July 14, 2008
IIT academics and alumni slam IIT conference organisers over Dow sponsorship
International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal
14 July, 2008
Press Statement
Supporting documents:
IIT Alumni letter
IITB Faculty letter
Mumbai/New Delhi -- Nearly 500 individuals, mostly alumni of IIT Bombay, and 43 faculty of the institute have condemned the organizers of the 2008 IIT-Bombay Golden Jubilee Conference for accepting Dow Chemical as a Gold Sponsor despite the company's tarnished reputation and callous disregard for Indian law. The conference is being organized by the IIT Bombay Heritage Fund from 18-20 July, 2008, in New York. Alumni from Australia, Canada, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Italy, USA, UK and various parts of India have emailed Jubilee organizers Anil Kshirsagar and Suresh Shenoy condemning the collaboration. The organizers have failed to respond to any of the concerns raised about Dow, even after phone calls were made by various alumni. Expressing their solidarity with the Bhopal victims, who are currently on the fourth month of strike in New Delhi, alumni sources handed over both the alumni petition and the open letter by IIT Bombay faculty addressed to Golden Jubilee Conference organizers to the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal. The letters were released to the press by the Bhopal campaign and by representatives of IIT Bombay alumni at simultaneous press conferences in Mumbai and New Delhi today.
"Dow's mishandling of its subsidiary Union Carbide's environmental and criminal liabilities in Bhopal, its track record of unethical and illegal business practices, and its disregard for Indian courts disqualifies it in our eyes from any legitimate alliance with institutes that believe in excellence, fair play and dignity of our nation and its people," according to the statement released by IIT Bombay alumni who released the letters from Delhi and Mumbai. Noted columnist Praful Bidwai and water rights activist Himanshu Thakkar addressed the media in New Delhi. Environmental worker Janak Daftari (former secretary of the Mumbai chapter of the IIT B alumni association) spoke to the Mumbai press.
Attempts by Dow to develop relationships with IITs have been thwarted by irate students, alumni and faculty of the elite institutes. More than 1000 IITians signed a petition last year urging the IITs to bar Dow from on-campus recruitment or sponsoring programs. The company called off its recruitment plans in Mumbai, Chennai, Kharagpur and New Delhi. IIT Kharagpur's chemical engineering department resolved to not approach Dow for sponsorship of their departmental festival. Meanwhile, IIT Kanpur and IIT Delhi returned Dow's sponsorship money for high-profile conferences at the last minute succumbing to pressure from alumni, faculty and students. In May 2005, more than 1300 alumni wrote to organizers of the Global IIT Conference in the US, and forced them to cancel the invitation extended to then Dow CEO William Stavropoulos who was to deliver the keynote address.
The 43-faculty open letter to the Golden Jubilee Conference organizers obtained by the Bhopal campaign from alumni sources is direct in its assessment of the situation. "Dow Chemical clearly aims to acquire legitimacy and credibility by forging relations with IITs. The reputation of IITs will certainly be tarnished by any association with Dow Chemical," the letter notes. A disclaimer states that "This letter is in our capacities as concerned citizens of India, and does not represent an official position of IIT-Bombay.
Dow Chemical continues to shelter its wholly owned subsidiary Union Carbide which is responsible for the 1984 Bhopal disaster and is absconding from ongoing criminal case in the Bhopal court. Dow’s refusal to clean up thousands of tonnes of toxic waste in and around the abandoned Union Carbide factory in Bhopal is exposing 25,000 residents of neighbourhood communities to contaminated ground water.
For more information, contact:
In Mumbai: Janak Daftari – 09322292908
In New Delhi: Praful Bidwai – 9868129242.
Shalini: 9891442037
Posted by tim at 09:46 AM | Comments (0)
July 02, 2008
Bhopal nine end fast; 9 others take on baton
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationary Karamchari Sangh
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangarsh Morcha
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
2nd July, 2008
Press Statement
After 22 days without food, the Bhopal nine break their fast with fruit juice
Marking 22 days of their hunger strike, the nine Bhopalis, including 7 who are survivors of the 1984 gas disaster and/or victims of water contamination, ended their fast at 2 p.m. on 2 July. Meanwhile, 10 people took on the baton announcing that the indefinite fast to break the Government’s silence on the Bhopal demands. The 10 people include 21-year old Suresh Pal, who was beaten and jailed for his peaceful demonstration outside the Prime Minister’s Office, Hakam Singh, an ailing gas victim, and Piyush Sethia, a supporter of the Bhopal campaign from Salem, Tamilnadu. The Bhopal nine broke their fast under medical advice after the doctor declared at least three people – Irshaad Khan, Meera More and Iqbal Khan Khokhar – to be in danger due to their abnormally low pulse rates and blood pressure. All three are gas-affected people; 20-year old Irshaad was born to gas-affected parents. Two of the Bhopal supporters – Texas-based Diane Wilson, and Chennai-based Shweta Narayan – have also ended their fast. Both said they will continue to mobilize public opinion in their respective areas to increase pressure on the Government to act urgently.
Outlining their future course of action, the Bhopal organizations said that the coming weeks will see more direct actions both in Bhopal and New Delhi. “We are putting out wall posters in Bhopal inviting people who are prepared to get arrested to come to Delhi for a series of civil disobedience actions. This is the end-game, and we will see it to its logical conclusion,” the organizations said. The groups will also hold a series of press conferences and public events in Bhopal to expose the BJP Government’s role in prolonging the misery of Union Carbide’s victims, and highlight Gas Relief Minister Babu Lal Gaur’s complicity with Union Carbide since 1981. International supporters too have promised to take action outside Indian embassies and consulates, and confront Indian politicians and officials during their visits abroad.
Four of the next Bhopal fasters today
The global relay hunger strike, meanwhile, has attracted nearly 800 people from several countries who have signed up online to fast for a day or longer in solidarity with the Bhopalis.
“Various members of the Group of Ministers of Bhopal have assured us that the GoM’s recommendations closely reflect our demands. We also know that the Bhopal files are being moved at a unprecedented pace. We are now free to focus pressure on the Madhya Pradesh Government which is standing in the way of the Commission,” said Satinath Sarangi, one of the 22-day fasters.
Posted by tim at 02:31 PM | Comments (0)
June 28, 2008
Bhopali children donate hearts to Prime Minister Singh
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangarsh Morcha
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
PRESS RELEASE
NEW DELHI, 28 JUNE, 2008 -- Appealing to the Prime Minister to "Have a Heart and Do Justice in Bhopal," a delegation of Bhopali children visited the Prime Minister's residence today to deliver 300 paper hearts drawn and cut-out by Delhi children over the last week.
Meanwhile, the indefinite fast by 9 Bhopal activists has entered the 19th day. The supporters of the survivors of the 1984 Bhopal Gas Disaster held solidarity fasts in Pune, Kolkata, Bangalore, Bhopal, Vadodara, New Delhi, Jaipur and Mumbai. International supporters in Quezon City, Philippines, Edinburgh, Scotland, Zurich, Switzerland and five US cities - Atlanta, Portland, Austin, New York and Boston are organizing solidarity fasts in these cities.
Janata Dal ideologue Surendra Mohan, senior journalists Pamela Philipose and Neerja Chowdhury and at least 31 representatives from over 20 organizations took part in the solidarity fast in New Delhi at Jantar Mantar.
As part of the "Have a Heart" campaign launched internationally last week, Bhopal supporters world over are educating children about the PMO's prolonged silence over the Bhopal demands despite a 38-day march, 90 day dharna and the advanced state of an indefinite fast by 9 Bhopalis.
A team of 8 Bhopali children have done the rounds of Delhi, visiting youth workshops, residential welfare associations, and slums telling children the story of Bhopal, and the Prime Minister's refusal to address their demands. Many of the hearts made by Delhi's children are stark in their messages to the PM. One student who visited the Bhopalis at Jantar Mantar wrote to the PM: "I am giving this heart because I think and have realized that you don't have a heart. That's why you did not feel the pain of the Bhopal gas tragedy victims. Please think about them, they are part of your country. At least think of yourself. You will also meet God one day and he will ask what you did? You will be left with no answers."
"The Prime Minister should see that law is applied equally to everybody. On one hand Union Carbide and Dow Chemical who have killed, maimed, bribed and are absconding from our courts are still going scot free and on the other hand, Bhopalis are beaten up and jailed for a peaceful protest," says 13-year old Aamir Khan, a second-generation gas victim who has spent his summer vacation in Jantar Mantar along with his parents and three siblings.
School children in Chennai too demonstrated today with hearts drawn by students from 7 schools. The hearts from Chennai will be mailed to the Prime Minister's residence on Monday.
For more information, contact: Rachna Dhingra: 9717516003
Posted by tim at 05:37 PM | Comments (0)
June 24, 2008
Bhopalis Blame PMO of Iron-Curtain Attitude to Transparency
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangarsh Morcha
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
NEW DELHI, 24 JUNE, 2008 -- "The Prime Minister's Office is stonewalling the Right to Information requests filed by representatives of Bhopal victims for a malafide purpose," three Bhopal-based survivor and support organisations said today. At least three complaints are lying in the Central Information Commission against a range of violations by the Public Information Officer of the Prime Minister's Office. The complaints filed against the PMO blame the highest executive office in the country of fraudulently removing important sections from files given for inspection, delaying the provision of requested photocopies and for disregarding the claim for information within two days under the Life and Liberty clause without providing any reasons for denial.
An RTI application filed invoking the Life and Liberty clause by Satinath Sarangi on 13 June C the 4th day of an indefinite hunger strike undertaken by 9 Bhopal activists C has not elicited any response till date. The application sought a time to inspect Bhopal-related files in the PMO, and has sought a copy of the register containing the identities of persons who met the Prime Minister since February 20, when 50 Bhopalis set off on their epic 800-km march to New Delhi. Repeated requests since January 2008 by Bhopal survivors and their representatives for an appointment with the PM have met with silence from the PMO. "Getting a list of people that the PM actually had the time to meet is critical to understanding where we stand in Dr. Singh's scheme of things. But this list has been denied to us," said Satinath Sarangi of Bhopal Group for Information and Action.
Having failed to hear from the PMO in the stipulated time C by June 18 -- Sarangi filed a complaint with the Central Information Commission on 20 June highlighting an earlier CIC decision that rules that hunger strikes, despite being a voluntary act, constitute a threat to life and liberty. A urinalysis done on samples taken from the 9 hunger strikers on 22 June revealed the presence of moderate to high levels of ketones in five samples. "The presence of ketones is worrisome as it is indicative of an advanced state of fasting and shows that the body is undergoing starvation," said Dr. Rakhal Gaitonde, a public health specialist with Bangalore-based Community Health Cell.
"The Prime Minister's Office is a habitual offender with respect to the Right to Information. They have perverted the spirit of the Act and rendered the Life or liberty clause meaningless, even while lakhs of Bhopalis are waiting for a nod from him to signal that justice will be done for Union Carbide's victims," said Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangarsh Morcha and Bhopal Group for Information and Action.
An earlier request filed on 16 April, also for inspection invoking the life and liberty clause, got a response only on 9 May. However, the PMO has failed to provide photocopies of the pages requested despite repeated reminders as recently as on 23 June.
This is part of the overall scheme of protection accorded by the PMO to Dow Chemical and Union Carbide. Despite all the talk about transparency, the PMO remains the strongest practitioner of an iron-curtain mentality to sharing information, the groups charged. The PMO files contain minutes of the 17 April Group of Ministers meeting which strongly endorsed the demands of the Bhopalis. "Publishing these minutes will strongly strengthen our stance, and help end the hunger strike by catalysing a resolution in our favour," said 24-year old hunger striker Sanjay Verma. Sanjay, who was an infant at the time of the disaster, lost 7 members, including his parents, to the gas leak in 1984.
The Bhopalis have demanded a Special Empowered Commission for rehabilitation of Union Carbide's victims, including future generations, and that legal action be taken against Union Carbide and Dow Chemical.
For more information, contact:
Satinath Sarangi: 9717516003
Posted by tim at 03:21 PM | Comments (0)
June 23, 2008
Diane Wilson Arrested at Indian Consulate in Houston
Press Release
June 23, 2008
Diane Wilson and other supporters protest at the Indian Consulate, Houston last week
HOUSTON -- Police arrested activist Diane Wilson Monday at the Indian Consulate in Houston. Wilson is on an indefinite fast in solidarity with nine survivors of the Union Carbide Gas Disaster in New Delhi, India.
Through her actions, Wilson, a fourth generation fisherwoman, has urged the Government of India to fulfill the survivor's demands for clean water, health care and justice. She refers to the survivors "my sisters and brothers," as she is also from a community polluted by Dow/Carbide in Seadrift, Texas.
On December 3rd, 1984, thousands of people in Bhopal, India, were gassed to death after a catastrophic chemical leak at a Union Carbide pesticide plant; thousands more are now being poisoned by toxic waste from the abandoned factory site. Wilson believes firmly that the Indian government and Carbide parent company Dow Chemical must be held accountable for the ongoing disaster there.
Diane Wilson summed up her commitment to justice and connection the Bhopal survivors: "As one of the Bhopalis said, 'What else can people do when their government ignores their pain and cries of injustice? Agitate, agitate!'"
Diane's fast is part of an ongoing Global Fasting Relay, which is being supported by nearly 400 concerned individuals in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and India. (The full list of fasters available at www.bhopal.net) In North America, actions have taken place in Boston, San Francisco and Toronto, with further action planned at the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC. The brave yet perilous decision to begin an indefinite fast has been undertaken by Wilson and others only after numerous unsuccessful attempts to focus the attention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh toward the grave situation in Bhopal.
Diane Wilson, a mother of five, became aware of the Dow/Carbide crimes in Bhopal after learning her own Texas County, located near several chemical plants including a Carbide/Dow plant, was the most polluted in the US. After Ms. Wilson was arrested after a protest at her local Dow facility, she toured the country refusing to go to jail until the former CEO of Union Carbide was jailed. Former Carbide CEO Warren Anderson jumped bail after the Bhopal Disaster and has refused to face manslaughter charges in India.
Survivors are demanding the establishment of a special commission to deal with the issues that still plague the people of Bhopal. They are also demanding that the Prime Minister hold Dow Chemical legally liable, following Dow's purchase of the initial disaster offender, Union Carbide, in 2001. Though survivors have gained support from many influential lawmakers, as well as the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, the Prime Minister Singh has not budged from his ongoing support of this rogue chemical company.
Nearly half a million people were exposed to poisonous methyl isocyanate during a runaway chemical reaction at the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal in 1984. Since then, more than 22,000 people have died and 150,000 survivors continue to be chronically ill, as the Indian government and Dow have repeatedly failed to address their liabilities in the atrocities of the world's worst industrial disaster.
The International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal (ICJB) is a coalition of people's organizations, non-profit groups and individuals who have joined forces to campaign for justice for the survivors of the gas leak. The Campaign for Justice in Bhopal is active in more than 20 cities in the US, UK, France and India.
Read Diane Wilson's blog on her indefinite fast for Bhopal.
Posted by tim at 05:50 PM | Comments (0)
June 19, 2008
Govt handling of Bhopal: Blot on Indian Democracy, 224 Indian groups tell PM
PRESS RELEASE
19 June 2008, New Delhi
New Delhi: Terming the Government's inaction on the demands of the Bhopal victims as a 'blot on Indian democracy,' 224 organisations, including trade unions, people's struggles, NGOs and national alliances, from 19 states across the country wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister demanding immediate resolution of the Bhopal issues. Blaming the Government's silence for pushing 9 Bhopal victims and their supporters to launch an indefinite hunger strike starting 10 June, the organizations said: "We are concerned for the health of the people who have begun an indefinite fast. In particular, we are concerned about the well-being of those among the hunger strikers who have already been affected by Union Carbide's poisons." All but two of the hunger strikers are directly affected by the poisonous gas, contaminated water or both.
The open letter to the PM follows a series of high profile actions as indignation rises across the country and overseas on the failure of the UPA Government to act on its promises. Till date, nearly 300 people from 11 countries have already signed up on www.bhopal.net to fast for a day or longer in solidarity with the Bhopalis. Bhopal supporters, particularly NRIs have protested outside the Indian embassies in Toronto, Boston, San Francisco and Houston. Sixteen US Congresspersons have written a strong letter urging the Prime Minister to set up a Commission for rehabilitation and to aggressively pursue the American corporations for their crimes in India. The US parliamentarians are joined by 19 Indian MPs from six political parties and 81 British MPs, Scottish legislators, more than 100 artists and eminent writers, and 67 international organizations including 17 NRI groups that have written to the Prime Minister urging him to resolve the Bhopal demands. Separately, nearly 5200 faxes have been sent to the PMO.
Addressing a press conference today, Bhopal organizations were joined by Justice Rajindar Sachar and Prof. Kamal Mitra Chenoy of JNU, who said that the Government has to explain why it is hesitating to take legal action against Union Carbide and Dow Chemical. "Why are Union Carbide, Dow Chemical and Warren Anderson being treated differently from any other person accused of a crime?" they asked. They said the Government's silence on the repeated petitions and letters from and on behalf of the Bhopal survivors leads one to conclude that the Government does not care about the Bhopal survivors.
Countering claims by sections of the Government that existing monitoring committees obviate the need for an empowered Commission, Satinath Sarangi of Bhopal Group for Information and Action pointed out that even the Supreme Court's Advisory Committee on medical rehabilitation has sought empowered status as it is unable to enforce its directions. Also, with the Group of Ministers endorsing the demand for a Commission, it is unclear as to why the Government has not yet acted on the demand for a Commission, the Bhopal organizations said. They said the Prime Minister's Office was acting with malafide intent in dealing with Right to Information requests. Applications filed by a hunger striker under the special life and liberty clause has failed to elicit a response from the PMO, even as information sought under applications filed as early as April 16 are still awaited.
For more information:
Satinath Sarangi at 9717516003 or Shalini Sharma at 9891442037
Posted by tim at 03:38 PM | Comments (0)
June 14, 2008
Punish Dow Carbide, US Legislators Tell PM
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangarsh Morcha
Bhopal Group for Information and Action
PRESS RELEASE
NEW DELHI, 14 JUNE, 2008. Sixteen US Congresspersons, led by Padma Bhushan Frank Pallone Jr, have sent a letter to the Prime Minister expressing their support to the Bhopalis "epic march" and demands, and urging the PM to bring Dow Chemical and Union Carbide to justice. The Congressional letter is the latest in a tide of support that has flowed in from overseas, including endorsements from British and Scottish MPs, Amnesty International, and more than 100 eminent writers and people in the arts.
The US congressional letter sent on June 5, 2008, is strong in its criticism of US-based Dow Chemical and Union Carbide. "The conduct of American corporations outside the US is a long-standing concern of ours. . .In this case, US corporations have refused to submit to the jurisdiction of foreign [Indian] courts. . .It is outrageous that the executives of Union Carbide and its successor, Dow Chemical, have yet to be brought to justice."
Besides expressing their support for the Commission proposed by the Bhopalis, the 16 US legislators added wrote: "We hope that the Indian Government pursues Union Carbide and Dow Chemical for their civil and criminal liabilities in the country."
British MP Des Turner also coincidentally issued a press statement on June 5 expressing his outrage at the continued neglect of the Bhopal survivors. "It is morally totally indefensible that in a situation like this that many local communities are exposed to this toxic threat and the Dow Chemical Company continues to abrogate its responsibility for one of the greatest human tragedies in history. I shall be bringing this to the attention of the Indian High Commission." An Early Day Motion tabled in the British Parliament in support of the Bhopal campaign by Turner was endorsed by 68 British MPs, including himself.
Meanwhile, 60 organisations, including 17 US-based NRI organizations sent a letter to the Prime Minister, and a copy of the same to Ms. Sonia Gandhi seeking an urgent resolution of the Bhopal demands.
"International pressure will escalate. People are outraged at the Government's insensitivity in handling the Bhopalis' demands, and will find ways of expressing their opposition to the Government's lackadaisical attitude," said Aquene Freechild, a US-based supporter and member of the Students for Bhopal campaign.
Already, more than a 100 people from 7 countries have signed up to fast with the Bhopalis for a day or longer. Of these, 9 people from USA, France, Argentina and India have started an indefinite fast in their own homes. They are: Indra Sinha (France), Diane Wilson, George Stadnik, Amy Harlib, Jeevan Pendli, and H. Halen from the US, Catalina Farias Rodriguez from Argentina, and Alok Nayak, Shweta Narayan and Bharati Mamani from India.
Till date, the Prime Minister's Office has received more than 5027 faxes urging the PM to meet the Bhopalis and their demands. However, Bhopal organizations have received no response from the Government yet.
For more information, contact:
Satinath Sarangi. 9717516003
Posted by tim at 11:39 AM | Comments (0)