CSE Public Meeting: Bhopal Gas Tragedy After 30 years

 

As you are aware that 2014 marks thirty years of the Bhopal gas tragedy that not only led to loss of lives in 1984 but continues to affect people in many ways. It still kills and maims thousands. The ill-effects of methyl isocyanate from the Union Carbide have passed on through generations of Bhopal people. The impact on the psyche of people including those from beyond Bhopal is still palpable. It has affected each one of us. In a certain way, it is a part of our consciousness. More so, when we realise how the aftermath of such an industrial disaster have been addressed.

It is clear that we as a nation have done too little to ensure that the victims get adequate relief, medical treatment and that Union Carbide (and now Dow Chemicals) is held liable for what happened that midnight of December 2. A few years ago CSE had tested soil and water samples from the site and found high levels of hazardous waste still present. This is the hazardous waste that the Union Carbide dumped while it was operating and has left behind to contaminate the groundwater in the city. Along with experts, we proposed an action plan to decontaminate and remediate the site but there still is a complete logjam to address this issue.

Given the state of inaction, we at CSE feel that it is imperative to recall the last thirty years, note what has gone wrong in the way the issue has been addressed and what are the lessons learnt for all stakeholders. It is also a time to talk about the way ahead – what must be done to prepare us for future years. In this regard, we are organising a public meeting that will include a panel discussion, release of our latest book and an exhibition of photographs.

The meeting is scheduled at 6:00-8:00 pm on Dec 1 at The Amphitheatre, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi. It would be an evening of sharing memories, perspective and opinion with our panel members, who are closely involved with Bhopal gas tragedy for years.

Down To Earth and CSE have been researching and reporting on the tragedy from the day it happened, chronicling every single development. To remember the ongoing struggle of the victims and for greater public dissemination of what has happened (and not), we are releasing our book ‘Bhopal Gas Tragedy: After 30 Years’ at this meeting. It not only tracks the history of the event but also reports on the latest developments. The book has articles with incisive analysis, investigative reportage based on unpublished documents, and rare photographs. Our exhibition of photographs includes a select collection on tragedy and its aftermath.
 
 

Schedule
invite-dec2014
 
CSE Report
Contamination due to Union Carbide factory - December, 2009
 
Contaminants MAP
image
 
Media clippings
The endless wait for a clean-up in Bhopal

Nikita Mehta, Mint, Dec 3, 2014

Voices of Bhopal gas disaster still want to be heard 30 years on

MalayMailOnline, Dec 3, 2014

Victims call for justice 30 years after gas tragedy

Gulf Times, Dec 3, 2014

The Night Of The Leak At Bhopal Alys Francis,

Huffington Post, Dec 4, 2014

Bhopal disaster 30th anniversary: Protests point to neglect of victims and toxic waste contamination Jayalakshmi K.,

International Business Times, Dec 4, 2014

30 Years After Bhopal Gas Tragedy: Need for Corporate Liability

Sunita Narain, Huffington Post, Dec 3, 2014

Bhopal demands justice 30 years after deadliest industrial disaster

Nita Bhalla, Reuters, Dec 3, 2014

Bhopal demands justice 30 years after deadliest industrial disaster: TRFN

The Virginia Gazette Dec 3, 2014

FEATURE-Bhopal's toxic legacy lives on, 30 years after industrial disaster

Danish Siddiqui and Nita Bhalla, Reuters, Nov 28, 2014

India: After 30 Years, Bhopal is Still Simmering

John Elliott, Newsweek, Dec 1, 2014

'We demand our rights': 30 years after disaster, Bhopal still waiting for justice

FirstPost, Dec 3, 2014

Shantytowns crop up in Union Carbide's poisonous shadow

Gargi Gupta, DNA, Dec 3, 2014

Bhopal’s Long Shadow: Thirty years later, history’s worst industrial accident still colors U.S. relations with India.

Adam B. Lerner, Politico Magazine, Dec 2, 2014

Indians mark 30th anniversary of Bhopal disaster

Rishi Lekhi, AP, Dec 2, 2014

Bhopal demands justice 30 years after deadliest industrial disaster

TimesofMalta.com, December 3, 2014

Bhopal gas tragedy: No lessons learnt, eyes shut to rules on safety

Chetan Chauhan, Hindustan Times, Dec 2, 2014

Bhopal: A city frozen in its toxic past

Sandeep Shrivastwa, News18, Dec 2, 2014

Contamination still hounds Bhopal residents

Pheroze L. Vincent, The Hindu, Dec 3, 2014

Bhopal Gas Disaster: Calls For Accountability, Justice

Generations of survivors continue to fight for accountability in the 1984 disaster that killed up to 10,000 people in 72 hours

BW Online Bureau, Dec 2, 2014

Justice still pending for Bhopal victims

The Asian Age, Dec 2, 2014

After 30 years (tonight), little hope for Union Carbide’s Bhopal victims and contamination

John Elliott, The Independent (blog), Dec 2, 2014

Industrial disasters: Is India better prepared than it was in 1984?

Mint, Dec 2, 2014

30 years after deadly disaster, Bhopal’s toxic legacy lingers on in India

Reuters, Dec 1, 2014

Bhopal's forgotten victims: Inside Indian city where babies are born with 'twisted limbs' 30 years after US factory caused world's worst industrial disaster

Reuters, Nov 28, 2014

Unhealed scars of tragedy

Toxic legacy lives on, 30 years after world’s worst industrial disaster hit India on December 2, 1984; Bhopal kids paying price

Reuters, Dec 2, 2014

Bhopal tragedy: CSE for strict corporate liability regime

Business Standard, Dec 1, 2014

No closure, no justice for Bhopal victims: CSE

Zee News, Dec 1, 2014

CSE Marks 30 Years of Bhopal, Organises Public Meeting, Releases New Book

Targeted News Service, Dec 1, 2014

Bhopal unending tragedy? Thirty years after the incident

Poulomi Banerjee, Hindustan Times, Nov 9, 2014

Bhopal gas tragedy: CSE for strict corporate liability regime

PTI, Dec 1, 2014

Bhopal, 30 anni dopo si continua a morire

Stefano Vecchia, Avvenire, Dec 2, 2014