Stop the poisoning of people in Bhopal
Persuade the Indian government to make Union Carbide Corporation, USA clean up its factory site

Dear friends,

Over 20, 000 people living near the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal are forced to drink water laced with the most poisonous chemicals. These chemicals are known to damage the lungs, brain, liver, kidneys and other systems of the body and cause cancers. Many of these effects are already seen among the people here. Analysis of breast milk of mothers in these communities indicates that new born babies are nursing on milk that is toxic even for adults.

Toxic Legacy of Union Carbide

You must be aware of the world’s worst industrial disaster that occurred in this factory in December 1984. The poisonous gases that leaked that night have killed over 20, 000 people so far and caused chronic illnesses among 150, 000 people. Following the disaster Union Carbide abandoned the factory and continues to abscond from the ongoing criminal case in the Bhopal court. The contamination of soil and ground water shows that the terrible toxic legacy of the American multinational is far from over.

Reckless dumping of hazardous waste

From 1970 to 1984 the Union Carbide management dumped about 5000 tons of chemicals and chemical wastes in and around the factory during its routine operations. Included in these are about 500 tons of chemicals that are strewn all over the factory site exposed to the elements and several thousand tons of toxic sludge buried in a pond outside the factory. As tests by various official and independent agencies show, these chemicals have found their way in to the ground water in the vicinity of the factory.

A challenging task

Scientific tests also show that the poisons are spreading deeper and further in the soil and more and more areas are getting contaminated. Comprehensive decontamination of the soil and ground water is the only solution to this deadly and ever growing problem. By all accounts, the clean up of the contamination is a hugely expensive [upwards of 500 million dollars] and technologically challenging task.

Landmark decision

Given the above, it is indeed fortunate that a March 17, 2004 landmark decision of the US Federal Court, carries the possibility of forcing Union Carbide to clean up the contamination in Bhopal. The decision, announced in the course of a legal suit initiated by survivors organizations in Bhopal, states that the court may direct Union Carbide to do clean up in Bhopal if the Government of India or Madhya Pradesh presents a statement, before June 30, urging the court to direct Union Carbide to do so. On June 7 in a letter to the Ministry of Chemicals the Government of Madhya Pradesh has urged the Government of India to present such a statement.

Historic opportunity

As you can appreciate, this is a historic opportunity for the Indian government to stand tall before an American multinational, implement the “polluter pays” principle and make it clean the mess it has caused. Undoubtedly this will set up a precedent for all multinational corporations that have caused environmental devastation in different parts of the world. In this context it is a matter of great concern that the Indian Government continues to drag its feet on this urgent matter.

Fast for poison free Bhopal

In order to persuade the Indian government to submit the statement required by the US Court before June 30, leader of the Bhopal survivors and winner of this year’s Goldman Environment Prize, Rashida Bee and two other Bhopal activists will launch their indefinite fast without water at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi from June 18.

We request you to support the fast of the Bhopal campaigners by :

Calling or sending a Fax to the Minister of Chemicals : Tel. 2338 6519, 2338 6364, Fax: 2338 4020
Signing on the online petition at www.greenpeaceindia.org

Joining the fast at Jantar Mantar and other locations.
For more details contact: 0755-3132298, 5165 2451, 5165 2452, 9811903172 , www.bhopal.net
BHOPAL GAS PEEDIT SANGHARSH SAHAYOG SAMITI