March 02, 2008
Test
Testing
Posted by bhola at 09:31 PM | Comments (0)
May 13, 2006
Bhopal gas victims demand balanced committee
TIMES OF INDIA, SATURDAY, MAY 13, 2006
BHOPAL: The victims of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, on Saturday, condemned the composition of a coordination committee on Bhopal, which they say is dominated by government officials and a former medical advisor to the Union Carbide Corporation.
The committee had been constituted by the Central government after several organisations of the tragedy's survivors set off on a 900 km march in early April from the now-defunct Union Carbide pesticide plant here to Delhi, demanding the prime minister's intervention in ensuring "justice and a life of dignity for themselves and their ilk".
The prime minister conceded to their demands, including the formation of the committee, on April 17 after he met the representatives of these organisations.
The committee is to plan and implement schemes for medical, economic and social rehabilitation of the people poisoned by the toxic gas that spewed out of the plant on the morning of December 3, 1984, killing 3,000 people instantly and maiming several thousands for life.
A total of 15,000 people have died so far.
Leaders of the organisations, including Rachna Dhingra and Satinath Shadangi, condemned the failure of the government to include their representatives in the committee.
"It is a travesty that none of their representatives have yet been incorporated into the coordination committee," Rachna said at a press conference.
She added that they have written to the prime minister requesting his personal intervention to ensure a more balanced committee that includes their representatives.
They also protested against the inclusion of N.P. Mishra, former medical advisor to Union Carbide, in the committee.
"Dr. Mishra is responsible for thousands of preventable deaths because of his opposition to the administration of sodium thiosulphate to the survivors in the aftermath of the disaster," Rachna stated.
According to Shadangi, many lives could have been saved if gas-affected people had received this injection in time. Administration of sodium thiosulphate is considered helpful in detoxifying the body.
He also pointed out that contrary to Union Carbide's position that the toxic gases damaged only lungs and eyes, the poison had actually entered the blood stream and caused damage to almost every organ in the body.
"One of the nine members of the committee, Madhumita Dutta from New Delhi, has already tendered her resignation to protest against the imbalance in the committee, the inclusion of Dr. Mishra and the exclusion of survivors' representatives," he said.
Posted by bhola at 04:59 PM | Comments (0)
May 06, 2006
Sparked by a cause
TRIBUNE INDIA, May 6, 2006
PHOTOS: MUKESH AGGARWAL
While many of their counterparts rock, these youngsters from diverse backgrounds find fulfilment in rallying to a cause. For them, association with social movements is the way forward. They share their thoughts with The Tribune's Vibha Sharma in Delhi
This April saw the Capital teeming with hundreds of Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) and 1984-Bhopal gas tragedy activists from all over the country and abroad sitting on hunger strikes, raising slogans and conducting awareness rallies.
Along with several high-profile supporters like writer Arundhati Roy, Supreme Court advocates Prashant Bhushan and Indira Jaisingh and actors Aamir Khan and Rahul Bose there were some qualified and educated youngsters who were going all out to support the issue-based movements.
Sharing the same platform with tribals and other affected persons from the valley and Bhopal, these youngsters spent days and nights on the footpath adjoining Jantar Mantar, interacting with mediapersons, preparing press notes, and talking to officials.
Highly motivated and imbued with a cause, these youngsters—some of whom studied to become doctors, engineers and managers—talk about themselves, their beliefs, and also about allegations of foreign funds.
Rachna Dhingra, associated with the Bhopal Group of Information and Action: "For me it is not a sacrifice but something that helps me sleep better at night".
Rachna Dhingra (28), originally from Delhi, was just six years old when the world's worst industrial disaster struck Bhopal in 1984. She was 18 when she moved to the US with her mother and later joined a student group that took up the issue of the Bhopal gas disaster. Rachna graduated with a business degree in 2000 and came back to stay in Bhopal in January 2003. Now she is associated with the Bhopal Group of Information and Action. What is interesting is that before coming to India she was associated with Dow Chemical, the parent company of Union Carbide Corporation. It was the UCC factory in Bhopal from where methyl isocyanate gas leaked, killing thousands. "Dow was a client of the company I worked for," says the computer consultant.
I believe: I love what I am doing. For me it is not a sacrifice but something that helps me sleep better at night without any regret. What angers me most is that even 21 years after the disaster, the government can allow people to drink contaminated water. Every person is moved by something in his or her life. For me it was the fact that the company I was working for was more concerned about profits than lives of the people. I came to Bhopal to see that demands like better health care system and income generation plans are implemented. Twentyone years is a long time to wait for justice but I am hopeful that eventually everyone will get justice.
On foreign funds: As far as the Bhopal Group of Information and Action is concerned, none of our funding comes from foreign-based foundations. We do get money from individuals, both from India and abroad, besides some environmental groups. But these are individuals who have read about Bhopal and contribute to show their solidarity. This money we use for advertisements, pamphlets, documentation, campaigning, etc. Personally I find these allegations ridiculous. I was a computer consultant in the US before I came here and there certainly are many better and easier ways to make money.
Yogini Khanolkar, studying to be a lawyer, was moved by the "Rally for Valley" call: "The Narmada Movement has been like a university for me. I have managed to learn all I need to know about life."
Yogini Khanolkar (25) is from Mumbai and NBA leader Medha Patkar's cousin. "Medhatai's father and my father are brothers," explains Yogini. A graduate, she is now studying to be a lawyer. As the NBA leader's first cousin and living in the same building, she knew about the movement since a very young age. But it was the "Rally for Valley" call by writer Arundhati Roy in 1999 that brought her fully into the fight for the rights of the valley's people.
I believe: The Narmada movement has been like a university for me. I have managed to learn all I need to know about life, not just from Medhatai but also from tribals, villagers, and other people I have been associated with. I will be with the issue till such time people need me. I don't foresee doing anything else in the near future, what with government's policies continuing to favour globalisation. Narmada is not just one issue. There are so many related issues. We are running 13 jeevanshalas for Adivasi children. I wish more youth would join the movement and see for themselves how elected representatives deprive tribals and others of money meant for their betterment. Yes, we do get threats and are also stopped from doing our work so many times. But we know our issue and also know that we are right.
On foreign funds: From being "anti-development" and "accepting foreign funding" to "destabilising the nation", we have to counter several such allegations. We at the NBA do not accept money from abroad at all. If someone wants to donate, we direct him or her to other organisations. At the NBA we have a system where different families adopt all activists. I have been adopted by a family, which gives me Rs 1,000 every month. This money is more than sufficient to take care of my daily needs. In any case, when we are in tribal areas, our expenditure is limited. We live off jungle resources and need money only for clothes, salt and a matchbox.
Deepti Bhatnagar, an anti-war, anti-racist activist from the US: "The NBA has taught me how people have to fight for something that is so integral to them."
Deepti Bhatnagar (25) is from "Delhi, Kolkata, everywhere" but was raised in the US, where her family lives. She has a Bachelor's degree in environmental science from the University of California and was an anti-war, anti-racist activist in the US. "I became closely associated with the issue after touring states like Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra with my younger sister in 2002. We participated in programmes, walked for hours, and met people. It was sufficient to make me stay back." Deepti has been with the movement for two years.
I believe: The movement has taught me how to live life in difficult circumstances and how people have to fight for something that is so integral to them. It has taught me more than any classroom in the world could have. I don't know what I would be doing five or 10 years from today but it will not be something different from what I am doing right now. I have thought of getting a Master's degree in a subject that would make me understand the spirit of the movement better. More youth should join such social movements. Being part of any movement is a two-way process—you gain something and you should be prepared to give something in return. It has not been easy to eat that food, drink that water, and walk for eight hours a day.
On foreign funds: Accusations of receiving foreign funds to destablise the nation are not even worth countering. I just wish someone would come and see the way we live. The NBA office was ransacked in Ahmedabad. Do you know how much energy and money it will take us to get that computer, gas cylinder, and those files back. But I know such threats will continue and each time, they will teach us how important it is to carry on. At the NBA, we get Rs 1,000 each, which is sufficient to live decently. It is good that we don't have much money; at least there are no alternatives as I find consumerism mindless. It is geared to tell you that if you buy all these things, you will be happy. And, this is what is stopping the youth from moving ahead.
Nityanand Jayaraman, a travelling journalist: "We will have to target Dow through legal action".
Nityanand Jayaraman (37) has a degree in electronics engineering, but worked as ‘a travelling journalist'. His work brought him to Bhopal for the first time 10 years back in 1995. "I did an article on groundwater contamination and got hooked to the issue." He lives in Chennai and has since been writing research-based reports on environmental and human rights issues. "Companies like the UCC and Dow Chemical are being courted by the country. It means that we, as people, will have to target Dow through legal and direct actions to hold them accountable for their crimes. There is no other way that justice can be delivered to survivors of Bhopal," says Nityanand, or Nity, as his fellow activists call him. "I don't travel much any more, but the Bhopal issue takes me out of Chennai for a few weeks in a year. Otherwise, I travel to other pollution-impacted communities in Tamil Nadu and nearby areas."
I believe: For me working on social issues like Bhopal is neither difficult nor a sacrifice. If the situation arises, I can sleep on the footpath. Lakhs of people sleep on the footpath everyday. The Bhopal issue has been something that has made my life as a human being much better. If journalism and research give me my livelihood, being involved in the Bhopal and other campaigns for justice is food for my soul. Bhopal is an inspiration, and I keep going back to get my batteries recharged. For me, there is no other choice but to fight. Some people are made that way and for me this is the only way.
On foreign funds: By itself it cannot be evidence of anti-development or anti-national tendencies. By that token, the Government of India must also be seen as anti-national because it runs on money borrowed from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. We have lots of supporters in foreign countries as a lot of related work takes place in the US and other countries. It is this support that has kept the issue alive even after 21 years otherwise it would have been buried in official files long ago. You can do without foreign funds but not without international support. Believe me, no amount of foreign funding can keep an issue afloat. It has to be a voluntary effort. I am not saying that people should not get paid, but there are people who are with a movement purely on voluntary basis as well, and the soul of the movement is defined by how many volunteers it can inspire.
Madhumita Dutta, lobbies for the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy with government officials and provides research-based support: "I would like to be a part of any change that is for the better."
Madhumita Dutta (35), with a degree in environmental science, lobbies for the cause with government officials concerned and provides research-based support work. She has been involved with issues related to asbestos mining in Jharkhand and safety of workers ever since she left her job as a reporter with the Center for Science and Environment (CSE) magazine Down to Earth. "I wanted to work freely, pick up a bag and travel. So I left everything and did just that," she says. What angers her the most is when the government expresses its helplessness to resolve issues.
I believe: I would like to be part of any change that is for the better. I really don't know what I would be doing five years from now. Maybe I will become a farmer because I find a farmer's ability to grow food so very empowering.
On foreign funds: I am not working on environmental issues to gain in the form of foreign funding. There will always be people who will call us "anti-development" and "anti-national". I find their analysis warped because as an individual I am always in a position to decide my own needs and politics. I also get foreign funds but that has not stopped me from speaking against the MNCs. I agree there could be some individuals or NGOs who could be misusing the funds they receive. But largely it is the people with a narrow perspective on the foreign funds issue who speak like this and are behind the entire propoganda.
Satinath Sarangi, metallurgical engineer-turned-activist arrived in Bhopal when he was 32 and stayed on: "It is the spirit of the people I have been fighting for that has made me go on."
Satinath Sarangi (54) cannot be classified under the "young activist" category but this metallurgical engineer-turned-activist who arrived in Bhopal the day after the disaster when he was 32 stayed on to become a key figure in the Bhopal struggle along with survivor activists like Champa Devi Shukla, Rashida Bee and Sanjay Verma, who was just one year old on that fateful night of December 1984. And this is what Satyu, Satinath from Puri district in Orissa, has to say: When I compare myself with my friends who were there with me in engineering, I find myself much happier.
It is the spirit of the people I have been working with that has made me go on. Looking back, I would not like my life to shape up in any other way. The Sambhavna Trust Clinic, where I work, is funded by individuals. We do not take money from foundations like Ford or Rockfeller, which give huge amounts. To earn a living, I have worked as a feature writer and also as a contract labourer in a paper board mill".
Bridget Hanna, from the US: "I want to show solidarity with the brave people of Bhopal."
For 20-year-old Bridget Hanna from the US or Josh Imeson, a French-American filmmaker, who joined Bhopal gas tragedy survivors struggle by joining the hunger strike, it was her way of showing solidarity "with the brave people of Bhopal and an attempt to make up for mistakes of American companies — Dow Chemical and the UCC."
Posted by bhola at 01:02 PM | Comments (0)
April 29, 2006
Many more congratulations...
Congratulations continue to pour in from around the globe. One of our favorites:
WOWOWOWOWO! Fanbloodytastic!!!!
Tina
***
Dear Mr Ryan Bodany and Students for Bhopal,
Congratulations for this great victory! The Bhopal People deserves a better life quality after so many desperate years.
I hope this incredible campaign work will bring a new perspective for the People around the world.
Let´s hope for a better world.
Sincerely yours,
Sandra Burle Marx Smith
from Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
(Environmental Marketing and Socioenvironmental MKT professor)
***
Congratulations to the people of Bhopal, their representatives and the
tireless workers on this campaign! This victory proves the importance
and centrality of collective, organized, and sustained political
action. The neoliberal fiends in New Delhi, who never miss an
opportunity to brutalize opponents of their policies - have definitely
buckled.
Score: People - 1 , Ruling Class - 0
zindabad!
raja..
***
Gud work guys,
Really heartening to see people working tirelessly for a just cause and for the outpouring of compassion to the less fortunate ones.
A personal thanks,
Mithun
***
Hi Ryan,
Fantastic work!
Regards,
Arun
***
Ryan - Great news! Thanks for filling me in. I hope that the government
keeps their word.
-Ed.
***
ryan,
a HUGE congrats from all of us @ datacenter.
hope all is well. forward and upward..... xoxomiho
***
Congrats, RB!!!
That's great news. So, hard work does pay off.
steve
***
Thanks for the summary, Ryan. You folks rock!
much love,
ravi
***
Congrats!
Mera Bharath Mahaan....
***
Congratulations, Ryan! fabulous news!
Shivali
***
Congratulations!!
The next task is to make sure the Indian Govt. keeps its promise!
Regards,
Manasi.
***
Incredible! Great news, Ryan!
Josh
***
congratulations to all.
a good fight and a honorable response, even though
late.
Having covered the Bhopal events of 1984 and beyond
for The New York Times and written a book on it, and
having interacted with victims and others for many
years, I am deeply touched.
Sanjoy
***
This is wonderful!! Now we must make sure that it really does happen!!
Jackie
***
Hi Ryan,
Thank you very much for doing this!! Congratulations!! You're a great humanitarian, and all of India must thank you for this.
Jai Hind,
Siddhu
***
Dear Ryan
CONGRATULATIONS on the victory in Bhopal.
Khalid
***
Congrats!
In solidarity,
Sukla
***
Hello,
We are very much delighted and relieved to learn of
your victory. Heartiest congratulations!.
Keep up your undying, indomitable and invincing spirit
and then, success cannot be but yours to ensure proper
implementation of the assurances given by the
Government.
With best wishes for a healthy and peaceful living for
Bhopalis,
Sincerely,
N R Vaidyanathan
***
Keep the pressure on so that the Govt. does what it commits.
Congrates.
Prof. Ajay Chandak.
***
Dear Ryan Bodanyi
I am gladdened by the news of the stunning victory of the Bhopali peoples victory and feel honoured to have had the privilege of being a small part of it.
My heartiest congratulations on behalf of the Coal Mine Workers of Queensland , Australia, and I sincerely hope the undertakings from the Government will be swiftly and fully honoured.
In Unity and Friendship
Andrew Vickers
District President
CFMEU Mining and Energy Division
***
congratulations
Please keep up the struggles
thomas kocherry
***
CONGRATULATION TO ALL OF YOU.
Remember we have to take lesson from the past and have vigil over the situation.
With warm solidarity
Kirity
--
Kirity Roy
Secretary
Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha
(MASUM)
***
Keep it up....
Dheeraj
***
Wonderful news. You just made my day, month and year.
Thanks to you and the committed people of the movement
for making this world a better place to live in.
Harini
***
That was truly a memorable message to gladen all our hearts.
Wishing you strength and our best wishes to traverse the road road ahead.
Ram
***
amazing effort.... with all cheers and love I highly congratulate your spirit and zeal that resulted in teh success...
thanks
manoj
***
congrats for victories are few and far between and all the more to be cherished! Anand
***
Heartiest congratulations on ur victory !
Keep up the gud work, we are with u.
cheers!!
sukhvinder
***
Dear All,
I congratulate all the Bhopalis and those other supporters who had been fighting for so many days for a noble cause and finally remained successful.I congratulate once again to those who had been physically involved in the campaign.
Regards,
Subhasmita
***
CONGRATULATIONS!!! Its indeed a victory!! The consistency this campaign has shown is really commendable and a fine example.
With Best Wishes,
Tejal
***
Yes, indeed, amazing, and a great and inspiring example of how to campaign – of how to move together. Of what ‘movement’ is about. Congratulations to all of you !
Thanks also for laying out here the various components of the Bhopal campaign, as you see them. This is very interesting, and very important for all of us to know, how you felt you managed to gain this great victory, and – as it were – ‘how the Bhopal movement spoke’ : What the words were, and how you put them together.
All strength to all of you for the next steps, both on getting the state to make material the concessions (which the recent report from Nity seems to suggest is happening) and, crucially, on Dow.
I am ccing this message to listserves of people who I am sure would also like to know of this.
In solidarity -
Jai Sen
PS : For anyone interested in reviewing what has happened over the past four weeks in the Bhopal campaign, visit http://www.cacim.net/twiki/tiki-view_articles.php?type=article&topic=1
***
Dear Ryan,
Thanks for your beautiful mail. I'm truly glad that you aren't returning till promises are kept. Thanks for what you're doing for all of us.
With warm regards,
Sumitra
***
great ....
feel so much happeyness ......
shriprakash
jharkhand
***
Dear All
Really it is great pleasure for us and we are thankfull to all
who have been supported directly or indirectlt to achieve this victory.
Thanks & Regards
Kumar
***
I am delighted to get the overwhelming news about all the bhopalis..I wish them good luck and great life now on...
Love & best regards
Vivek
***
hey ryan,
i know this is very belated, but i want to say congratulations on the big victories. it makes me very happy and hopeful that good things are possible. congratulations, you are a machine!
best,
jayanthi
***
Congratulations on a victory well won!
Cheers,
Alfredo Quarto,
MAP
***
Congratulations on your achievement on behalf of affected people for
Bhopal. It has been an amazing campaign and I thank and congratulate
all the people involved in it for their dedication and perseverance.
It is unformtunate that such an effort was necessary for securing the
natural rights of the affected people. The government should have
responded naturally and automatically long back and ensured that
natural justice was done as a matter of humanity and national pride.
Just shows that a few concerned people have to fight hard to achieve
what they believe in.
The fight is not over till the governement implements its promises.
All the best.
Jayant
***
It always amazes me how a tiny contribution can have such a major impact on other people's lives
Congratulations
Wouter
***
congratulations for ur victory based on ur hard work determination.
Dr.Nancy, Tamilnadu
***
Great!!!
victor
***
This is wonderful, Ryan! I'm so happy for the people of Bhopal and it shows how people power can work. A special word of thanks and congratulations to you: I know how tireless you've been on this issue.
Best,
Adrian
***
Dear Ryan,
I just wanted to congratulate you personally. I am sure the fight is far from over, but Students for Bhopal has accomplished something truly astounding -- as I'm sure you're aware. Thank you for working so hard on something so important. I look forward to the day when the other two demands are met as well.
All best,
Kris.
***
Salut,
Merci à vous tous, pour le soutien à la campagne en faveur des victimes de Bhopal.
Lisez ci dessous les 4 requetes qui ont été acceptées par le gouvernement indien en faveur de ces vicitimes de l'injustice sociale et de l'incompétence des gouvernements humains.
Si vous voulez des informations sur ce qui s'est réellement produit à Bhopal, le 3 dec 1984, merci de visiter le site www.studentsforbhopal.org
Bien à vous
la lutte continue
Sena
***
Congratulations. Kindly convey my heartfelt joy and happiness to all.
In solidarity,
Pradeep
***
WOW!! A big yahoooooo on this victory.
Bill Price,
Sierra Club EJ Resource Coordinator, Central Appalachia
***
Congratulations
Irshad
***
Great news! Congratulations to Bhopalis! Keep up the spirit to ensure everything is implemented the way it's supposed to. Wish them the Best of Luck! God Bless India and Bhopal!
regards,
Vishal.
***
Congratulations !!
You did a great job, keep it up.
Pam
***
hey - yes, this is amazing!! congratulations!!!! and thank you so much
for passing along the news! what will you do next? all best, ---sophia
***
Hi Ryan,
Congratulations on a great win for Bhopal! On behalf of SEAC, we congratulate all of the youth and student workers who have educated and organized in support of the Bhopalis demands for human rights and reparations.
Thanks for keeping us all up to date,
Maren
Posted by zinda at 03:02 AM | Comments (0)
April 18, 2006
Messages of congratulation and friendship coming in from all over the globe
Je tiens à exprimer mon parfait soutien à la cause défendue par toutes les victimes de Bhopal. Une attitude humaine me parait s'imposer.
J'avise ce jour le correspondant de presse de notre journal local: "le Dauphiné". Merci de votre compréhension pour résoudre ce probléme.
I want to express my complete support for the cause of all the Bhopal victims. We need to feel more deeply for each other. I have just briefed my local newspaper: "le Dauphiné". Thank for your clear-sighted efforts to solve this problem.
Jean Suire
Aix en Provence
France
Congratulations, I follow all the walk and daily updates, I had tears on my eyes enormous time and wished to join all of you.
A luta continua
Anabela
JA! justica Ambiental
Maputo, Mozambique
Bhopalis celebrate their victory. Gulab Bai thanks Satish, minutes before he ended his week-long fast. More pictures below, please scroll down
Posted by bhola at 08:49 PM | Comments (0)
Solidarity with Dow Chemical's victims in Bhopal
Four decades after the end of the toxic chemical warfare waged by the US forces in Vietnam (1961-1971), the impact of its destruction still remains disastrous in the southern part of this country, particularly in the “hot spots”.
In order to win their battles, these forces managed to pour eighty millions litres of toxic chemicals so called defoliants, over millions of acres of land. These defoliants, especially Agent orange highly contaminated with a deadly residue called dioxin. The effects of Agent Orange/Dioxin have until today caused the death and disability of millions of Vietnamese victims. Many Vietnamese children of the second and third generations were, are and will be born with birth defects.
Though with full knowledge of their dangers certainly imposed on human beings and environments, these defoliants were still produced and supplied by various American chemical companies for the sake of enormous profits. For these reasons, not only veterans of the U.S, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand, but also Vietnamese victims have lodged claims against them in the U.S Courts for justice.
Now, in addition to its liability for the Vietnam War’s victims, Dow Chemical, is even responsible for the Bhopal disaster against the Indian local people. As victims of this chemical manufacturer and being denied by this company and others to enjoy correct compensations and justice, we, Vietnamese completely feel it necessary to show our solidarity with and support for the struggle conducted by the people of Bhopal.
We so urge that the Government of India would back their just cause. We call upon all the activists for human rights, for justice and for peace to make their tragedy and their sufferings known to the world, and to demand that justice should be affirmed.
On behalf of the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin
Tran Xuan Thu.
Vice-President, Secretary General.
Solidarité avec les victimes de Dow Chemical à Bhopal
Pendant dix ans, de 1961 à 1971, le Vietnam a subi des épandages de défoliants destinés à détruire la forêt et les rizières pour en chasser les combattants et les populations qui les soutenaient. Quatre-vingt millions de litres de produits toxiques, dont le tristement célèbre Agent orange, ont été déversés sur 10% du territoire du sud du Vietnam. Ces défoliants contenaient de la dioxine, le poison le plus dévastateur qui soit, qui a fait plus de trois millions de victimes et dont les effets persistent encore aujourd’hui. Des enfants, de la 3ème génération naissent tous les jours, gravement handicapés. Ces défoliants ont été fabriqués par des industriels chimiques américaines qui en connaissaient la nocivité, auxquelles ils ont rapporté d’immenses profits et contre lesquelles les victimes vietnamiennes et leur association, la VAVA, ont porté plainte.
Or, parmi les principales entreprises en cause, on trouve Dow Chemical, la même entreprise qui est responsable du tragique accident de Bhopal (1984) dont elle se refuse toujours à indemniser correctement les victimes. Les victimes de Bhopal réclament justice, comme les victimes vietnamiennes. Après 800 kilomètres de marche de Bhopal à Delhi les victimes indiennes demandent à leur Premier Ministre d’intervenir et ont commencé une grève de la faim (www.bhopal.net). A son refus, une quinzaine de victimes ont entamé une grève illimitée de la faim. Après 21 ans de souffrance, de maladies omniprésentes, de pollution, et de morts, ils portent six revendications
1. La création d’une commission nationale sur l’explosion de Bhopal
2. Un ravitaillement en eau potable pour ceux qui vivent dans la zone contaminée
3. La poursuite en justice contre Union Carbide et son PDG Waren Anderson
4. Le nettoyage du site par ces pollueurs
5. La cessation par le gouvernement indien de donner carte blanche à Dow Chemical et Union Carbide pour leurs nouveaux projets
6. Un monument à la mémoire des victimes de Bhopal
Nous sommes solidaires de la lutte des Bhopalis et soutenons leurs revendications légitimes.
Nous appelons le gouvernement de l’Inde à appuyer leur juste demande. Nous appelons aussi tous les partisans du droit humanitaire, de l’équité et de la paix à faire connaître leur drame et leurs souffrances et à exiger que justice leur soit rendue.
Le comité du Village de Van Canh, Enfant du monde Droit de l’Homme, Union Générale de Vietnamien de France,Union des Jeunes Vietnamien de France, membres du Collectif Vietnam-Dioxine (www.vietnam-dioxine.org)
Posted by bhola at 07:39 PM | Comments (0)
Photos from Yesterday
From Sarvadarshi:
Here are some photos from yesterday, after we got the good news. There are more photos on the way from other cameras, but I couldn't wait to share these happy faces. Most people are catching a 9 p.m. train to Bhopal this evening and will arrive there in the morning.
Shehzadi and Amina Bi
Jabbar and Nafeesa
Ashraf Bi and Amanta Bi
Munna Lal
Nawal Singh Prajapati
Gulab Bai thanks Satish, minutes before he ended his week-long fast
Gulab Bai hugging Josh, also still without food.
Champa Devi addresses the Narmada fighters.
Breaking fast with tall glasses of orange juice.
Singing and clapping the rest of the afternoon
Posted by Sarvadarshi at 12:04 PM | Comments (0)
April 17, 2006
BIG VICTORY - HUNGER STRIKE ENDS
Sarvadarshi: I am more than excited to report that the Prime Minister has, in a meeting this morning with Sathyu and several other Bhopalis and supporters, agreed to meet four of the six demands we have brought.
The hunger strike has been called off, and everyone is hugging and in tears on the street. Everyone still on hunger strike simultaneously enjoyed tall glasses of orange juice about half an hour ago, and then everyone broke into celebratory clapping and singing. The feeling right now is a mix of relief, excitement, exhaustion, and bewildered happiness.
It seems that the demands that the Prime Minister will not agree to meet are those which would most hurt Dow Chemical. Nity is writing up a press release and we will be posting the details of the meeting.
We will also soon be posting photographs of many happy Bhopali faces here today at Jantar Mantar. Their beautiful smiles will be a great reward to everyone who helped out in so many ways, large and small. So check back in just a little while!
Posted by Sarvadarshi at 11:05 AM | Comments (0)
April 16, 2006
Hunger strike day six: Promises from Babulal Gaur to be taken cum grano salis
from Nishant in Delhi:
The biggest news today, to be taken with a generous pinch of salt, was the announcement by Gas Relief Minister Babulal Gaur. In a usual pompous fashion he proclaimed to have allocated 17 crores to provide clean drinking water from the Kolar Dam. It was not an official press release, nor a statement made in a press conference. Although a positive development and the first minor victory, the Bhopalis received it with the news with some skepticism.
First, it was the announcement of an additional 50 crores towards the
compensation, which was the money already owed by the government to RBI to cover for the exchange rate fluctuation. Now it is the provision of clean drinking water that Supreme Court had already decreed in May of 2004. It just gets to show how opportunistic the politicians are.
Particularly to notice here is that the announcement came 2 days before the visit by a 10 member fact finding team led by the Secretary of the Ministry of Chemicals (MOC), Ms. Satwant Reddy. This visit is being done in response to our meeting with the Ministry on March 29th. In any case, if past record is to be considered, Gaur is the last person to keep his promises.
So we received the news with, as Nity put it, 'cautious optimism', until we actually see a written statement or an official release from the Ministry or the MP government. A few Bhopalis will temporarily return tomorrow to assist the MOC fact finding team on issues of clean water and people's participation in instituting a memorial.
Josh is continuing the fast and losing weight alarmingly. The health of Champa Didi and Rachna is deteriorating quickly. Champa Didi's health in particular has become a real cause of concern. We are keeping a close watch. Everyone is on a diet of pure will now.
Almost everyday we have representatives from various groups to sit
on a solidarity fast. Yesterday, two members from National Conference for Dalit Organizations (NACOR) fasted, and today, 6 members from All India Federation of Trade Unions fasted for the entire day. A delegation of 11 also arrived from Cuddalore and Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu. They are also victims of corporate crime and industrial pollution.
We will hear from the Prime Minister's office tomorrow (Monday) morning for an appointment the same day. However, his volte face on Narmada issue today has set a negative tone already. However, we must and we will keep pushing.
To quote a favourite poet Nida Fazli - "safar mein dhuup to hogi jo chal sako to chalo, sabhi hain bheed mein tum bhi nikal sako to chalo." Translation cannot do justice, but here goes. "The journey is long and arduous, can you muster the courage to keep walking, there are thousands already walking against you, can you still find space to reach your destination..."
Posted by Sarvadarshi at 05:13 PM | Comments (0)
April 15, 2006
Striking it, or striking out.
By Ana B. in Delhi:
Here’s the situation:
We are at day five of the hunger strike. This is where health begins to decline. Media attention is wavering and the Prime Minister’s office is playing games. Maybe we’ll get a meeting with him Monday and maybe we won’t.
This is a hunger strike. A strike: like a blow. People have said “hunger strikes are manipulative and useless. Why hurt yourself instead of your enemy?” It’s hard for many in other countries, particularly in the US, to understand why it is done, what it means in the context of a country founded by Gandhi. It is hard to understand that gesture, the gesture that says “I know so deeply, I believe so certainly, that I would put my life in your hands to make you understand, to make you act.”
Here’s what it does: it makes everyone else feel uncomfortable.
Here’s what I feel – rage, guilt, fear, anxiety, frustration, helplessness, to start. Perhaps many of the same things that those in Bhopal, ignored for so long, are used to waking up to, are used to tasting in the water. The hunger strike forces us to feel, force us to face our own beliefs (what do I believe that deeply?). It can force us to challenge our own helplessness.
Are you helpless? No. Please realize that. The Bhopalis give you that gift. Your phone call, your email to the Indian government, your fax to the embassy, your screaming voice outside an official’s home at night. Yes! Your newspaper editorial, your cousin the news producer, your political bookgroup, yes. Now is the time. Activate them! Please. Think creatively, take to the streets, and throw your weight around. They would not do so, but I am begging you.
Here is what a hunger strike can do: it can shame, deeply shame it’s targets (we can compliment the Indian government here for still being vulnerable to shaming). A strike makes them consider their own power, their brutality is exposed, just as it makes me and you consider our power, our brutality. What can we do, how do we act?
I don’t know if you understand what is at stake here. Yes, Bhopal was the world’s worst industrial disaster. Yes, 20,000 have died, 20,000 are drinking contaminated water every day, and hundreds of thousands of second-generation children may always suffer. No, no one has been held criminally responsible for these deaths. But this is even bigger. Bhopal is about what kind of a world we will all live in. If India can stand up to the biggest chemical company in the world and say “you can’t do business here until you repair the damage you have done to our country and people,” that precedent could fundamentally challenge the reign of profits over people globally. It could become a building block for all the movements for social justice and for a non-toxic future that have piled up behind it for twenty-one years.
The Bhopal campaign, all six demands of the Marchers (re-posted below), can be won. Everything from the clean water that so many here would die for, to “Blacklist Dow,” the statement that cuts to the heart of India’s love affair with chemicals and multinationals, can be won. From the sidewalk at Jantar Manter we can starve and sing and talk, but we cannot move mountains. This battle will be won with international support.
Or, still, it can be lost. I don’t mean to manipulate you but from here on the ground, I don’t know what else to do. Your actions could save the lives of friends now and they could change history forever.
I read this today: after five days of starvation the body enters ketosis, where it begins cannibalizing itself. When it does so, the breath of the faster begins to smell of fresh pears. Oh my, this won’t be pretty.
Posted by zinda at 04:35 PM | Comments (0)
Supporter writes about her day-long solidarity fast with the Bhopalis at Jantar Mantar
The following piece was written by a supporter who undertook a day long fast in solidarity with the other hunger strikers:
Here, tonight, in the Bhopal camp, Aman, the four year old son of two of the Bhopalis sitting on dharna, has taken over control of our mike and p.a. system, and not for the first time! Gleefully, joyfully, he shouts slogans loudly into the mike, brimming with smiles and giggles of delight when we all reply together with the appropriate response. For more than 15 minutes he keeps it up, and we, cheered on by his exuberance, maintain a strong chorus of replies.
It is amazing to watch the response he gets from everyone in the group. All day and night he weaves his way around and between us, little legs toddling along, bringing gifts of water and tree branches, smiles and handshakes and important queries about the world to all in their turn. He has that magical and precious innocence, enthusiasm, happiness that only young children have and he spreads it among us. One look at his smiling face and twinkling eyes is a tonic to those feeling momentarily tired, cynical, jaded, unsure. His unswerving cheerfulness, his beautiful capacity to find happiness in the simplest of moments is an example to all of us, while his joy and perseverance in chanting slogans fills us all with hope for the future and determination to continue on, if not for anything else for his sake, in an attempt to protect and maintain that beautiful innocence, that bright optimistic spirit.
While it is truly heartening and lots of fun to see and listen to Aman chanting our slogans so adamantly and convincingly, there is an unavoidable sadness that comes with such a vision too. One wonders how long his cheerfulness will endure, whether he will also spend his life struggling for justice, trying to get a government to listen, if the optimism will give way to cynicism or at least the resignation that follows from being ignored for so long. Will Aman still be chanting these slogans in another 20 years? How sad that he even has to now, that he is spending these days of his youth sitting at the side of the pavement, sleeping out in the open, trying, with everyone else, to attract the attention of the powers that be, calling out for justice and health and the right to clean drinking water. As many of the Bhopalis will tell you, it is not for themselves they are struggling at this stage, but for their children, for their right to healthy happy life, free of the poison that descended on Bhopal so many years ago and has yet to be cleaned up and out…
…For the first, time I stay the night in Jantar Mantar, the hunger strike has begun hours earlier, I am joining for the day, and want to make some paltry offer of support and solidarity. The evening settles down slowly, with various visitors mulling around, media-folks interviewing and planning meetings occurring. Some students come and sing the Bhopalis songs, their warm clear voices echoing in the fading orange light. Slowly all around, Bhopalis, Narmadans, assorted other protestors and activists, lay thin mattresses on the floor, shake out their sheets, and begin to lie out under the starry sky, once more making the pavement their bed. Some of the women sit in a circle and sing almost til midnight approaches, and there is a late and sociable trip to the bathroom. Finally our group goes quiet, all tired and knowing that serious rest is required for the day ahead. I try to slip off into my dreams but my head is buzzing with our urgent discussions on the nature of power and resistance earlier in the evening, our felt need to create new modes and methods of struggle to generate the attention these people deserve. Overhead an unusually strong wind rattles the blue awning that has been put up as shelter from the sun, the streetlights blaze bright, there is a rhythmic drumming coming from the other side of the street, and the mosquitoes are feasting. Once I wake at 3am, surprised by the almost absolute silence which has descended on Jantar Mantar, all of us, NBA and Bhopal together finally dreaming through the night.
By 6.30 a.m. Aman is restless and roaring to go, dancing around, chirpily awake and impatient for everyone else to be. He uses a mixture of carrot and stick to rouse us, one minute crooning into our ears and distributing gifts and hugs, the next jumping energetically up and down on top of drowsy bodies, which eventually give in and struggle towards consciousness, unable to resist his beaming smile. Gradually the number of prone figures grows smaller as we all stretch, fold up our beds again and watch the morning unfold. At 8am the doctor arrives, for the first of what will be daily check ups for the hunger strikers.
We are all alert now. The presence of the medical professional changes the slightly slothful atmosphere around our camp, another stark reminder of what is going on, the seriousness of our mission and the methods we have been driven to. Each hunger striker cheerfully and smilingly submits to a series of tests, pulse, blood pressure, glucose levels, and weight. We switch to a different weighing scales after the first one indicates a number of people having lost kgs already, after less than 24 hours. The second one gives us more reasonable and reassuring (ie heavier) figures. All statistics are noted down in a book, so that we have a proper record of each striker's health.
Sitting there, enjoying a cup of chai after my 24 hours without food, I feel a lump in my throat slowly materializing. In spite of our chirpy mood, with much fun and mischief going on at the weighing scales, and Aman checking more than ten times to see if his own weight (12 kgs) will change, a communal moment of palpable seriousness, introspection and thought occurs, each of us reminded of how far we've traveled, what distance we've all come from, to this point where we sit at the side of the street and wait, our friends putting their lives in the hands of the government and saying 'do something now, for our sake, for our children's sake, for the sake of all Bhopalis, no more deaths'. Manmohan, where are you today? Laying the foundation stone of a new super-highway? Launching a book? Meeting a top-level CEO of a multinational? Planning further 'development' for India? How does the water you are drinking taste? And the food? Prime Minister, your citizens await you, as they have done for weeks now, you would do well to meet them before you find yourself trying to wash their blood from your hands.
Posted by Sarvadarshi at 10:53 AM | Comments (0)
Poetry for the Bhopalis
On the second night of the hunger strike there was a poetry reading under the plump moon and yellow sodium vapor lights. Several different supporters read and sang their work, and Sathyu, despite not eating, gave an exceptionally heartfelt reading of a poem of his.
The following are English translations of two poems written and read in Hindi, along with photos of the poets reading:
"Untitled"
by Mohan Muntazir Bisht
Belong to someone who has no one
and see
Come cry for someone else's pain
Who says flowers of happiness
do not bloom?
Plant a seed of love
and see
Those who stab us in the chest
as they smile
May they poke themselves with a thorn
and see how it feels.
Better than setting water on fire
is to irrigate the desert with an ocean
You have been swimming
on the seas
and what have you got?
Drown yourself once and see what you get.
"Yes"
by Sathyu
Yes,
I am a rabid optimist.
For me
Every tree that continues to stand,
Every stream that continues to flow,
Every child that runs away from home,
Is an indication
That the battle
is not only on,
It is being won.
Possibly you will tell me
about the nuclear arms race,
And all I can tell you
is that
An unknown child
held my hand
with love.
You will try to draw me
into the plateau of practical life
Tell me
that not only God but all the religious
and non-religious leaders
are dead.
And all I can tell you
is that
across the forest lives a young man
who calls the earth
his mother.
You will give me the
boring details of the rise of state power
after every revolution
And all I can tell you
is that
in our tribe
we still share
our bread.
You will reason with me
And I will talk nonsense like this.
And because the difference between reason and poetry
Is the difference between breathing and living life,
I will read poems to you.
Poems full of optimism.
Poems full of dreams.
Maybe poems better than this one.
Posted by Sarvadarshi at 10:28 AM | Comments (0)
More days passing, waiting for the PM...
From Anabranched in Delhi:
Yesterday Shehazadi got sick and vomited in the afternoon. The flies were thick, settling over everything that wasn’t fanned continuously. The sky turned white.
In the afternoon the call came that we could go see the Prime Minister today (the 14th), and that his office would call in the morning with a time. In the morning, however, as the slow process of waking up and the visit of the doctor, we heard that the PM in fact has “the flu.” Hungry till Monday at least. Our friends on strike have less and less to say about it. They look up at the sky and conserve energy. Josh has lost six kilos and everyone’s blood sugar is dipping. There is more sleeping.
Today would hardly allow for it though. It was a constant parade of the difficult and the absurd. At about noon a group of men representing a Dalit organization swept through across the median strip and ignited an effigy of Sonia Gandhi that popped with firecrackers. It is Ambedkar Day, a National to commemorate the Dalit leader. We are worried about our Dalit friends just down the sidewalk, who are also on hunger strike. One was sent to the hospital yesterday. Their twenty year old temple was violently destroyed, and many people beaten badly by local thugs, because they were trying to make it pluralistic. They call their group the Mafia Removal Organization.
Then suddenly the madness really began. The hunger strikers moved away from their normal camp under the blue tarp to a more open space – for better visibility to the press! Amir Khan was coming. The police were afraid of a mob. All the hunger strikers sat in a row in the open, and the banner above said “Bhopal: 20,000 dead and counting” in both English and Hindi. It was calm and beautiful for about two minutes and then the hordes descended. Amir Khan fought his way into the center of the group of Bhopal survivors, and valiantly attempted to have a conversation with them while dozens of photographers fought literally tooth and nail to get a look at him. With admirable calm he listened to Sanjay, Shazadi, Champa Devi, Rashida Bi, Sathyu and Rachna. He read the demands and looked at the Amnesty report, with studied, eyebrow-raised calm. He probably spent twenty minutes. Meanwhile four security guards, a group of policemen and women, and most seriously and significantly, a bunch of volunteers, struggled to hold back the crowd. Pushing and shoving was the least of it, and at any moment it seemed like the cameras would surge and simply envelope the vulnerable group on the ground. Honestly it was vile and I could tell that it sapped the energy of our hunger strikers. The plain stress of it was enough, but a number of them were actually physically in there struggling and straining.
Later, Sathyu and Nity made it into a press conference that Amir was giving behind one of the fancy hotels. He did mention Bhopal to the press, but only briefly. He has promised to follow up with us.
Shehazadi is still sick and now has insomia. Please keep the pressure on the Indian government. Justice has been so long, too long coming. One of the padyatris just got some news from home -- her water-affected daughter in law just gave birth to a child with a face but no head ... everything beyond the forehead was missing. Can we imagine the pain of another destroyed generation?
Here on the street the hunger striker's faces are beginning to go pale. It is very difficult to watch, but today it is still easier than thinking about giving up.
Posted by zinda at 09:51 AM | Comments (0)
April 14, 2006
Hunger Fast Day 4: Tryst with Aamir Khan (pictures)
Aamir Khan listening to Sanjay Verma
Rakesh, Kunal Kapoor, and Shehazadi Bee
Aamir Khan listening to Sathyu
Aamir listening to Shehazadi Bee
Posted by zinda at 06:20 PM | Comments (0)
Day Three
from ANABRANCHED in Delhi:
I think that yesterday evening was difficult for our hunger strikers. Everyone got pretty quiet as the day progressed. Their eyes had a uniformly glassy look, no matter how brave their words were. Thankfully there was entertainment to take their minds off their bellies. Several students gave a poetry reading, followed by two films. Both were Charlie Chaplin – The Circus and The Great Dictator – with Hindi subtitles. Although Chaplin did not fail at getting laughs, people watched from their bedding and dozed off during or soon afterwards.
This morning I think people felt better – their systems should be clearing of some toxins by now – but they are becoming visibly weak. Our good doctor arrived as usual, and although everyone was declared fit, weight loss was proceeding apace – between 1 and 3 kilos each! News that we might soon be getting a meeting with the Prime Minister returned a bit of cheer to the day.
I first checked in with Sebastian this morning. We have some difficulty communicating because his English is minimal and my French is nonexistent. He makes up for it with physical comedy and when I asked how he felt he collapsed in mock exhaustion - “I’m faible” – weak. But, he said “what is three days compared to twenty-one years? It is easy to see what is most important here.”
Sanjay: “I feel a laziness, and to tell you the truth, I’m a bit bored. I’m hungry too, but not for food, for the demands. I just hope that everyone who can is coming forward in support. We need it. With it I’m sure we can win.”
Rachna was juggling phone calls, same as usual, and she told me with a big smile “I’m feeling much better than yesterday.”
Champa told me she feels fine, better today. “What more can I say?” she asked. “Now we just need action.”
Josh was meditating on Jantar Mantar. “I feel physically fine” he said, “but when I look around the street here it makes me disheartened that people need to come this far to get heard. It makes me wonder: what, in my life, do I care enough about to go on indefinite hunger strike for? The thing is, there are a minority of people in this world truly struggling for justice. We all have to make sure we are out there supporting them.”
Satish was seen sleeping by the water cooler, and Shazaade was napping somewhere else. Sathyu just smiled when asked how he was, and then went back to the phone. He seemed energetic though – in-between calls he trundled Shaheed’s son back and forth on his back, to the boy’s great delight.
Also two young students are joining the strike today, though I haven’t yet had a chance to check in with them. More tomorrow - keep the love and the rage flowing!
Posted by Sarvadarshi at 11:31 AM | Comments (0)