Bhopal
Remembered on the 25th Anniversary of the World’s Worst Chemical
Disaster
Atlanta Area Human
Rights Groups Unite in Remembrance
on
the 25th Anniversary of the Bhopal Disaster, December 3rd, 2009
December 3, 2009
WHEREAS,
On December 3rd 1984, several
tons of Methyl iscocyanate (MIC) and other
poisonous gases leaked from
the Union Carbide facility in Bhopal
exposing more than 500,000 people to the chemicals.
WHEREAS,
Estimates
of those who died within the first week of the disaster range from
3,800 to
8,000. The continued effects
of the exposure have resulted in 20,000-25,000 deaths in the last 25
years.
WHEREAS,
Tens of thousands of people, families and
children still
suffer from the exposure today.
WHEREAS,
Tons of hazardous chemicals
that Union
Carbide left around its facility have
seeped into the ground and local
drinking water. Even today, the site is
said to be contaminated by “thousands of metric tons of toxic
chemicals including lead and mercury.”
WHEREAS,
Compensation for victims families and
health services to the survivors are shameful and inadequate and do
not represent a just outcome of the negligence of Union Carbide.
WHEREAS,
Dow Chemical acquired Union Carbide in
2001 and refuses to take the responsibilities of Carbide’s
liabilities in Bhopal, including the clean-up of the contamination
and effects of the
ongoing exposure
to the contamination.
WHEREAS,
An outstanding warrant and criminal
charges are still pending against the former CEO of Union Carbide,
Warren Anderson,
and former Union Carbide India Limited employees.
WHEREAS,
We recognize that many strides have been
made and the disaster in
Bhopal has not been forgotten due to
pressures from the survivors, their
supporters and activists in Bhopal.
WHEREAS,
We are in awe of the courage and
perseverance of the survivors and activists who continue to be
dedicated to the cause of justice in Bhopal and keep the focus on the
people suffering from this continuing disaster.
Their struggles,
marches, fasts and tours that have also
brought survivors
to Atlanta on two occasions,
continue to inspire us.
WHEREAS,
We also recognize that
tangible efforts
to bring justice
are needed to begin to reconcile the
events of 25 years ago and
since, and
is a necessary step toward
healing.
WHEREAS,
Reconciliation can come only when Justice
is achieved.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
We
shall never forget the thousands of people
who were killed, directly and indirectly injured,
and those who
continue to be affected by the consequences of
the worst industrial event to ever affect
humanity.
We
remember with reverence all who have sought justice for the last 25
years.
We
demand justice for the victims and survivors of Bhopal.
We
call for the demands of the victims to
be met by the corporation (Dow
Chemical/Union Carbide) that is
responsible for the disaster without any hindrance from the US or
Indian government.
We
call for the demands of the victims to
be met by the local and national Indian government, including
their right to land and water
free of contamination.
We
call for all governments
to implement and have the right to
implement effective mechanisms to protect humanity from the potential
of such a disaster by implementing unequivocal laws that prohibit
exposing communities to dangers presented by industrial (global or
local) production of materials and energy.
We
demand that the accountability of global
corporations must extend globally.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT,
we shall be mindful that justice,
reconciliation, and healing of those affected
shall be our overall humanitarian goal.
