Lessons of Bhopal

Lessons from the December 1984 Union Carbide Disaster in Bhopal

What occurred in Bhopal on the night of December 2-3, 1984 was caused due to deliberate cost cutting in the design, maintenance and operation of a hazardous factory to maximize profits. Bhopal is an ongoing Corporate Crime.
Bhopal is not isolated in history or by geography. Almost all of us on the planet are victims of corporate crime – slow and silent Bhopals are occurring all over the Globe. We all live in Bhopal. We are all victims of Corporate Crime.
If your community is marginalized due to class, caste, race or religion, you are much more likely to be victimized by Corporate Crime. This is also called Environmental Racism.
In cases of Corporate Crime, it is most likely that the local and national governments look away from, succumb to political clout, downplay damages, collaborate, and provide impunity and/or an escape route from liability.
Corporate Crimes are the most ubiquitous and have the gravest of consequences and yet they are the least reported, the least tried and with near zero convictions. As in Bhopal consequences of Corporate Crimes often continue to manifest for decades after the event and often in to the next generation of victims.
In cases of Corporate Crime it is often likely that official regulatory, scientific and prosecuting agencies that are supposed to generate facts related to the crime succumb to the political clout of the corporation.
In cases of Corporate Crime Judiciary is unlikely to do justice and corporations are likely to rob victims of their dignity. Victims may often need to struggle hard for justice and a life of dignity and in the process become Survivors.
Corporations often appear to be invincible but it is not uncommon to find Corporate giants biting the dust before the collective power of ordinary people. Support from non-government individuals and agencies providing legal, scientific, technical, medical and other support is often critical in the victory of peoples’ power.
As long as there are no international agencies for prosecution and no international fora for trial of transnational corporate crime, these corporations will enjoy near complete impunity. Building transnational solidarity links among communities victimized by Transnational Corporate Crime can play an effective role in confronting corporate crime.
Industrial Pollution and Climate Change the two greatest threats to all life on planet Earth are consequences of Corporate Crime. Exemplary Justice in Bhopal and all Bhopals everywhere is central in the battle for survival of the planet.

(Also available as a poster series here)