| Support the March to Delhi
for Justice and Dignity! |
Today som e
of the poorest people on earth, sick, living on the edge of starvation,
illiterate, without funds, powerful friends or political influence,
are demanding what many of us take for granted:
unpoisoned water. Medical care, rehabilitation and social support.
Justice for those who stole their health, their dreams, and the
lives of their loved ones.
More than 20,000 were killed and 150,000
severely injured by a devastating chemical leak at a Union Carbide
plant in 1984; since then the survivors have lived daily with the
legacy of chemical terror.
They are in Delhi now after marching
500 miles on foot - a five-week journey through the blistering
heat of central India - to ask this of their government. So long
as it refuses to listen, the Bhopalis - gassed by Carbide, poisoned
by contaminated water, weakened by their grueling march - have pledged
to starve themselves to death.
They need our support.
Take Action!
The support of caring and compassionate people around the world has played
a critical role in the victories we’ve
won thus far. The March to Delhi is the biggest and most important
action ever organized by the Bhopal campaign, but it won’t
be successful without your support. Here’s
what you can do to help:
 Send
a FREE FAX to the Prime Minister’s
office in Delhi, demanding that they agree to the survivors’
demands.
..........• Forward
the automatic email to your friends, family, and acquaintances,
asking them to send a fax as well.
..........• Collect support for
the fax action anywhere with this
petition! Entering the information in the fax form may seem
tedious but it makes a difference!
..........• Forward information
to listserves asking for support
 Join
the Global
Relay Hunger Strike. Don’t forget to sign
up online! There are several ways you can participate, but some
are more effective than others:
Fasting is a traditional non-violent tactic
that has been used by women
suffragists, Gandhi, Dorothy Day, political prisoners and the
Bhopalis themselves. If you are going on a prolonged hunger
strike (more than 1-3 days), read up on it first, so you know what
you’re doing.
..........3)
Fast for a day or more and go about your business (but perhaps you could wear a black band around your arm
or a telling t-shirt?)
..........• Register
online!
..........• Forward information
to listserves asking for others to fast as well
..........• Send
this email to your friends and family, telling them about your
fast and inviting them to participate
..........• Be sure to drink lots
of water.
..........• Health
facts for hunger-strikers (courtesy of United Students Against
Sweatshops)
..........• Information
on fasting safely
..........2)
Make your fast public. Spend your lunch hour, a
few hours or even the whole day in a public place (such as the middle
of your college campus or a busy spot in your community), include
banners & eye-catching visuals and hand out flyers, and explain
why you’re fasting. Encourage others to fast as well. For
added effect, invite the media, take photos
and send them to the Indian
embassy or consulate nearest you (and us
too!), or hold the fast itself in front of the nearest
Indian Government office. Break your fast with a participatory
vigil & read the testimonials
of Bhopal survivors or the latest
update from Delhi. For still more effect, make it a regular
(weekly or better still, daily) event.
..........• Register
online!
..........• Forward information
to listserves asking for others to join your public fast
..........• Send
this email to your friends and family, telling them about your
fast and inviting them to participate
..........• Be sure to drink lots
of water.
..........• Health
facts for hunger-strikers (courtesy of United Students Against
Sweatshops)
..........• Information
on fasting safely
..........• Posters
& Graphics
..........• Handouts
and fact sheets about Bhopal, & fact
sheets about the March to Delhi!
..........• Use these M2D
half sheet flyers (doc) or these additional
M2D flyers (doc) or even these M2D
Action Cards! (doc)
..........• Updates from the March
to Delhi blog! Also see the faces
of the marchers and the marchers'
stories.
..........• Survivor
testimonials, Marchers'
stories, Bhopal poetry, and
a partial
list of dead & injured
..........• List
of Bhopal slogans
..........• M2D
Media Kit (doc) and a draft Media
Advisory/Press Release
..........• Congressional
Letter (pdf): 20 Members of the US Congress support the Bhopalis
demands
..........• Collect support for
the fax action with this petition!
Entering the information in the fax form may seem tedious but it
makes a difference!
..........• This draft
advertising poster may come in handy, or these draft Bhopal
quartersheets: One
& Two
..........1)
Join the indefinite hunger strike. Please don't
do so without weighing the consequences.
..........• Register
online!
..........• Forward information
to listserves asking for others to join your indefinite fast
..........• Send
this email to your friends and family, telling them about your
fast and inviting them to participate
..........• Be sure to drink lots
of water.
..........• Health
facts for hunger-strikers (courtesy of United Students Against
Sweatshops)
..........• Information
on fasting safely
..........• Posters
& Graphics
..........• Handouts
and fact sheets about Bhopal, & fact
sheets about the March to Delhi!
..........• Use these M2D
half sheet flyers (doc) or these additional
M2D flyers (doc) or even these M2D
Action Cards! (doc)
..........• Updates from the March
to Delhi blog! Also see the faces
of the marchers and the marchers'
stories.
..........• Survivor
testimonials, Marchers'
stories, Bhopal poetry, and
a partial
list of dead & injured
..........• List
of Bhopal slogans
..........• M2D
Media Kit (doc) and a draft Media
Advisory/Press Release
..........• Congressional
Letter (pdf): 20 Members of the US Congress support the Bhopalis
demands
..........• Collect support for
the fax action with this petition!
Entering the information in the fax form may seem tedious but it
makes a difference!
..........• This draft
advertising poster may come in handy, or these draft Bhopal
quartersheets: One
& Two
Did you call? We're
keeping track!
Help us meet our daily
targets! Drop us an email by pressing the button; just press
send (no message required) and we'll know you called! |
 Call
your nearest
embassy or consulate! Ask to speak with the consul general or
ambassador’s office and ask them to support the demands of
the Bhopal survivors.
In the United States...
Washington DC Embassy: (202) 939-7010
New York Consulate: (212) 774-0601
Chicago Consulate: (312) 595-0412, (312) 595-9235
Houston Consulate: (713) 626-3153
San Francisco Consulate: (415) 668-0998
In India...
Prime Minister's Office, Delhi: (011) 91-11-23012312,
(011) 91-11-23013149
Prime Minister's Home, Delhi: (011) 91-11-23018939,
(011) 91-11-23018668
Prime Minister's Office, Parliament: (011) 91-11-23017660,
(011) 91-11-23019817
Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, leader of UPA, governing coalition (office):
(011) 91-11-23014481, (011) 91-11-23012656
Mr. Prithviraj Chauhan, Minister of State at Prime Minister
(office): (011) 91-11-23010191, (011) 91-11-23013719
Mr. Prithviraj Chauhan, Minister of State at Prime Minister
(home): (011) 91-11-23013132
Mr. Prithviraj Chauhan, Minister of State at Prime Minister
(Parliament): (011) 91-11-23034963
Mrs. Meira Kumar, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment
(office): (011) 91-11-23381390, (011) 91-11-23381001
Mrs. Meira Kumar, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment
(home): (011) 91-11-26910618, (011) 91-11-26910639
..........• Ask
your friends, neighbors, & pets to call
..........• Forward information
to listserves asking other folks to call as well
..........• Need
a cheap phone card?
Actual conversation* with
an Indian Consulate:
CSF: “Hello, Indian Consulate of San
Francisco, can you please hold?”
Somnath: “Sure”
…
CSF: “Hi, sorry about that, it’s
been a crazy day.”
Somnath: “Oh. Why is that?”
CSF: “The phone hasn’t stopped
ringing! Everyone’s calling in support of the March
to Delhi.”
Somnath: “Hmmm. About that…”
CSF: (groan)
Somnath: “I’d like to make a
comment.”
CSF: (wearily) “Go ahead.”
Somnath: “My name is Somnath Baidya
Roy and I’m an Indian National living in the United
States. I support the Bhopalis’ March to Delhi and their
right to justice and a life of dignity. Are you familiar with
their demands?”
CSF: “By now, we’ve memorized
them!”
Somnath: “Great. Then you already know
how important they are. I don’t want to take up too
much of your time, but I hope you’ll communicate my
support to the Indian Government in Delhi.”
CSF: “Yes, we’re keeping a list.
A long list. Thanks for your call.”
Somnath: “Have a great day!”
* Not an actual conversation |
 Email
the Prime Minister and the Indian Government using our easy
webform! Do it once or twice a day, everyday,
until the Indian Government gets the message.
..........• Forward
the automatic email to your friends, family, and acquaintances,
asking them to email as well!
..........• Forward information
to listserves asking for support
 Protest!
Organize a demonstration outside your nearest
embassy or consulate. Or ask for a meeting with the Consul General
so you can present the Bhopalis demands.
Washington DC Embassy: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue,
N.W., Washington D.C. 20008
New York Consulate: 3 East, 64th Street, between
Madison and Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10021
Chicago Consulate: 455 N Cityfront Plaza Drive
(NBC Tower Building) Suite #850 Chicago, IL 60611
Houston Consulate: 1990 Post Oak Blvd. # 600 3
Post Oak Central Houston, TX 77056
San Francisco Consulate: 540 Arguello Boulevard
San Francisco, CA 94118
..........• Invite the
media. Let us know and we
can help.
..........• Understand
your rights
..........• Read up on  our
recent
protest
at the DC Embassy
..........• Congressional
Letter (pdf): 20 Members of the US Congress support the Bhopalis
demands
..........• Amnesty International
report: Clouds
of Injustice
..........• The
March Demands
..........• A petition
in support of the March to Delhi (doc)
..........• Posters
& Graphics
..........• Handouts
and fact sheets about Bhopal, & fact
sheets about the March to Delhi!
..........• Use these M2D
half sheet flyers (doc) or these additional
M2D flyers (doc) or even these M2D
Action Cards! (doc)
..........• Updates from the March
to Delhi blog! Also see the faces
of the marchers and the marchers'
stories.
..........• Survivor
testimonials, Marchers'
stories, Bhopal poetry, and
a partial
list of dead & injured
..........• List
of Bhopal slogans
..........• M2D
Media Kit (doc) and a draft Media
Advisory/Press Release and a draft
op-ed! (doc)
..........• Collect support for
the fax action with this petition!
Entering the information in the fax form may seem tedious but it
makes a difference!
..........• This draft
advertising poster may come in handy, or these draft Bhopal
quartersheets: One
& Two
 Organize
a Vigil. Do so on campus, in your community, or outside your nearest
embassy or consulate. Invite participants to remember the dead
and vow to fight for those who still suffer today. Consider including
speakers, music,
survivor testimonials, poetry readings,
and candle-lighting.
..........• Help
us mark 2 weeks of indefinite fasting by the Bhopalis on April 25
by organizing nationwide vigils. Use them to break a day of solidarity
fasting, invite the media, and keep up the
Bhopalis spirits by sending
us updates and photos.
..........• Invite the
media. Let us know and we
can help.
..........• Use the vigil to break
a day-long fast.
..........• Collect support for
the fax action with this petition!
Entering the information in the fax form may seem tedious but it
makes a difference!
..........• Posters
& Graphics
..........• Handouts
and fact sheets about Bhopal, & fact
sheets about the March to Delhi!
..........• Use these M2D
half sheet flyers (doc) or these additional
M2D flyers (doc) or even these M2D
Action Cards! (doc)
..........• Updates from the March
to Delhi blog! Also see the faces
of the marchers and the marchers'
stories.
..........• Survivor
testimonials, Marchers'
stories, Bhopal poetry, and
a partial
list of dead & injured
..........• List
of Bhopal slogans
..........• M2D
Media Kit (doc) and a draft Media
Advisory/Press Release and a draft
op-ed! (doc)
..........• This draft
advertising poster may come in handy, or these draft Bhopal
quartersheets: One
& Two
..........• Don't
forget the candles!
A suggested plan of events…
Once everyone has gathered and has a candle (a tea light
in a cup should help with the wind!), the leader of the group
introduces themselves and tells the story of what happened
in Bhopal and the events that have led up to the event.
You can ask the people who’ve come to introduce themselves,
mention where they’re from, and what brought them out
(if people fasted that day, make sure those people talk a
bit about why they fasted).
You could go around and ask selected people read the
latest news from the hunger strike in Delhi or alternatively
read the stories of that night.
You can end by thanking everyone for coming, reminding them
of any upcoming events, passing around things to sign, dates
you need participation and help. Ask everyone to say a few
closing words if appropriate and disperse.
Don’t forget! Pens, candles, matches,
signs/banners etc. |
 Inform
the Media. Write a Letter to the Editor to your local paper, expressing
your support for the March to Delhi. If it’s published, send
a copy to the Indian Embassy nearest you.
|
Dear Editor:
Today some of the poorest people on earth,
sick, living on the edge of starvation, illiterate, without
funds, powerful friends or political influence, are demanding
what many of us take for granted: unpoisoned water. Medical
care, rehabilitation and social support. Justice for those
who stole their health, their dreams, and the lives of their
loved ones.
More than 20,000 were killed and 150,000
severely injured by a devastating chemical leak at a Union
Carbide plant in 1984; since then the survivors have lived
daily with the legacy of chemical terror.
They are in Delhi now after marching 500
miles on foot - a five-week journey through the blistering
heat of central India - to ask this of their government. So
long as it refuses to listen, the Bhopalis - gassed by Carbide,
poisoned by contaminated water, weakened by their grueling
march - have pledged to starve themselves to death.
They need our support. Please
call your nearest embassy or consulate and ask them to agree
to the survivors’ demands, or send a FREE FAX to the
Indian Government at http://www.studentsforbhopal.org/FaxAction/fax_action.php.
With our help, the justice that has been so long delayed in
Bhopal cannot be denied.
Sincerely, |
..........• Use this M2D
Media Kit (doc) and this draft
op-ed! (doc)
..........• If there’s a
Non-Resident Indian (NRI) newspaper in your community, ask them
to cover the march! Media inquiries can be directed to Nirveek Bhattacharjee
at 410-627-7679.
Submit your Letter to the
Editor...
editbombay@hindustantimes.com
editor@expressindia.com
toieditorial@timesgroup.com
asianage@vsnl.com
decnet@blr.vsnl.net.in
editor@the-week.com
editor@gujaratsamachar.com
letters-bombay@express2.indexp.co.in
outlook@outlookindia.com
observer@bom3.vsnl.net.in
thestatesman@vsnl.com
starmail@vsnl.com
editor@tribuneindia.com
htedo@giasdl01.vsnl.net.in
pioneer@del2.vsnl.net.in
uni_editorial@hotmail.com
expressindiaweek@aol.com
ttedit@abpmail.com
editor@deccanherald.co.in
letters@thehindu.co.in
frontline@thehindu.co.in
|
 Are
you a member of an NRI (Non-Resident Indian) organization, or do
you know someone who is? Ask them to issue a formal statement in
support of the March to Delhi and the Bhopalis’ demands,
and send it to the Indian
embassy or consulate nearest you.
..........• Read
this sign-on letter to the Prime
Minister, signed by nealy 25 NRI organizations, and contact
Sudarshan if your
organization would like to sign on!
 Sign
the online
petition to the Prime Minister of India! You can do it easily
(it'll only take a minute). Don't forget to urge your friends and
neighbors to do so as well!
..........•
NEW!! Amnesty
International also has an online petition you can sign. Sign
both!
 Raise
awareness. Tell people about the march and why it’s important:
..........• Circulate updates
about the march on progressive and interested listserves and
ask people to take action.
..........• Organize documentary
screenings or other educational events
and ask people to take action.
..........• Reach people by distributing
awareness material outside popular Indian shops and restaurants,
and ask people to take action.
No matter what you do, don’t forget to ask people
to take action!
 Donate.
While we rely heavily on donated time and services there are some
expenses, like phone calls and internet access, which cannot be
avoided. You can donate online here.
- top -
The March
See pictures
from the march! (And internet
video!)
Several dozen Bhopal survivors began their march on foot to New
Delhi on February 20, demanding justice and a life of dignity for
those affected by the 1984 Bhopal Gas
Disaster and those poisoned since by ground water contaminated
with Carbide chemicals. The march is being led by four Bhopal-based
survivor and advocacy organizations: Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery
Karmachari Sangh, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha,
Bhopal Group for Information and Action, and Bhopal ki Aawaaz. Lasting
about 800 km, the marchers are covering about
30 kms every day, and are completely dependent on local communities
for food and shelter.
The Bhopal marchers expect to reach New Delhi in the last week
of March when they have sought a meeting with the Prime Minister.
The  marchers
have a six-point charter of demands to present
to the Prime Minister; depending on the response of the central
government the marchers may decide to go on an indefinite fast to
press their demands.
New Delhi-based supporters of the Bhopal survivors will convey
the demands of the marchers to the Central government on a daily
basis. Nationwide, supporters of the Bhopal campaign will organize
rallies, meetings and signature campaigns in solidarity with the
Delhi Padyatra. International supporters in the USA, Europe, Japan
and other countries will participate in fax actions
and demonstrations before Indian embassies abroad.
The route for the Delhi Padyatra has been
chalked out with a view to making connections with other pollution-
impacted communities along the way. The marchers will organize poster
exhibitions, film screenings and public meetings to make people
aware of the need for justice in Bhopal for prevention of corporate
crime everywhere.
The march is the biggest and most important action ever organized
by the Bhopal campaign, but it won’t be successful without
your support.
Learn
more about what you can do!
Read
the ICJB padyatra
page and AID's Bhopal
blog!
Read
more about the victories we’ve
already won
21 Years is Enough! March to Delhi for
Justice and a Life with Dignity |
- top -
The Demands
Set
up National Commission on Bhopal with the necessary authority and
funds to provide facilities for health care, medical research, social
support and economic rehabilitation of the people poisoned by Union
Carbide/Dow Chemical and their children at least for next 30 years.
This commission must have active participation of non government
doctors, scientists and  representatives
of survivor's organizations.
Commit
full funds for and agree to time-bound plan for delivery of piped
Kolar reservoir water to communities affected by Union Carbide/Dow's
contamination.
Set
up a Special Prosecution Cell in the Central Investigation Bureau
with representatives from the Ministry of External Affairs for speedy
prosecution of Union Carbide Corporation, Warren Anderson and other
accused in the criminal case of the December '84 disaster.
Ensure
scientific assessment of the depth and spread of toxic contamination
in and around the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal and make Union
Carbide's current owner The Dow Chemical Company pay for the clean
up of toxic contamination and compensation for the health and environmental
damage caused due to reckless dumping of chemical wastes.
Stop
government purchase of Dursban and other Dow products and halt any
expansion of Dow's business in India till it accepts the pending
liabilities of Bhopal.
Include
representatives of survivors organizations in the creation of a
memorial to the disaster, declare December 3 rd as a National Day
of Mourning for Victims of Industrial Disasters and Pollution and
ensure that the Bhopal disaster and its aftermath is included school
and college curricula..
- top -
The Route
The March to Delhi will take the Bhopalis through five different
states, visiting several other pollution impacted communities along
the way. The complete route may vary between 750 and 900 km, and
may take the Bhopalis as long as five weeks to complete on foot.
Day |
State |
Start |
End |
kms |
1 |
MP |
Bhopal |
Gandhi Nagar |
10 |
2 |
MP |
Gandhi Nagar |
Duraha |
30 |
3 |
MP |
Duraha |
Pillukhedi |
20 |
4 |
MP |
Pillukhedi |
Kurawar |
20 |
5 |
MP |
Kurawar |
Narsinhgarh |
22 |
6 |
MP |
Narsinhgarh |
Biaora |
34 |
7 |
MP |
Biaora |
Binaganj |
32 |
8 |
MP |
Binaganj |
Kumbhraj |
23.5 |
9 |
MP |
Kumbhraj |
Rajohogarh |
20 |
10 |
MP |
Rajohogarh |
Guna |
25 |
11 |
MP |
Guna |
Miana |
28 |
12 |
MP |
Miana |
Lukwasa |
32 |
13 |
MP |
Lukwasa |
Shivpuri |
36 |
14 |
MP |
Shivpuri |
Dohlagarh |
35 |
15 |
MP |
Dohlagarh |
Mohana |
25 |
16 |
MP |
Mohana |
Ghatigoan |
18 |
17 |
MP |
Ghatigoan |
Gwalior |
32 |
18 |
MP |
Gwalior |
Banmore |
17 |
19 |
MP |
Banmore |
Morena |
30 |
20 |
MP/Raj. |
Morena |
Dhaulpur |
26 |
21 |
Raj./UP |
Dhaulpur |
Jagau |
21 |
22 |
UP |
Jagau |
Agra |
29 |
23 |
UP |
Agra |
Farah |
28 |
24 |
UP |
Farah |
Mathura |
25 |
25 |
UP |
Mathura |
Chhata |
31 |
26 |
UP |
Chhata |
Hodal |
24 |
27 |
UP |
Hodal |
Palwal |
29 |
28 |
UP |
Palwal |
Ballabgarh |
28 |
29 |
UP/Har. |
Ballabgarh |
Faridabad |
12 |
30 |
Har./Del |
Faridabad |
Nizamudin |
30 |
31 |
Delhi |
Nizamudin |
Jantar Mantar |
15 |
|
TOTAL KILOMETERS (Bhopal-Delhi) |
787.5 |
- top -
Posters & Graphics
More
Bhopal posters & graphics are available
here.
- top -
Resources
Resources on the March:
..........• Updates from the
March to Delhi blog!
..........• Fact
sheets about the March to Delhi!
..........• M2D
Media Kit! (doc)
..........• Use this draft
op-ed! (doc)
..........• Faces
of the marchers
..........• Marchers'
stories
..........• Use these M2D
Action Cards! (doc)
..........• Use these M2D
half sheet flyers! (doc)
..........• Additional
M2D flyers you can use (doc)
..........• Use this M2D
PowerPoint presentation developed by AID Tempe!
..........• ...Or use this M2D
PowerPoint (or this
other one in Adobe) developed by AID JHU!
..........• Powerpoints galore!
This one was developed
by the Seattle Coalition and has more background.
..........• March demands,
daily issues for the march and media contacts
..........• Draft statements in
support of M2D developed by AID-Austin
and by AID-Minnesota
(doc & pdf)
..........• A petition
in support of the March to Delhi (doc)
..........• The 1989
long walk of the Bhopali women
And a few other Bhopal resources:
..........• Handouts
and fact sheets about Bhopal
..........• Draft
advertising poster
..........• Draft Bhopal Quartersheets:
One & Two
..........• We have many education
& action resources available. Make
a request!
..........• Looking for more action
& event ideas?
..........• Need
a cheap phone card?
..........• Survivor
testimonials
..........• Bhopal
poetry
..........•
Partial list
of dead & injured
..........• List
of Bhopal slogans
..........• Understand
your rights
..........• Draft
Media Advisory/Press Release
- top -
|
IN
BHOPAL