Recent Press Releases

Recent press releases from the Campaign.

PR: Bhopalis launch indefinite agitation in Delhi

Bhopalis launch indefinite agitation in Delhi 

Press Statement - July 26

Contacts: U.S. - Shana Ortman - 415-746-0306
India - Rachna Dhingra - 9826167369

More than 150 Bhopal survivors and people from water-affected areas began an indefinite dharna in Jantar Mantar that will last through the parliamentary session. The agitation intends to pressure the Central Government to revisit its recent decisions on issues of compensation, health care and rehabilitation, legal action against Union Carbide and Dow Chemical, and hazardous waste clean-up. Simultaneously, a Bhopal survivor has filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court asking the court to strike down the Delhi Police's arbitrary order prohibiting overnight stay at Jantar Mantar. “The Police order violates our fundamental right to express ourselves,” the five organisations coordinating the dharna said.

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Vigil Calls on President of UT Austin to act on Bhopal Student Resolutions

Vigil draws comparison to huge liabilities being slapped on BP in US

Austin, TX – Today, over 25 people including volunteers (from the Association for India’s Development (AID), Austin Chapter; and Vibha, Austin Chapter), students from UT Austin, and local supporters assembled at Texas State Capitol for a candlelight vigil from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm to protest the injustice done to the survivors of Bhopal tragedy, to urge The President of University of Texas Austin to act on Bhopal student resolutions, and to start the campaign for an Austin City Council Resolution, which will call on Dow Chemical to take responsibility for the events in Bhopal.

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Unbelievable: Govt of India sells out

Submitted by SfB.Website on Thu, 06/24/2010 - 12:03

Unbelievable: Govt of India sells out

New Delhi - On Thursday 24 June, while Bhopal Survivors rallied in the streets of Delhi against the proposal by the Group of Minister on Bhopal, the Union Cabinet approved the measures. The $280 million (Rs 1265.56 crore) plan does little to bring real justice or help to the thousands still suffering in Bhopal.

Here are the ways in which this plan betrays Bhopalis:

  • The government announced new compensation for victims. It turns out that this compensation will reach less than 10% of victimes. They will dole out Rs. 7 billion among 46,000 people, leaving 525,000 people with nothing.
  • Survivors have demanded that Dow Chemical pay for proper clean up of the toxic waste it's subsidiary left behind. Under this plan, clean up will be to non-existent indian standards by shoddy scientific organisations like NEERI. Bhopalis fear that a hasty clean up not protect them and will put another community, where they will bring the waste, in danger.
  • Dow Chemical bought Union Carbide and it's liability in Bhopal. Yet, the Indian government has allowed Dow to continue operating in India with no consequence. The cabinet has decided today that Dow's liability will be left to the court to decide. The Government will do nothing.
  • While the proposal does include a new extradition request for Warren Anderson, Union Carbide will not be pursued by the Government, even though it too has been charged with culpible homicide.

Read some news coverage of the announcement:
AFP: India unveils new 280-mln-dollar Bhopal disaster response
NY Times: In India, BP Response Feeds Outrage Over Bhopal

Here are more specifics on how the Cabinet is betraying Bhopalis:

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