The Bhopal LowDOWn – for May 13, 2010
1. Bhopalis temporarily return home from Delhi – still need support
The Survivor Organization that make up ICJB just released a letter to supporters, explaining why they have decided to return home to Bhopal from Delhi. On April 15, 2010 they arrived in Delhi for an indefinite Dharna (sit-in). Their singular demand was that the central government fulfil the promise they made in 2008 to set up an Empowered Commission to deal with the ongoing disasters in Bhopal. Because of unprecedented challenges, the Bhopalis were forced to return home for 6-8 weeks. They plan to return to Delhi with an even stronger call for justice soon, and they need your support.
Read the full statement about why the Bhopalis had to chose to return home.
Take action! We need your support to make their continued Dharna in 6-8 weeks even stronger.
Providing food, shelter, and accomodations for the Bhopalis on Dharna is expensive. Please make a donation to ICJB to help cover the cost of these important events.
2. Dow Live Earth overrun by zombies, protests
On April 18th, Live Earth hosted a series of 6km runs in various locations all over the world for the sake of ‘helping to solve the water crisis.’ Unforunately, Live Earth allowed Dow Chemical Company to sponsor the events, turning what would be an important education event, into a green-washing opportunity for Dow.
In solidarity with the people of Bhopal as well as other communities affected by Dow’s poisons, ICJB held counter protests at many of the events.
Bhopal Groups Subvert Dow-funded Live Earth Run for Water in Delhi
Hindustan Sea Turtle Alliance (HASTA), organizers of the Live Earth Run for Water in New Delhi, revealed on April 18 that they were a fictitious group set up to expose the global event as Dow Chemical’s attempt to sidestep its legal responsibilities by engaging in greenwash. The Dow Live Earth Run for water has received millions of dollars in sponsorship from Dow allegedly to increase awareness about issues of global water scarcity. See the video here.
Dow Live Earth Overrun by Zombies in NYC
Groups in Atlanta Call Dow Out at Live Earth
When the runners reached the finish line at the sparsely attended Atlanta’s Live Earth “Run for Water” sponsored by Dow Chemical on April 18th, a small row of people holding signs, banners, petitions, some faux-contaminated water, and flyers about Dow’s environmental violations around the world greeted them along with the race organizers and other vendors at Pemberton Place in downtown Atlanta.
Protesters in the Oakland, CA confront Live Earth
It is both absurd and appalling that a global mobilization effort for clean water was supported by Dow Chemical, one of the world’s worst polluters which still refuses to take full responsibility for the world’s greatest industrial disaster in Bhopal in 1984, writes Sudarshan Suresh in the Siliconer. Read the full Op-Ed here.
3. Dharna News Coverage
Although the Dharna that began on April 15 is currently suspended, the Bhopalis already had a few weeks to cause a stir in Delhi.
Check out the News Coverage of their actions
Bhopal gas victims file RTI plea on nuclear liability bill Thaindian News/IANS
Bhopal gas tragedy survivors file RTI with PMO Yahoo! News India/Press Times India
Bhopal survivors stage protest Gulf Times
4. Toxic Waste in Bhopal Faces Problematic Incineration
Union Carbide’s toxic waste to be incinerated
Sindh Today News – May 2, 2010
Bhopal, May 2 (IANS) The Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) has given clearance to a private waste management company to dispose 346 tonnes of toxic waste of the now-defunct Union Carbide Corporation (UCC)’s pesticide plant, officials said…. Read the full article here.
5. Two Bhopal Books for Sale
The beautiful photo book by Micha Patault called “No More Bhopals” is available for $44US on the author’s website. Find out more here: http://www.michapatault.com/bhopal-photography/book_store_e.html
The book Surviving Bhopal by Suroopa Mukherjee is going to hit the market soon in both US and UK. This is Mukherjee’s follow up to the children’s book We for Bhopal. Find out how to order it here: http://us.macmillan.com/survivingbhopal
Please donate to the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal
Contact: Shana Blustein Ortman
US Coordinator, International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal
49 Powell Street, Suite 500
San Francisco, CA 94102
shana@panna.org – email
www.studentsforbhopal.org – www.bhopal.net
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