Medical help for survivors of Bhopal Disasters

During 2011, I received a copy of the newsletter for The Bhopal Medical Appeal which brought back my memories of horror of the Bhopal Disaster on 2-3rd December 1984. This was when a cloud of gas  five hundred times more toxic than cyanide leaked from a factory in Bhopal belonging to the Union Carbide Corporation, a subsidiary of Dow Chemicals, resulting in thousands of deathes and ongoing suffering for the survivors and their children.

Currently, in Bhopal, there are over 100,000 people who are experiencing chronic illnesses due to the effects of the cloud of toxic gas. In addition, there are about 30,000 more suffering from consumption of water polluting by the derelict plant which is still to be cleaned up. This is a terrible injustice.The site remediation has not been progressed because Dow Chemicals are refusing to accept legal responsibility.

Green MSP Alison Johnstone has written to the Minister for the Commonwealth Games, asking for assurances that companies with poor social and environmental records will not be able to sponsor the 2014 Games.

Organisers of the London Olympics faced controversy this week when the Indian Olympic Association have protested over the involvement of Dow Chemicals, the company implicated in the 1984 Bhopal disaster, as a major sponsor. Greens have specifically asked that the Minister rules out sponsorship by Dow Chemicals, as well as any other company responsible for human rights abuses, serious environmental damage or tax avoidance.

Useful Links:-

Documentary about the Bhopal Disasters - http://www.bhopalithemovie.com/

The Bhopal Medical Appeal - http://www.bhopal.org/