GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION FOR BHOPAL
December 3rd, 2004, will mark twenty years since the people of Bhopal awoke from their sleep, choking, near-blinded, to scenes of unimaginable horror and suffering. Overnight, a city of 800,000 people was turned into a gas chamber, with at least 8,000 dead.
Union Carbide's gas cloud was just the beginning. The ongoing efforts of both Union Carbide and its new owner Dow Chemical to evade their pending liabilities in Bhopal represent a classic case of corporate crime gone unpunished.
As in Bhopal, corporations around the world are today getting away with crimes against humanity and the environment, and dictating policies that affect all life on earth. Communities everywhere have learnt that the only way they will regain control of their lives and health is by fighting corporate crime directly.
Over twenty years, the survivors of Union Carbide's massacre, beset by extreme poverty, debilitated by illness and loss, starved of justice, have refused to accept defeat. Instead, against almost insuperable odds, they have carried on an unrelenting fight for justice and a disease-free, dignified life.
Its a fight they can still win. The twenty-year-long struggle for justice in Bhopal, and numerous other people's struggles around the world, demonstrate an extraordinary resilience and carry the indomitable hope that corporate globalisation can be reversed by the solidarity of public interest groups, individuals and people's organisations.
We will never forget
"We never want to see another Bhopal." Bhopal's survivors have said this from the beginning. To ensure this, it is vital that Dow Chemical, and other corporate offenders, are not allowed to get away with their crimes. On Dec 3rd, 2004 the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal (ICJB) invites you to help make sure that they don't.
ICJB invites all groups fighting corporate crime to take action on December 3 against the human, environmental, consumer and labour rights violations by private or public corporations.
A CALL TO ORGANIZE
Actions against criminal corporations and against Dow Chemical facilities and offices worldwide; teach-ins; vigils; phone-ins; petition drives; celebrations and media events. A list of Dow/Carbide facilities worldwide can be located at the Dow Company website.
A CALL TO UNITE
Thousands of people from around the world will be participating in the Global Day of Action. Cities in India, including Bhopal, will host protests, events and actions; trade unions and community organizations internationally will also be participating.
Visit the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal to learn 20 Things You Can Do To Help Make Dow Responsible For Bhopal
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