[ACNS 1919] BHOPAL - 15 YEARS AFTER THE TRAGEDY

[Joseph R Parrish Jr <JoeParrish@compuserve.com>]

Do I detect below that the Church of England and the 
Anglican Communion are taking Union Carbide to task?
Joe
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From:	ACNS, INTERNET:acnslist@epicom.org
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DATE:	11/09/99 5:32 PM

RE:	[ACNS 1919] BHOPAL - 15 YEARS AFTER THE TRAGEDY

[South India Churchman] In December 1984 40 tonnes of methyl isocynate,
hydrogen cyanide and other lethal gases leaked from the Union Carbide
factory in Bhopal, India. Within hours, 8,000 people were dead, 500,000 more
sustained permanent injury,
and land and water were catastrophically contaminated. Over the following
weeks 18,000 more people died and the long-term consequences of the leak
began to be grasped.

In anticipation of the fifteenth anniversary of the gas leak, the Synod
Youth Department of the Church of South India organised a fact finding
mission to Bhopal. In the October 1999 issue of the South India Churchman,
Sam Jacob reports on his experiences as a member of this mission. He found
the visit redefined his whole understanding of the church and spirituality.

The situation in Bhopal today is one of long term illness, continuing
contamination, official neglect, international apathy and countless stories
of human misery, injustice and suffering. Health facilities in Bhopal are
inadequate, as are employment and education opportunities. Survivors
continue to suffer from chronic breathlessness, impaired vision, fertility
problems, recurrent fevers, neuro-muscular disorders, fatigue, depression,
cancer and immune system damage. It is very likely that many of these
conditions will be inherited by future generations of the survivors.

Women who were made infertile by the tragedy have been deserted by their
husbands. Other young women victims suffer discrimination in marriage. Loss
of health means loss of income for everyone affected. Malnutrition remains a
chronic problem for many.

Fifteen years on the story of Bhopal has become old news, but the past and
current failings and injustices are forgotten. Union Carbide withholds
information on the long term effects of the gas; Indian government medical
research remains a national secret. Original demands of US$3.3 billion
compensation were eventually settled for US$470 million as full and final
compensation for all past, present and future claims. Very little of this
money reached the victims in Bhopal. Union Carbide continues to trade
profitably.

Two hundred wells around the factory are still unfit for drinking and the
effects of the leak are still visible in the trees, plants and wildlife in
the area. The human misery continues with little hope of improvement.

Sam Jacob asks: If this threat to life is not the church's concern, then
what is its concern? If it is not their concern, then whose concern is it?

ENDS.

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