Today marks the 24th anniversary of the world's worst industrial disaster -- one that has been called the "Hiroshima of the chemical industry" and that took place in Bhopal, India. Around midnight on December 3rd, 1984, a Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal leaked 27 tons of the deadly gas methyl isocyanate. Safety systems were not operational and the gas spread through the city. Thousands died that night, more than 20,000 have died to date as a result of the effects of the exposure, and over 100,000 people still suffer from ailments caused by the exposure. From Bhopal.org, a harrowing account of the fateful night 24 years ago:
Shortly after midnight poison gas leaked from a factory in Bhopal, India, owned by the Union Carbide Corporation. There was no warning, none of the plant's safety systems were working. In the city people were sleeping. They woke in darkness to the sound of screams with the gases burning their eyes, noses and mouths. They began retching and coughing up froth streaked with blood. Whole neighborhoods fled in panic, some were trampled, others convulsed and fell dead. People lost control of their bowels and bladders as they ran. Within hours thousands of dead bodies lay in the streets.
Bhopal, India, 1984, the largest man-made catastrophe to date, killing thousands instantly and still having effects on families' health, wellbeing (not to mention the fact that gas spill is STILL affecting the groundwater and the corporations responsible have shirked responsibility. The movement-makers in this struggle have been strategic and passionate about their direct actions, appeals, and community-organized work in Bhopal. And they've become experts in strategizing for online activism to complement and strengthen their offline actions.
The first major hunger strike was coordinated in March 2007, and the strikers and the community really drummed up support and pressure by international supporters. I wrote about the hunger strike at our previous blog -- To the Teeth. (post titled Support the Bhopalis Right to Live). Amazingly, Satinath Sarangi, a legendary figure in the struggle for Bhopali rights and one of the folks on the hunger strike, wrote a COMMENT on the post, days into the hunger strike while weak and weary, thanking us for supporting the movement. Talk about passion, talk about "connectivity" online!
I've been wanting to write about this earlier, but there's been a hunger strike going on again, right now, and I'll share a press release from the campaign and intense photos from successful direct actions and the hunger strike. Below is their press release from today, and the photos and stories (must check out!) can be read at Bhopal.net.
And let me mention, Students for Bhopal has always been, and still is, one of THE COOLEST action groups in the US and abroad, and has been integral to the success of actions by the folks on the ground. They're doing a lot of the work connecting young activists around the world online with the movement on the ground. Love them, check out their site too!
Here's the press release:
Bhopal Nine End Fast; 10 Others Take on Baton
3 July, 2008. NEW DELHI -- 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.
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.
(Bold emphasis above is mine).
This is obviously a struggle to support, and also a movement to learn from as we strategize, build community, and broaden our audience in our various campaigns.
What is health justice? How are health & human rights fiercely connected to the wellness of our neighborhoods? How do we reframe policy debates? How do we continue dreaming and building instead of just reacting & surviving? And how do we support each other in our healing?
Cure This is an online space for storytelling, discussion, reflection and building around healing justice. Create an account to write a diary or comment. Questions or thoughts: lotusfeet [at] hotmail [dot] com
News: CureThis was part of an exhibit in Chicago: "Visual resistance in feminist health movements, 1969-2009" [link]
