| Louisiana State University |
Documentary Screening
and Panel Discussion
On December 18th, 2004, the Baton Rouge chapter of the Association
for India's Development at Louisiana State University organized
an event to create awareness on Bhopal Gas tragedy, corporate responsibility
and about the legacy of DOW and its likes. The event was titled
From Bhopal to Louisiana, a call for corporate accountability and
environmental justice (inspiration New Mexico chapter). We invited
the Indian community, students, faculty at LSU and many progressive
and environmental organizations like amnesty, environmental action
group, sierra club, and green party and also called all the local
media. Advocate, a local news paper carried out an article
giving details about the event on Dec 16th.
About the event:
1) We started with the documentary Bhopal: The Search of Justice.
The documentary was really informative and effective.
2) This was followed by a speech by Nishant Jain (Volunteer for
ICJB and AID). He spoke about the how chemical industries are functioning,
international campaign for justice in Bhopal, need for all of us
to know more about this issue and what we all can do.
3) Next was an interesting speech by Mr Darryl Malek-Wiley of sierra
club. He spoke about Bhopal, how chemical industries have created
environmental problems in Louisiana and are affecting the local
communities, health concerns, irregularities in chemical industries
their huge lobby and how we can make these corporations answerable.
In his speech he said that today’s companies are no different
from the pre-colonial East India Company.
4) The event ended with discussion between audients and the speakers.
There were about 25-30 people in the audience - far less than our
expectation.
Through organizing this event we primarily learned about Bhopal
better and another development was unknowingly we came in touch
with many progressive organizations here locally with whom we can
work and build strong relationships and this was the greatest outcome.
Given the interest in our group and the potential of making a bigger
impact (as Louisiana is a hub of DOW and other petrochemical industries)
and the presence of other active concerned groups, we are looking
forward to taking this issue further.
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Anniversary Vigil
& Video Screening
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
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.
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".
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20th Anniversary
Vigil
On December 3rd, 2004, the Association for India's Development
chapter at Louisiana State University held a candle light vigil
to remember those who lost their lives and express our solidarity
with victims of the gas tragedy. There were around 25-30 participants.
Praveen gave a brief speech on the gas tragedy, its aftermath, plight
of the victims, the just demands we are asking for and what we all
can do. This was followed by observing 2 minutes of silence. And
finally, everyone was briefed about the event which was organized
for Dec 18th.
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