Bhopal: Facts In 1984, during the night from 2 to 3 December, took place the greatest industrial disaster (to date), about midnight, in Bhopal, capital with of State of Madhya Pradesh. Union Carbide factory producing the Sevin pesticide sees its tank containing 40 tons of M.I.C explode, leaving escape a toxic cloud towards the city. The gas burns eyes and lungs initially, leading to many death by asphyxies: it is estimated that 8000 people died the first week. The Bhopal disaster gives 2 generations of victims: the first generation, exposed to toxic gas released this night of December 3, 1984, and often suffering of respiratory insufficiency, facilitating secondary infections (tuberculosis), a second generation, especially exposed to the pesticides given up in the factory, and which was washed by the rains, then contaminating the ground water and thus the drinking water for all the population in the neighbourhoods of the factory. The origins of the disaster are multiple: from the start, very bad choice in the method of production of the Sevin pesticide, obliging with storage in tanks of tens of tons of very dangerous products like the M.I.C., an over-estimate of the sales, and thus of capacities of the tanks an semi-abandonment of the factory, left with decrepitude, and without monitoring/replacement of the security systems: panic of the pressure pick-ups of gases in the tanks: been unaware of, cooling system of the tanks: nonoperational, tower of neutralization of gases in the event of overpressure: non functionnal, turn to burn gases escaping in the event of overpressure: nonoperational…

Video "One night in Bhopal"

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History

• 1978: The factory of Union Carbide pesticides, subsidiary of the American multinational, is built in Bhopal to serve the program of food self-sufficiency carried out by the Indian government via the "Green Revolution".
• 1982: The factory records a broad deficit, involving the dismissal of part of its qualified personnel. Safety is put at evil and the incidents multiply.
• 1984: 40 tons of MIC (Methyl Isocyanate), an extremely toxic gas, escape from the factory, resulting in the death of 8.000 people. The factory ceases any activity.
• 1986: The Group for Information and Action in Bhopal (GIAB) becomes the hopper between Bhopal and international activism. The following year, two groups of women survivors are formed: the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathan (BGPMUS-Bhopal Gas Affected Women Organization), the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mabila Stationery Karmwhari Sangh (BGPMSKS-Bhopal Gas Affected Stationary Women Employees Union).
• 1989: The Indian Supreme court will not require of Union Carbide Corporation not more than 470 million dollars to compensate the victims. That means approximately 715 € per anybody. The treatment, research or the rehabilitation long-term are not the subject of any clause. Justice does not decide either in the charge of UCC for its industrial crime. The victims feel the decision like a treason. They consider the compensation insufficient (3 billion dollars initially requested) and denounce complicity between the Indian State and the multinational.
• 1991: Following the pressure of the militants, the Indian Supreme court revises its judgement. It will return at the Indian State to pay the difference and to engage in the rehabilitation. This transfer of responsibilities aims at reassuring the foreign investors.
• 1994: The government puts an end prematurely to the 24 research projects of the Indian Council of the Medical research on the effects of the catastrophe.
• 1996: Sambhavna Trust Clinic is founded thanks to international private gifts, with an aim of offering a therapy adapted and free for the victims.
• 1999: A study undertaken by Greenpeace reveals the extent of the poisoning of the grounds and the ground water. The level of toxic products is sometimes 6 million times superior to the normal. Water that 25.000 people consume is highly contaminated since the activity of the factory.
• 2001: Dow Chemical, first company of world chemistry, repurchases Union Carbide Corporation.
• 2002: The Supreme court declares that the State is held to provide drinking water to the 25.000 people obliged to consume contaminated water.
• 2004: Contaminated districts are supplied out of drinking water but in quantity definitely lower than the needs.
• Rashida Bee and Champa Devi Shukla are rewarded for the "Goldman Prize" for the environment in answer to 20 years of exemplary fight.
• 2006: The ICJB, International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal, launches a campaign aiming at claiming justice and repair. After a walk of Bhopal to Delhi, an hunger strike and many non-governmental actions, Indian the Prime Minister grants part of their claims.
• 2007: Rashida Bee and Champa Devi Shukla create the annual "Chingari Award for Women Against Corporate Crime" rewarding for the women who fight against the crimes of large companies through India.
• 2008: The ICJB launches a second campaign to press the Government to hold its promises. A Special subcommittee in the long run on Bhopal will have to deal with all the relative files with health, the economic reintegration, the drinking water and environmental protection.
• 2009: 27 members of the American Congress has a presentiment of Dow Chemical Company to decontaminate the factory and the polluted grounds of Bhopal.
• The examining magistrate of Bhopal subjects to the Indian government a warrant for arrest against Warren Anderson, the ancient chairman of Union Carbide Corporation.