Four organizations of the survivors of the Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal today launched their 37- day campaign for justice and a life of dignity for the Bhopal survivors to commemorate the 37th anniversary of the disaster.
Through the Campaign – “Bhopal Disaster : 37 years ; 37 questions” – the organizations wish to highlight urgent concerns regarding compensation, criminal justice, medical, economic and social rehabilitation and environmental remediation of polluted lands that need to be addressed to stop the ongoing disaster.
Hundreds of women survivors of the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster today flayed US President Trump in effigy with brooms on the occasion of his visit to India. Led by four local organizations, the survivors expressed their anger against the US government for refusing to serve summons issued by the Bhopal Court upon Dow Chemical, owner of Union Carbide. Madhya Pradesh Muslim Vikas Parishad, a local social service organization supported the demonstrators’ call for justice in the criminal case on the world’s worst industrial disaster.
On January 28th 2020 a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court sits to begin the most important, potentially the most historic hearing on Bhopal for over thirty years.
Shortly after the gas tragedy, India took over responsibility for all legal claims against Union Carbide. Following a US Courts refusal to hear the claims, claims worth $3.3 billion were filed in India’s courts. In 1989 India and Carbide settled these claims for $470 million – less than 15% of the original demand. The amount was upheld by review judgment in 1991.
As the Bhopal Gas Disaster enters its 35th year, the ICJB is organizing its 6th annual Global Solidarity Fast. With this fast, you are expressing solidarity and sharing in their grief and pain of those who died December 3rd 1984, and those who continue to suffer now.
This fast also includes a fundraising goal. As it is the 35th anniversary, we are asking fasters to set a fundraising goal of $35 or $350. If you are not able to raise funds, we appreciate your support in fasting with us.
Hundreds of survivors of the Union Carbide disaster sat on a day long Dharna (sit-in) today demanding that the state government stop misleading the Supreme Court in the matter of additional compensation by downplaying the damage caused by the disaster. Led jointly by four local organizations, the survivors called upon the state government to correct the figures of deaths and extent of health damages caused by the disaster in the Curative Petition that is expected to be heard by the apex court soon.
