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Students for Bhopal chapters around the world are organizing events and actions to mark the 21st anniversary of the Bhopal disaster. Find out more below! ..........• Seattle On November 29, 2005, the Seattle City Council issued an official
Proclamation declaring Dec. 3rd “Bhopal Remembrance Day”.
In doing so, Seattle became the second city to declare support for
the victims, following a resolution passed by the San Francisco
City Council in April of last year. The City proclamation observed that the inaction of Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) and Dow Chemical is counter to Seattle’s aims for environmental sustainability. Seattle City Council member and proclamation sponsor Nick Licata said, "All of us must be accountable for our actions. If Dow eludes accountability for its liabilities in Bhopal, why should American citizens expect any corporation to accept responsibility for harm they may cause in the United States?" The proclamation marks an important step in the rising demand for justice over the Bhopal issue, whose victims feel betrayed by the actions of Union Carbide and Dow Chemical. “Bhopal can happen in our backyard. As global citizens it is our responsibility to address these issues whenever possible and our local coalition felt we could do our part to call attention to this human rights abuse,” said Sandhya Banda, member of the Seattle Coalition for Justice in Bhopal. The Seattle Coalition for Justice in Bhopal, which initiated this action, is also planning an event on December 3rd to commemorate the Remembrance Day. The short film "20 Years Without Justice" will be followed by a vigil at St. James’ Cathedral in Seattle. This event is part of the “Women Confronting Globalization” event which starts at 2pm in the same location. Guest speakers from Chiapas and the Mexico Solidarity Network will talk about women confronting globalization, followed by a showing of the film, “Questions without Answers,” about the femicides in Juarez, Mexico. Contact: Valerie Costa, Seattle
Coalition for Justice in Bhopal & Amnesty International, 206-979-6927.
On FRIDAY, Dec. 2nd, UM students will be out raising awareness about the 1984 Bhopal Gas Disaster on the Diag, the central crossroads of the University of Michigan. The presentation will include a prepared 10-minute skit, which will be repeated at the top of the hour from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm while people are on their way to class. It is obviously going to be LOADS of fun and very informative about this gas leak which has been forgotten by all but those in Bhopal who are still silently suffering from it 21 years later. UPDATE!
On December 2nd, 2005, the Ann Arbor chapter of the Association for India’s Development, EnAct, Environmental Justice and Students for Bhopal co-sponsored several performances of a powerful Bhopal performance on the Diag, the central crossroads of the University of Michigan campus. The event was covered in the campus newspaper, The Michigan Daily, and over the course of the day several hundred people watched the performance. Writes the Daily: “LSA junior Joseph Mathias and LSA senior Deetti Reddy rolled on the ground while smoke emitted from a large black barrel in the Diag on Friday. The performance was a part of the Students for Bhopal's re-enactment of the Bhopal Tragedy, a chemical spill that killed thousands of Indians nearly two decades ago.
"’Not a lot of people know that the Bhopal disaster ever happened,’ said performer Jeff Collins, a University alum who works with Students for Bhopal, a student group that supports reparations for victims of the disaster. ‘There is still responsibility that has not been taken,’ Collins said. ‘Union Carbide just picked up and left. (The chemicals are) all still there.’ Students for Bhopal wants Dow to clean up the toxins, face a trial, provide long-term health care and provide economic support for the victims.” The five-minute silent skit is an abstract reenactment of the 1984
Bhopal chemical disaster. Its purpose is to remind the public that
Dow's liability in Bhopal remains unresolved as people continue
to die from the effects of the toxic gas. The Dow Grim Reaper represents
Dow's culpability in these deaths. The person in white represents
those who have died. The person in red represents the injured, who
carry the legacy of the disaster in their blood. The person in gray
represents the rest of us, who are neither criminals nor victims,
but nonetheless must bury the dead, care for the injured, and demand
justice from Dow. Read the
script and watch a video (Quicktime:
24 MB) of the performance! 1. A caravan of students and Bhopal supporters to Midland, to confront five Dow Board members (including the current Dow CEO) with the names, faces and stories of those they’re killing. UPDATE! On December 1st, 2005, six members of the University of Michigan community traveled to Midland, Michigan to talk to five members of Dow’s Board of Directors – the folks responsible for perpetuating the ongoing chemical terror in Bhopal. We weren’t sure what to expect: in the past, Dow’s Board members have refused to speak with us, and fled when they knew we’d be arriving. So this visit was a surprise, timed to catch the Board members off guard and hopefully willing to speak about the disaster.
We started at the CEO's home, Andrew Liveris. He was either not home, or refused to come to the door, but we did leave a poster taped on his door with a note for when he returned. This was repeated at the home of Dow's Chief Financial Officer, J. Pedro Reinhard. We had better luck with the third name on our list, William Stavropoulos, himself the former CEO of Dow and current Chairman of the Board. We disturbed his restful enjoyment of a television sporting event as he reclined in a luxurious leather armchair. He appeared perplexed as he cautiously peered through the blinds next to his door, until he read the poster we'd brought. Then he became more agitated, nervous in his gestures. After a few seconds he held his hands up, palms outward, indicating his refusal to speak with us. At the control panel he turned off the lights to the living room and enabled the security system. He pressed the emergency button, calling his private security service, and moved to the kitchen where he also dimmed the lights before telephoning the Midland Police Department.
We hadn't driven far before the men in blue pulled us over with flashing lights. Over the course of the next hour, they asked each driver for their license and registration, and also collected the identification of the other passengers. They verified our phone numbers, addresses, and occupations. And they photographed each of us with a digital camera, as well as our license plates. We were informed that we were never again to set foot on Dow property, approach any Dow building or facility, visit any of the Dow Board members, Dow executives, or Dow employees in any capacity. We were told to stay clear of Dow pets, avoid inhaling air once breathed by Dow's management, and to refrain from reading public documents produced by Dow, silently or aloud. They specifically instructed us to give our children different names than those given to the children of Dow executives. If we should break these rules, we were told, we would permanently forfeit our ability to send mail using the US Postal Service. Overall we were astonished by the guilt and fear our friendly visit seemed to inspire. It’s clear that Dow’s Board members do not enjoy being held accountable for their actions, and it’s also clear why. We remain committed to reminding them of their responsibilities until justice is finally done. 2. A public art project, commemorating and memorializing the Bhopal disaster, will be created using seven large “toxic waste” drums, stencils, images and recordings. UPDATE!
On December 3rd, 2005, several students and supporters of the Bhopal campaign joined together in the creation of a public art project, memorializing the catastrophic disaster that happened 21 years ago. Entitled “Bhopal”, the project featured seven large “toxic waste” drums, each of which was covered with stencils, writings and images representing such themes as “THAT NIGHT,” “The Women’s Union,” and “Compensation”. Each barrel also contains a sound installation, which will continue to play this 3-minute clip of powerful quotes and damning Carbide lies set against the mournful backdrop of the Indian sitar.
The project was presented to the University of Michigan at the home of its President, Mary Sue Coleman. President Coleman was out of town and unable to accept the gift in person, but Julie Peterson, the University’s Vice President for Communications, was on hand to accept the gift on behalf of the school. Jayanthi Reddy from AID-Ann Arbor and Ryan Bodanyi from Students for Bhopal spoke briefly about the disaster, its importance, and the local movement to ensure that Bhopal is not forgotten. Julie Peterson also spoke, echoing the importance of remembrance and thanking us for the gift to the school. The barrels themselves will be displayed separately in seven different buildings on the University of Michigan campus. Contact: Jayanthi Reddy, AID-Ann Arbor On the 21st anniversary of Bhopal we at Chennai are organizing
an awareness run in Besant Nagar - a very popular coastal locality
in city of Chennai. The theme of the run would revolve around the
relevance of the Bhopal Gas Disaster to our lives today. The theme
will also look at a general awareness on the need for safe environment
and greater corporate accountability in our corporate ruled lives.
On the 21st anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Disaster, International
Campaign for Justice in Bhopal invites you to join: Many More Bhopals: Emboldened by the Government’s willingness to condone crimes by private corporations, a thousand Bhopals have sprung up around the country. The most polluting and most dangerous factories make a beeline for India attracted by the Indian Government’s offer of easy clearances and lax environmental regulation. Chemplast and Malco’s factory complexes in Mettur, the SIPCOT Industrial Estate in Cuddalore, the Ennore-Manali Petrochemical belt, Sterlite’s illegal copper smelter in Tuticorin, Orchid Chemical’s death factory in Alathur, the dyeing units in Tirupur, Hindustan Lever’s mercury waste dumps in Kodaikanal – these are all slow-motion Bhopals in Tamilnadu where the Government’s reluctance to crack-down on polluters is threatening workers, communities and the environment. The Government’s reluctance is also a result of people’s failure to organize. We invite you to join other concerned people in a “Run/Walk for Life” and Candle-light vigil at the Besant Nagar Beach Contact: Shweta Narayan UPDATE!
On December 3rd, 2005, the 21st anniversary of the Bhopal disaster, “We Feel Responsible” and other Bhopal supporters in Chennai hosted a “Run For Life” and candle-light vigil in memory of Bhopal and the slow-motion Bhopals in their own community. Schools, friends and local residents were invited to participate in the event, which included the performance of a street play and ended with a poignant candle-light vigil at the Elliots Beach. The run covered an area of about 5kms, snaking its way along the beach in Besant Nagar - a very popular coastal locality in city of Chennai and a weekend crowd puller. The theme revolved around the relevance of the Bhopal Gas Disaster to our lives today; the general need for a safe environment and greater corporate accountability in our corporate-ruled lives; and Chennai’s own slow-motion Bhopals, including Chemplast and Malco’s factory complexes in Mettur, the SIPCOT Industrial Estate in Cuddalore, the Ennore-Manali Petrochemical belt, Sterlite’s illegal copper smelter in Tuticorin, Orchid Chemical’s death factory in Alathur, the dyeing units in Tirupur, and Hindustan Lever’s mercury waste dumps in Kodaikanal. In all these cases the Government’s reluctance to crack-down on polluters is threatening workers, communities and the environment.
This 3rd December the decision was taken to have a candle light vigil wherever the group will be and by involving the rest of the class mates this would spread the message. Sahil will take photographs of the event and we will share the images with Students for Bhopal and Bhopal.net. On December 10 Human Rights Day we plan to join the Lok Sangathan call for "Punish the Guilty" demonstration. Wfb will carry banners provided by ICJB and before we go to the demonstration we plan to do a signature campaign on a 9 by 3 white sheet at the university. This sheet will be carried to the demonstration site. Contact: Akhil Katyal, We for Bhopal On November 16, 2005, several students from Oakland University and the University of Michigan joined in a protest outside Dow’s Midland, MI headquarters. Although the weather was bitterly cold, the students waved banners, shouted slogans, and went inside to meet with Dow Public Affairs man Scott Wheeler. “Scott Wheeler focused his argument on the grounds that Dow does not and never has owned the facility and that the land is now owned by the state government and so we should focus our complaints against them. He said Union Carbide sold the land lease to Eveready and then the government seized the land from them. He also said that Dow bought the shares of Union Carbide, which means they own UC's assets, but not their liabilities. I don't know how true that is, but I feel we learned a lot from talking to him – if only about their ‘no blame’ mindset.” Contact: Ariana Toth, Amnesty International Oakland University This year we will be holding our second annual Bhopal Art Contest. Basically anybody can submit pieces of artwork for this contest, such as music, posters, sculpture, painting, writing, etc. There are three prizes and the deadline is December 2nd. Then on the 3rd we're going to hold a presenting event for winners and participants. Contact: Kasey Jacobs The Boston Coalition for Justice in Bhopal is hosting a candlelight vigil in Downtown Boston followed by a short film and talk afterwards on Friday, December 2nd from 4:15-6pm at the Park St. T-stop. Continuing on to Community Church for a 17 min film and discussion at 6pm. Each vigil attendee will read aloud 5 names of people who died in the immediate disaster in 1984. We will be collecting signatures for the ‘Don’t work for Dirty Dow Campaign.’ Since our location will be at one of the busiest subway stops in the heart of Boston at rush hour we hope to raise awareness with a broad audience. Friday, December 2nd, 2005 Contact: Aquene Freechild, 617-254-6018 for further details. UPDATE!
On December 3rd, 2005, the 21st Anniversary of the Bhopal disaster, the Boston Coalition for Justice in Bhopal held a candlelight vigil in Boston Commons (Park Street T Stop) during Rush Hour, starting at 4:15. Even though it was a windy and cold day, a lot of folks braved the winds for a solemn memorial to the lives lost and in solidarity with the Bhopal survivors. The Justice For Bhopal banner, the recitation of the powerful survivor accounts, short handouts, and the large posters raised awareness amongst a lot of people during the rush hour in front of Park Street subway station. Then we walked to the Community Church for a screening of the 17-minute Bhopal documentary, “Twenty Years Without Justice.” We had a round of introductions for some new interested folks and tried to encourage planning for next year for the Bhopal campaign followed by going to dinner together. So, it was a successful event over all for the coalition. We hope to also continue the momentum from this year and plan more things for next year. Boston Coalition For Justice in Bhopal is a group that was formed for Bhopal action throughout the year with various Boston based groups in the middle of this year. The members of the group are: AID Boston, Somerville Amnesty International Chapter, Environment Health Fund, South Asia Center and Alliance For Secular and Democratic South Asia. The overall coordinator for this group is Aquene Freechild from Environment Health Fund/Students For Bhopal. Read this article in JSONS! Read more in India New England!
UC BERKELEY EVENT FOR 21 YEARS WITHOUT JUSTICE. THE BHOPAL CHEMICAL DISASTER: On the eve of the 21st anniversary of the Bhopal Disaster, join
us to find out Why? For more information, please contact: Sachin
Deshmukh FYI, Association for India's Development (AID) calls for a 21st Anniversary REMEMBER BHOPAL in Cincinnati to seek justice for Bhopal. Dec 2nd-3rd, 2005 marks the 21st anniversary of the Bhopal disaster. This day has been declared as the - Global Day of Action against Corporate Crime. Join AID, to send a resounding message to all the irresponsible corporations that there will be 'No more Bhopals'. • Dec 1st & Dec 2nd : Photo exhibition (9.00am - 6.00pm) 4th floor Lobby Engineering Research Center (ERC), University of Cincinnati. We are exhibiting a photo exhibition by works of Raghu Rai, Maude Dorr and other internationally recognized photographers. The exhibition consists of images that they took in Bhopal since 1984, documenting the horror. • Dec 2nd : Fast observance (Dawn to dusk) & Screening ‘Bhopal Express’ (12:30 am- 2.00 pm) at 427 ERC, University of Cincinnati. People interested in fasting from sunrise to sunset for the cause are requested to contact Sandesh Samdaria at 513.297.4822 Details: This film is a human drama set against the gas tragedy in Bhopal which took place in 1984. The film examines the irresponsible methods of large corporations and the effects of their actions on common people. Details: http://www.bhopalexpress.com/ Contact: Sandesh Samdaria,
AID Cincinnati UPDATE! On December 2nd and 3rd, AID-Cincinnati hosted a photo exhibition about the Bhopal disaster on the University of Cincinnati campus. The Photo exhibition went well. Lots of people passed by, read and conveyed solidarity. We had 4 people who fasted on Dec 2nd in memory of Bhopal. From November 11th through December 10th, 2005, Bard College hosted the exhibit, "Flames not Flowers," photos by Raghu Rai and Maude Dorr, in their student center. Alongside this exhibit, Bard premiered another smaller color photography exhibit called "Bhopal: New Sites of Suffering and Healing in the Aftermath of the Bhopal Gas Disaster," by Bridget Hanna, William Hanna, Prakash Hatvalne and Adriane Raff-Corwin. The photos were hung down one long wall at the campus center at Bard, a locus of activity that everyone in the community passes through on a regular basis. The sequence begins with the disaster and Rai's photos, progresses through Dorr's collages, and then ends with the small exhibit of new images. Even as the show was being hung, many people stopped to look at the arresting images. Standing in the campus center watching the traffic, it is clear that most cannot pass the exhibit without paying attention to it, and many people seem very moved by what is portrayed. The sheet we provided for commentary has had only thanks and praise written on it thus far. We hope that this exhibit will help further raise the awareness about Bhopal at Bard, and will get people riled up to make some noise! Contact: Bridget Hanna Please join a.i.d, atlanta with your questions, your thoughts &
your inquiries for Contact: Srini Seetharaman,
AID-Atlanta In memory of those killed and in solidarity with those who continue to struggle for justice in Bhopal and everywhere in South Asia, a new initiative, *JUSTICE IN SOUTH ASIA* *BHOPAL AND BEYOND: PEOPLE'S STRUGGLES IN SOUTH ASIA* An afternoon of documentary films and theater on struggles for social, economic, and environmental justice in the region SATURDAY DECEMBER 3, 2:00 PM This event is co-sponsored by: Association for India's Development (AID) Maryland chapter, Amnesty PROGRAM: *India and Free Trade: A Closer Look at Bhopal* Andolan Jari Chha (The Struggle Continues) The Pit There will be time for discussion. Light refreshments will be served FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact Justice in South Asia volunteers: UPDATE! On December 3rd, 2005, “Justice in South Asia” presented “Bhopal and Beyond: People’s Struggles in South Asia,” an afternoon of documentary films and theater on struggles for social, economic, and environmental justice in the region. Co-sponsored by the Association for India's Development (AID) Maryland chapter, Amnesty International USA, and Mobilization for Global Justice, the program featured a screening of “India and Free Trade: A Closer Look at Bhopal” as well as “Andolan Jari Chha” (The Struggle Continues) about the continuing struggle for democracy and Human Rights in Nepal, and “The Pit,” a play on religious fundamentalism in the Indian sub-continent. About 40 people attended the event, and participated in the discussion afterwards. A Call to Unite for Bhopal! Where: Gather near the Milwaukee Public Library by 8th and Wisconsin When: Saturday, December 3rd, 2005 at 2pm. Why: The Bhopal Gas tragedy also known as the ‘Hiroshima of the chemical industry’ was one of the worst industrial disasters in the history of the world. In 1984, a storage tank containing 40 tons of toxic methyl-isocyanate burst at the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, a city in central India. The poisonous gas leak killed 8,000 people the first day and nearly 20,000 to date. The victims were meagerly compensated and the site still remains polluted. In 2001, Dow Chemical acquired Union Carbide but refuses to take any responsibility for either the tragedy or for the gross contamination that still remains at the Bhopal site. Dow Chemicals refusal to take responsibility coupled with the Indian Government’s apathy has left the victims still struggling for justice 21 years after the disaster. The event will begin with a stand out vigil besides the Milwaukee Public Library followed by a walk towards the Mahatma Gandhi statue (Milwaukee County Court Houses), the champion of nonviolent struggle. Contact: Sushma Iyer UPDATE! It was snowing, it was cold but the AID Milwaukee volunteers were
steadfast in our resolve to demand justice for the victims of the
Bhopal Gas Disaster. The message that volunteers wanted to convey
when they gathered in front of Milwaukee public library was short
and clear: Dow, Clean Bhopal now! The vigil was to observe the 21st
The event started in front of the Milwaukee Public library and the goal was to spread awareness for the cause. A night before volunteers prepared a few posters, which would be used the next day to promote awareness of the campaign. “We got 50 honks in our support”, remarked Krishna while talking about the success the event received. The group then walked together towards the Mahatma Gandhi statue at the Milwaukee Court house where they lit candles and a minute of silence was observed to remember those who died. The cold and heavy snow was a deterrent but not enough to stop people from speaking out their views on the issue. Ashish, an AID volunteer echoed the demands of the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal (ICJB). He said, Dow should clean up the toxic waste from the site, provide long-term health care to those affected, face trial in the court and provide economic and social support to the victims. Prem talked about few of the achievements for the campaign in the last year, with the notable ones being the order of the Supreme Court of India asking Madhya Pradesh Government to supply clean drinking water and the Indian Oil Corporation cancellation of purchase of technology from Dow Chemicals. Matt Nelson, director of “Education for People” talked about corporate accountability and how some corporations have destroyed communities but have not been held accountable for that. With Matt's remark the event came to an end with the resolve that we will keep fighting for the Justice in Bhopal. CORPORATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES: 7 pm Wednesday December 14 at the Media Education Foundation The film, “Litigating Disaster,” follows the 20-year legal struggle for compensation for the victims of the world's worst industrial disaster that occurred in Bhopal, India Dec. 3, 1984 when a leak from a Union Carbide chemical pesticide plant resulted in the death of 15,000 people or more and the maiming of hundreds of thousands. The film makes it clear the real culprit is the lack of any international law or tribunal to govern the activities of multinational corporations. Ward Morehouse, co-founder of POCLAD (national Program on Corporations, Law and Democracy) will lead a discussion and speak briefly about the lessons he has learned from his own 21-year involvement in the struggled for justice in Bhopal about international control of corporations. Copies of Morehouse’s new book, THE BHOPAL READER: remembering twenty years of the world¹s worst industrial disaster will be for sale. Copies of Amnesty International’s report using the Bhopal case calling for a universal human rights framework for business, based on the UN Norms for Business will be available for discussion. The Report says such standards are necessary, “to hold companies accountable and guarantee redress for the victims.” The evening will be sponsored by POCLAD (Program on Corporations, Law and Democracy) Contact: Carolyn Toll Oppenheim Association for India's Development (AID) Contact: Yogesh Simmhan, AID-Bloomington UPDATE! On December 2nd, 2005, the Bloomington chapter of the “We had a good turnout for the vigil though the documentary was a washout since we were screening the same one as last year.
“Unlike last year, this year we did not manage to get media attention for our vigil. We'll have to work closer with the campus newsdesk to make sure we get press coverage in future.” As a part of Bhopal week, we are planning to distribute small pins with "DOW" crossed out. We also would like to ask sign-ups for a day long fast on Dec 3rd. Contact: Gauri Vibhakar Karve, AID-Austin UPDATE! December 3rd, 2005 marked the 21st anniversary of the Bhopal gas tragedy. AID-Austin commemorated the event by holding a candlelight vigil, which was attended by twenty-five people. One individual read poetry, while others read survivor stories, while another sang a song of inspiration and hope. Being the Global Day of Action, a few AID-Austin volunteers held a day-long fast in solidarity with the Bhopal survivors. Attendees of the vigil also had an opportunity to write messages in two different diaries, one for the Bhopal survivors, and one for Dow, respectively.
After a series of deliberations we have decided to organise a Photo exhibition in the campus with valuable inputs from Rachna and also with the help of the print outs of those which we could manage through the website. We hope a good turn out from the faculty too as we got a positive and highly boosting remarks from a couple of them already. Tommorrow i have sought an appointment with Rachna and perhaps i could join with the programmes that she and Sadbhavana trust is organising marking the anniversary too. Contact: Nahar Muhammed UPDATE! With the exciting support and co-operation from Students for Bhopal especially and others around like Rachna here we organised something in Indian Institute of Forest Management this time marking the 21st anniversary of Bhopal tragedy. I wish to extend whole hearted thanks to you all on behalf of everyone who were behind in organising such an event. We got overwhelming support from some of our faculties and several of our fellow students were also quite helpful and supportive in the whole effort. We gathered the support of the IIFM community by collecting their signatures with comments in a big white sheet for which the response was something quite rewarding. It was after the absence of a substantial student community who are out of the campus primarily due to the field work. I specially liked to mention the name of Ms. Swati Karamcheti, an MPhil student who had shown her enthusiasm right from the beginning and played an appreciable role in making the event a fair success. We hope and wish in the years to come IIFM will also find its place in the network of organisations and students who are part and parcel of the struggle against injustice to the victims of Bhopal tragedy. AID Baton Rouge will be hosting a candle light vigil and will be screening the movie "Litigating Disaster". Contact: Prakash Narayanan, AID-Baton Rouge UPDATE! To commemorate the 21st anniversary of the Bhopal gas disaster,
a candlelight vigil was organized by AID Baton Rouge on the evening
of Dec 3, 2005. About 30 people attended the vigil, which As a follow up to the anniversary, a documentary titled "Litigating Disaster" by Ilan Ziv was screened the next day during the chapter's weekly community service hour. The documentary features Raj Sharma, the attorney for the Bhopal victims, and includes never before seen documents and exclusive interviews with former Union Carbide employees. The documentary generated considerable discussion among those present, including action that could be taken by the Baton Rouge community to increase awareness, and listed demands to be met by Dow and the Government of India. There were also some questions on the next appropriate day when some action could be taken here. On the whole the vigil and the movie generated a good discussion and people are waiting to make the next move to spread the word that "We all live in Bhopal" and "No more Bhopals". Asha will be hosting a movie screening for awareness in relation to the anniversary actions, followed by a question and answer session about the disaster and the ongoing campaign for justice. Contact: Anita Satish UPDATE!! On December 3rd, several Bhopal supporters and members of the Association for India’s Development (Milwaukee) visited the home of Dow Board member James Ringler: Ashish (from AID Milwaukee), Satish and I (from Waukegan) left
for Ringler's house around 9am. We reached Ringler's house around
9:15am and rang the bell. Waited for a few seconds before the door
was opened by No Ringler, a bit disappointing! A few questions that bothered us on our way back All in all a few things to think about. Letter to Mr. Ringler December 3rd, 2005 Dear Mr. James Ringler and all DOW Board of Directors, We include below a transcript of a letter that was delivered to Mr. Ringler's residence in Lake Forest IL, on December 3rd by supporters of the campaign for justice in Bhopal. December 3rd is the anniversary of the chemical disaster that occurred in Bhopal 21 years ago in 1984. On this occasion we would like to remind you of the responsibilities towards the people of Bhopal. As Dow’s Board of Directors you have the power to change the situation in Bhopal. We urge and demand that you to use it to - CLEAN UP THE POISON: Clean up toxic wastes and contaminated groundwater in and around the Union Carbide factory site. Provide safe water to the community, and just compensation for those who have been injured or made ill by this contamination and/or have had their property damaged. - Submit Union Carbide for TRIAL: Ensure that Union Carbide and Warren Anderson present themselves in the Indian courts, and cease to abscond from the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court in Bhopal. - PROVIDE LONG TERM HEALTH CARE: Provide for medical rehabilitation of the persons exposed to toxic gases and contaminated groundwater and their children. This includes medical care, health monitoring and necessary research studies. The company must provide all information on the health consequences of the leaked gases and contaminants in the ground water. - PROVIDE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SUPPORT: Provide income opportunities to victims who can not pursue their usual trade as a result of exposure-induced illnesses and income support to families rendered destitute due to death or incapacitation of the breadwinner of the family. In solidarity with the people of Bhopal,
To commemorate the 21st anniversary of the Bhopal tragedy caused by Union Carbide/Dow Chemical in India, Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT) and Alaskans for Peace and Justice co-hosted the film, Litigating Disaster, on Friday, December 2 about the long-term health consequences of the chemical disaster on the people of Bhopal at the University of Alaska- Anchorage (UAA), with discussion led by Varsha following the film. About 40 people showed up for the film on a snowy Friday evening. “Dow: Poison
Without End” There are few deeds so dark as slowly poisoning a person to death. The Bhopal disaster, Carbide’s chemical waste, and Dow’s refusal to clean up continues to poison tens of thousands – and kill another person each day. (1) Dow (and your college, if it’s associated with Dow) should be reminded of the names, faces and stories of those it’s killing. Deliver oversize posters to Dow Board members, Dow facilities, and (if they’re associated with Dow) your college administrators that tell the story of a Bhopal survivor. Set these up on the campus green or in a central area and talk to people about what you’re doing the afternoon of or before the delivery. ... A Note About Printing Tips & Resources
Victim #2: Shahid Noor
Victim #3: Mehboob Bi
Victim #4: Gangaram
Victim #5: Paan Bai
|
Anniversary of Bhopal Gas disaster and was organized by AID Milwaukee
along with “Education for People”, a grassroots community-based
advocacy organization head quartered in Milwaukee (http://educationforthepeople.org).
Association for India’s Development hosted a vigil and documentary
screening to mark the 21st anniversary of the world’s worst-ever
industrial disaster. 
“We
had the vigil for 2hrs on Dec 2nd at the heart of the campus and
close to downtown. Over 20 people joined us and stood thro the bitter
cold and held posters. We talked to faculty, students, and staff
who passed by and over 30 people stopped and interacted with us
braving the cold. We explained about Bhopal and gave them flyers
with things they could do to help.
commenced with the lighting of candles. Prakash Narayanan, an AID
volunteer, addressed the attendees on the tragedy, current health
of survivors and their fight for justice against Union Carbide (now
DOW) and the Government of India. Information about the disaster
was also provided on posters for everyone to read. A minute silence
was then observed in remembrance of the dead and those who are still
suffering to this day from the aftereffects of the gas leak.
Ringler's
daughter. She said -'You must be looking for my Dad', for which
we responded yes. We were told that he is out of state, gone to
Florida and is not expected back for another few months. We told
her that we wanted to give him the poster board and she said she
could not accept it. We said we would leave it at the door, for
which she told us that she would throw it out right away and that
it was no use. We stood firm that we were going to leave it there
anyway (she seemed a bit taken aback by this). After this we handed
out the letter (which consisted of the ICJB demands) and said we
wanted to give Mr. Ringler this letter. She again said that she
could not take anything from us to give him and closed the door.
We pinned this letter to the poster board and left right away. While
we were there a FedEx truck pulled in to their house and she signalled
to the FedEx delivery person to wait till we were gone. As we left
the house gates, we saw her reopening the door for the fedex person.
The international student campaign to hold Dow
accountable for Bhopal, and its other toxic legacies around the world.
For more information about the campaign, or for problems regarding this
website, contact Ryan
Bodanyi, the Coordinator of Students for Bhopal.
WE
ALL LIVE 
IN
BHOPAL
"The year 2003 was a special year in the history of the campaign for justice in Bhopal. It was the year when student and youth supporters from at least 30 campuses in the US and India took action against Dow Chemical or in support of the demands of the Bhopal survivors. As we enter the 20th year of the unfolding Bhopal disaster, we can, with your support, convey to Dow Chemical that the fight for justice in Bhopal is getting stronger and will continue till justice is done. We look forward to your continued support and good wishes, and hope that our joint struggle will pave the way for a just world free of the abuse of corporate power."
Signed/ Rasheeda Bi, Champa Devi Shukla
Bhopal Gas Affected Women Stationery Employees Union
International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal
This is what the www.studentsforbhopal.org site looked like in early 2008. For more recent information, please visit www.bhopal.net.