The Bhopal Disaster

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The Bhopal Disaster
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♦ •

JANUARY

1985

Editorial

K

The Bhopal Disaster
We. live in a world in which violence, waste and manipulation have not only become central elements
in our lives but which have become profitable for the merchants of death,, the rapists of the earth
and those who manipulate our behaviour, our fears and desires.
—Anwar Fazal
International Organisation of Consumer Unions

The world’s worst ever man made industrial and
ecological tragedy took pace On the 3rd of December
1984 at Bhopal. 30 tonnes of stored methyl iso cyanate
escaped into the atmosphere killing over three thou­
sand people and over 3000 cattle and affecting over a
lakh people (official estimates!). Even these shocking
statistics hide the actual enormity of the human
tragedy — of‘the lives lost, the families affected, the
people blinded and ill and the thousands impoveri­
shed .
»

—

the national industrial and development policy
in the light of people’s health and ecological
issues;

—

the political exploitation of the poor especially :
the slum dwellers and workers;

—

the lack of awareness among people, citizens
groups, consumer groups, workers unions,
voluntary organisations and action groups on •
health, safety aijd environment issues;

Public and government reaction to thL catas­
trophe had resulted in relief efforts. Wide media pub­
licity has led to the spontaneous formation of citizens
groups and. collectives to look into not only Jhe
deeper issues of this event but also to prevent such
events in the future. Zahrecli Gas Kand Sangarsh
Samiti (Bhopal), PARIS AR A'— Movement lor Envi­
ronmental Protection (Bangalore), Movement for a
Safe Environment (Bombay) and Movement for Envi­
ronmental Protection (Madras) are some examples
of this upsurge.

—

the whole question of the right to information
at all levels and the existing control/monopoly
of information I at multinational and govern-,
ment and professional levels;

—

the basic question of the relevance of pesti­
cides to our agricultural .economy in the light
of available scientific and social knowledge
regarding the disruption of eco-systems and the
long-term effects on land and agriculture

Notwithstanding the phenomenal human tragedy
and suffering caused by this event which need relief,
rehabilitation and compensation efforts, all concerned
citizens should not miss the opportunity to analyse/
understand the deeper socio-political and technolo­
gical crisis of which this disaster is only a symptom.
This is the time to question —
—

the role of multinational corporations and the
double standards in their functioning in the
developing world;

—

the governments role and complicity- in impro­
per siting, continued licensing,-improper moni­
toring of dangerous industries and in the
continued flouting of its own rules and regula• tions;

This bulletin issue is a start in that direction and
includes a memorandum from Bombay of which mfc
was a signatory, first hand report from one of our
members of the dynamics of relief work in Bhopal,
and an overview of the;efforts of unions and workers
in. occup_ationaL.health .action in the-U^S-.----- ----------

INSIDE
No more Bhopals ,

2

Learning from the relief work in Bhopal

3

Bangalore Meetings

5

Health and Safety Movement in the U. S.

6
Media
RF_DM-3_BHO-7_SUDHA.pdf

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