Urgent Action for Bhopal

Obama Administration Official recently reveals U.S. government’s double standard on corporate accountability for victims of the Bhopal Gas Disaster.

Please support justice for Bhopal and make a quick call to the White House!

With the world focused on corporate accountability in the wake of BP's Gulf Oil Spill, a leaked email from the Obama administration shows that it values profit over people, when the profit benefits American corporations. On Aug 18, Mumbai-based Times Now published an email chain between White House Deputy National Security Advisor Michael Froman, and Indian Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia. Froman’s email said:

“We are hearing a lot of noise about the Dow Chemical issue. I trust that you are monitoring it carefully. I am not familiar with all the details, but I think we want to avoid developments which put a chilling effect on our investment relationship.”

Froman’s email essentially told the Indian government to protect Dow from its Bhopal liabilities, while people in Bhopal continue to suffer from the industrial pollutants that have killed 25,000 and have not been adequately cleaned up.

TAKE ACTION NOW: Call the White House and tell Obama to support justice for Bhopal!
Call the White House switchboard at 202-456-1414, ask for Michael Froman’s office and tell them:

• You are angered that Michael Froman is telling the Indian Government to protect Dow from its Bhopal liabilities.
• Obama must take a strong stand on Bhopal to show that corporate accountability is universal. He needs to ensure that Dow is held accountable for the suffering in Bhopal to the same level as BP has been held accountable in the Gulf. 
• Bhopalis have suffered for over 25 years because of Dow Chemical Company and its subsidiary Union Carbide. 25,000 people have died while Dow refuses to clean up the site and to send Union Carbide to face criminal charges. Obama should ensure that Dow cooperates with the Indian government and courts.

ACTION ALERT - TAKE ACTION NOW!

The world's worst industrial disaster has been reduced to the equivalent of a road accident. Seven persons, who knowingly approved cost-cutting measures compromising the safety and disaster mitigation in the plant, who knowingly approved an inferior technology that resulted in this disaster, have been let off on bail. Meanwhile, the the real perpetrators [Warren Anderson] are getting away scot free.

People around the world are angry. Angry at the Indian Government for betraying its people; angry that the world's largest democracy has succumbed to the power of the corporation.

LET THIS ANGER AND OUTRAGE NOT GO TO WASTE.

Take action for justice in Bhopal, and to reclaim our democracy.

Send a fax to the PM and let him know what you feel.

You can also click here to learn other ways you can take action.

ACTION ALERT - TAKE ACTION NOW!

We are sure you know about the unjust verdict in Bhopal. The punishment for killing 20,000+ people in the world's worst industrial disaster has been reduced to the equivalent of a road accident. Seven persons, including Keshub Mahindra, who knowingly approved cost-cutting measures compromising the safety and disaster mitigation in the plant, who knowingly approved an inferior technology that resulted in this disaster, have been let off on bail.

Add to this the fact that the compensation was paltry and the real perpetrators [Warren Anderson] are getting away scot free.

Indian lives cannot and should not be seen as cheap, click here to send a FAX to the Indian PM (http://action.bhopal.net/fax.php). Let him know that you don't agree with this. Let him know that you expect better of him.

People around the world are angry. Angry at the Indian Government for betraying its people; angry that the world's largest democracy has succumbed to the power of the corporation; angry at corporations and Corporate bosses for their callous indifference to human suffering; angry at our legal system, and our pliant judges who refuse to be judged themselves.

LET THIS ANGER AND OUTRAGE NOT GO TO WASTE. Take action for justice in Bhopal, and to reclaim our democracy.

Organise:
Candlelight vigils
Press conferences and seminars
Protests outside CBI and/or Central Government offices in India, outside Indian embassies
Meetings to strengthen laws against Corporate Crime, and for speedy compensation and rehabilitation of victims of pollution.

Let us know about your action - email shana@panna.org to let us know what you're planning.

You can also write or call the Prime Minister:
ADDRESS - The Honourable Prime Minister
Government of India
South Block, Raisina Hill,
New Delhi, 110 011.
PHONE - (011) 23018939, (011) 23012312, (011) 23018668, (011) 23015470

And ask him -
Why he has failed to take any action despite being the minister in charge of the CBI and despite making promises three times to do everything within law to hold to account those responsible for the disaster and for environmental contamination?

Other talking points -

• Mr. Singh has failed to initiate extradition proceedings on Warren Anderson and Union Carbide COrporation despite being ordered to do so in July 2009 by the court.
• Mr. Singh has failed to take action against Dow Chemical for bribing Indian agriculture ministry officials to register their toxic pesticides.
• Mr. Singh has actively encouraged Dow in selling absconder Union Carbide's technology to Reliance Industries.
• Mr. Singh has failed to set up an Empowered Commission on Bhopal to execute rehabilitation schemes
• Mr. Singh has failed to direct CBI to pursue Dow Chemical to enforce the appearance of Union Carbide USA in court to face trial.

For our supporters outside India please write or call the Indian Embassies, consulates and High Commissions around the world ----
 
ISSUED BY:
International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal

www.bhopal.net
www.studentsforbhopal.org