have been kept in Chakan Police Station. Women protestors have still gheraod the police at Shinde. Police planning brutal action against the women. Anything can happen in the coming hours. Kindly circulate this message and help as you can in this situation of crisis. 

Shashi Sonawane

LOKSHASHAN ANDOLAN 

The list of 17 villagers who have been arrested. 

Shantaram Panmand, Vithal Panmand, Gorakshnath Panmand, Balu Timghire, Navnath Ghanvat, Ankush Ghanvat, Fakira Tamboli, Babaji Mhatale, Subhash Panmand, Shrikant Gaikwad, Suresh Gaikwad, Kisan Karle, Mahadu Panmand, Kailash Panmand, Shivnath Panmand, Tukaram Mhatale, Narayan Mhatale

*LATEST* Five of those arrested are still being held.

Bhopal tragedy comes to haunt Dow R&D unit, villagers block road to site

Police threaten Dow Protestors in Pune

Dow Chemical’s R&D project plan hits another roadblock

Dow plans blocked by Indian villagers

Villagers voice resolve to keep out Dow Chemical

Dow Chemical issue: Activists demand Lok Adalat

Dow India's R&D facility embroiled in controversy

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU CALL

Notes of a conversation between Boston-based Bhopal supporter Aquene and the rural superintendent of police, Mr. Nangre Patil, one hour ago:

Aquene: I am looking for Nangre Patil I am calling from Boston US regarding the arrest of 5 villagers from near Chakan

Patil: Can you speak more slowly?

Aquene: I am calling with regard to the arrest of 5 villages near Chakan with regard to the Dow plant construction.

Patil: Oh Dow. Ok there has been a committee formed with bureaucrats to deal with that matter ma'am.

Aquene: I know there has been a committee formed and as far as I understand from the newspapers there was an agreement to not do any work on the Dow site until the report was submitted. You must release the arrested villagers immediately. Dow is harboring a fugitive from
Justice in Indian Criminal court, how can you permit them to build?

Patil: Ma'am the committee has been formed to look at this issue and address it. They will make a report and until the report comes out Dow should continue construction.

Aquene: That is not the way it works, why should Dow continue the construction while waiting for this report? What good will that do allowing construction to continue when the project has not been evaluated? The project will already be done before the issue is clarified. When will the report come out?

Patil: Within a fortnight ma'am.

Aquene: Well good, but until that time the construction should not be permitted on the Dow site. You should leave the villagers alone and release those who have been arrested.

Patil: Not that much construction can happen in such a short time ma'am. They are not at that stage of construction.

Aquene: If they are not at that stage of construction why did you send 3 trucks with Special Forces to the site?

Patil: I am just doing my job ma'am

Aquene: What is this doing your job and arresting innocent villagers for a company that won't even respect Indian Law?

Patil: Good Night Ma'am

Aquene: We are watching you from around India and from around the world. We are watching what you do there. Those concerned about Human Rights are watching.

Patil: Good Night Ma'am

Aquene: Please release those villagers

Patil: Click 

Do call again and again every few hours until the villagers have been freed.

Press coverage of the event in the Statesman(pdf)

Report by Shalini Sharma

Connaught Place is the heart of the capital of India. While government is busy making it the commercial hub of the city, hundreds of students and Bhopal supporters made their way to the Central Park situated right in the centre of Connaught Place. The park is situated on top of the metro station and is surrounded by big showrooms and food joints from all sides. Suddenly, the visitors at the park found a number of college going students carrying placards, waving pamphlets, adjusting cameras, arranging exhibition slides and musical instruments. No matter they knew each other or not- mention Bhopal and there was an instant camaraderie. This drew attention from hundreds of others who were visiting the Park. Soon, the place was bustling with more than 300 people for one cause- No more Bhopals!

Immediately, students got busy with preparing the stage. Some put up the banners which said loud and clear- Prime Minister Walk your Talk while others did a quick round of pamphleteering and appealed to people to join the candle vigil in solidarity for Bhopal. Few others made sure that all things are easily available. And sure they did manage to have a chaos free event!

Amphitheatre soon became a live gallery. Pictures of the disaster, ongoing contamination, children born with severe birth defects were laid on the ground along with pictures of peoples’ action across the world in support of Bhopal. People began reading the slides first out of curiosity and then with sheer realization of what Bhopalis have been suffering. The look on their face said it all. And a usually subdued amphitheatre now echoed the sentiments of many who were shocked and bewildered at Government’s continued apathy.

The postcards addressed to Prime Minister have been doing rounds of various schools and colleges in Delhi for almost a month now. We were excited at the opportunity to talk directly with people and read the postcards to them. While few students went individually to people for postcard sign on, it was heartening to see a number of people walking up to us for the postcards. Around 100 postcards were signed in no time.

We were also joined by a number of youngsters who had generally come for a stroll in the Park. They not only volunteered to distribute the pamphlets on the roads outside the Park but in fact read the whole pamphlet to be able to explain the matter to any one. Many of them took our contacts and volunteered to organize Bhopal exhibition in their colleges. But most inspiring was the eagerness with which they joined us in our efforts. They kept telling us- let us get together on this, let us take the issue to one and all! The banner that we kept at the end of the exhibition was soon covered with messages to Prime Minsiter. Hard hitting reactions! But, the high point was when a very elderly person asked us- “When will you give it to the Prime Minsiter? Don’t forget to call me, I want to walk with you. 850 kilometers is no joke and that too second time!”

The response to pamphlets and postcards was overwhelming. And, our friends from Jigri and Kutumb made sure everyone has fun along with registering a cultural protest. They led the event further by songs on democracy and struggle. To name a few, Hille re jagjor duniya…jagiraa aarerra…and in true rang de basanti style-khoon chala! Only this time those singing it were real people who were well aware that the issue is serious and there is no retake. The crowd joined in chorus, lighted candles and cheered for Bhopal.

And amidst this, we also had some drama courtesy guards of Central Park. They had been quietly enjoying the event themselves, it’s only when they saw people reading the banner with Padyatra demands that they rushed in to pull them down.

Well, we outnumbered them in both count as well as spirit. Supporters held the banner tightly and refused to budge from the venue. Others took the pictures from the exhibition in their hands and made a chain. The hold was firm and stance clear- No matter what you do, you can’t stop us from supporting Bhopal. Prime Minister must represent people and not killer Corporations!

We did receive quite a lot of media attention- ANI TV and ETV were the first ones to reach and others soon followed. Students are writing updates for their college notice boards and magazines. Some captured the event on their camera and plan to screen in their class. The momentum is building and this is just the beginning.

Singing the songs in solidarity and holding candles for every Bhopali that decided to walk from Bhopal, Delhiites joined hands with a determination to drum greater support for Bhopalis’ demands.

After more than two hour or so we head off happy to know that we have given Government a shock, warned them that we are observing their stance on Bhopal closely and, informed people in Delhi how a government can force the old, sick and wailing to walk again. This on the very first day of the Padyatra, they should expect more noise from us because we will not accept anything less than a fair deal for the survivors this time.

Yesterday we had a very successful gathering at Nochhikuppam, the oldest fishing hamlet in Chennai, on the eve of the Bhopal disaster. The public meeting was markedly devoid of long speeches. Everything about Bhopal and its relevance today was conveyed to the audience, largely children and women from the fishing hamlet, through a variety of cultural programs.
 
The program was inaugurated by Kanchipuram Makkal Mandram Kanchipuram People's Forum) with a Parai-attam. Parai is a percussion instrument made of cowhide that is a cultural symbol of dalits in Tamilnadu. The Parai, historically associated with the Paraiyars and hakkiliyars, is now a symbol of dalit assertion for rights. The dance is almost martial, and attracted the police within minutes. More importantly, an almost empty community square was quickly filled to brimming by
Makkal Mandram's spectacular performance.

The parai-attam - a percussion instrument made of cowhide that is a symbol of dalit assertion for rights in Tamil Nadu
 
Kosi Mani of the Tamilnadu Fisherfolk Development Organisation gave the welcome speech where he linked the insensitivity marking the Government's stance on Bhopal to the ongoing push for elitist development which imperilled fisher and farming communities. He also condemned the presence of Dow Chemical in Chennai and called upon Chennai residents to evict Dow from Chennai.
 
Students from KRMM School reenacted the Bhopal tragedy focusing on how the tragedy was not an accident but a disaster by design. The story of Bhopal was retold by Youth for Social Change through a lyrical tradition called Villu Paattu -- a satirical rendition by a main singer assisted by prompters asking stupid questions.
 
Volunteers from the Chennai wing of Internaitonal Campaign for Justice in Bhopal conducted the Ettappan Awards Ceremony, where modern-day Ettappans were named and "honoured" for having betrayed the country for monetary considerations. Ettappan was an 18th century chieftain who did a deal with the British East India Company and betrayed Veerapandiya Kattabomman, another chieftain who refused to cede to the company's demands of land tax. Kattabomman was subsequently hanged by the Company, and became a legend and martyr inspiring thousands to join the struggle to oust the British from Indian soil. The awards were given not just to the regulars -- Manmohan Singh, Ratan Tata, Mukesh Ambani and P. Chidambaram -- but also to two brand-new candidates from Chennai. IIT Madras and Citi Center were honored with the "Fencesitters Award" -- IIT for not taking a stance on barring Dow from recruiting on-campus despite the request of students, and Citi Center for accommodating Dow's office in their plush mall.

 
Kanchi Makkal Mandram returned with a street play on America's imperial designs, covering the plight of children in Iraq, Bhopal, India. While highlighting the effects of pollution -- war-related or through American style industrialisation in various parts of the world -- the play also talked about the ramifications of imperialism on food sovereignity. But the Mandram reserved its strongest critique for Indians> Coincidentally, the key figures holding America's feet in the street play were Manmohan Singh, Mukesh Ambani and Ratan Tata.

 
Only two speeches were made, one by Sarnath of Dalit Panthers of India, and the other by Rupesh, a fisherman and resident of ochikuppam.
 
Press release issued yesterday can be found here

Bhopal, Dec 2: Several rallies, candlelight processions, torch rallies were taken out on the eve of 23rd anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Disaster on Sunday.

A human chain for health care was also formed, where participants alleged Government for failing to provide proper medical care at Kamla Park. On the occasion effigy of Warren Anderson was also torched as a mark of protest.

The human chain was formed by activists of Sambhavna Trust Clinic and other organisations working among the survivors of Bhopal Gas Tragedy.

Later in the evening, activists took out one candlelight procession from New Market Top-n-Town area. The rally was followed from Ganesh Mandir, Chola, which culminated at the near the premises of Union Carbide Plant Factory.

In the rally, activists raised slogans and demanded justice for the victims. They charged on the State and Union Government for failing to give adequate medical aid to the victims of worlds greatest industrial disaster.

Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathan, a organisation fighting for the rehabilitation of gas victims, also took out a torch rally from Yaadgaar-e-Shahjehani Park to Bhart Talkies on Sunday evening.

Addressing the gathering at Neelam Park, president of the Morcha, Balkrishna Namdeo alleged Union Government for giving shelter to the Dow Chemicals. He said the company is running away from its liabilities.

On the occasion he announced that 23rd anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy would be celebrated as 'Anti-Multinational Companies Day'.

The rally was attended by the widows of the husbands who lost life on the ill-fated interviening night of Dec 2:-3 when poisonous gas from Union Carbide Plant in 1984 leaked killing over 3,000 and affecting thousand others.

They later torched the effigy of Warren Anderson and Dow Chemicals at Lily Talkies.

They too were raising slogans against Dow Chemicals and Warren Anderson.

On Monday, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udhyog Sangathan would take out a rally from Lily Talkies. The rally will pass through Sultania Zanana Hospital, Chawni Bazaar, Ghoda Nakkas, Bus Stand, Chola to culminate at the Union Carbide Factory plant. At the ending point, tributes would be paid to the people who had lost their lives in the Bhopal Gas tragedy.

The Sambhawna Trust Clinic, addressed a press conference on Sunday.

According to the members of the Sambhavna Trust Clinic that provides free medical care to survivors of the December '84 Bhopal disaster, highlighted the need for setting up a National Commission to address the long term medical issues.

They claimed that their internationally published research has shown that children born after the disaster to gas exposed parents are also marked by poisons of Union Carbide.

'Bhopal victims will need specialized health care at least for the next thirty years. Setting up a National Commission focused on long term rehabilitation of the survivors and their next generation is a must' said Dr Mohammed Ali Qaiser, physician at the Clinic.

He said that the Sambhavna Trust Clinic has developed treatment protocols integrating Allopathy, Ayurveda, Panchakarma and Yoga. Results show it is possible to provide simple, safe, inexpensive and effective health care through a holistic approach." he said.

Dr Qaiser informed that there were more than 1,00, 000 chronically ill gas victims still need proper medical care. Expressing his concern at the sorry state of health care, he said that he comes across many cases where the gas victims have been harmed due to indiscriminate use of antibiotics, steroids and other toxic drugs at the government hospitals.

Ms Aziza Sultan, Community Health Worker at the Sambhavna Trust Clinic shared her experience of training community women in screening for cervical cancer. She said that through health education and involvement of the community, Sambhavna has been able to bring down the incidence of Tuberculosis and malaria in gas affected communities.

She bemoaned the complete complete absence of initiatives in community health work in the government system of health care of the Bhopal victims.

A member of the Steering Committee of the Clinic, Ms. Mahendra Soni said that there are 20, 000 patients registered for long term care. These include people affected by the gas disaster and those poisoned due to ground water contamination near the abandoned Union Carbide factory.

Referring to the six reports of the Supreme Court appointed Committee for monitoring health care of Bhopal victims, Ms. Rana Lodi, administrator of the Clinic, expressed concern that none of the recommendations of this Committee had been implemented by the state government.