2004-05-31

GreenPeace Alert: Justice for Bhopal

Indian politicians buckled under pressure from the US and let Union Carbide get away with mass-murder.

On March 17, 2004, a US court presented the Indian Government with a unique opportunity to hold the Polluter – Dow/Carbide responsible for the clean-up of the Bhopal gas disaster site and its surrounding areas. The Court of Appeals ruled that Union Carbide (now owned by Dow) could be made to undertake and bear the costs of remediation of the factory site in Bhopal. Thousands of tons of toxic wastes dumped and abandoned by Carbide in and around the site in Bhopal continue to leach poisons (which include carcinogens and heavy metals) into the drinking water supply of at least 20,000 Bhopal residents while exacerbating the health impacts amongst the survivors.

The US court of Appeals has said that if the Government of India or Madhya Pradesh issues a letter to Judge Keenan stating they have no objection to Union Carbide cleaning up its toxic contamination to enable him to take appropriate action. The deadline for receipt of such a letter by the US Court is June 30, 2004.

Tell the Government of India and Madhya Pradesh to send this communication and ensure that justice is brought to Bhopal after 20 years.

Find out more about the Bhopal disaster:

• Greenpeace.org: Toxic hotspots — Across the globe irresponsible companies and negligent governments have created many global toxic hotspots.
• Explore the abandoned Union Carbide Plant in Bhopal — http://www.mad-dow-disease.com/tour/main.htm