[act-ma] No More Bhopals: Candle light vigil & relay fast - Sun. Dec 1 2013

[Paul Malachi Penchalapadu]

Association for India's Development (AID) and
the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal (ICJB)

invite you to

No More Bhopals
Candlelight vigil for Bhopal survivors
&
Launch of Global Solidarity Fast

Sun. Dec 1. 6 - 7 pm
Harvard Square Pit

*7 - 8 pm: Gathering and press statement at the Forum, Harvard Kennedy
School*
*9 John F. Kennedy St, Cambridge, MA 02138*

Event Facebook page<https://www.facebook.com/events/470399653081041/?ref_dashboard_filter=calendar>

*The Bhopal Gas Disaster: *On the night of December 3rd, 1984 in Bhopal,
India, 27 tons of methyl isocyanate (MIC), a lethal gas, leaked from a
pesticide plant owned by the Union Carbide Corporation (now wholly owned by
Dow Chemical), killing 8,000 people instantly, poisoning and blinding
thousands. 29 years after the disaster, the death toll is above 25,000 and
counting, while 150,000 people, including children born to parents who
survived the disaster, suffer from chronic, debilitating, exposure-related
illnesses.

*Dow Chemical's Role:* Dow refuses to take responsibility for the actions
of its subsidiary Union Carbide in India while paying millions to settle
Union Carbide's asbestos liabilities. 347 tons of hazardous waste still lie
exposed at the site, and still more pervasive contamination forces Bhopal’s
people to drink water laced with toxins. Dow is facing criminal charges in
Indian courts which have issued summons for them to appear in court.

*The Struggle for Justice: *For 29 years, survivors have engaged in a
committed struggled to obtain basic amenities and have achieved important
victories including:

   - Obtaining clean drinking water for more than 50,000 people, including
   free tap infrastructure.
   - Obtaining pensions for 5000 gas affected widows.
   - Setting up of a monitoring & advisory committee on health and research
   of gas victims.
   - Pro rata compensation distributed to 574,572 survivors.
   - Stopping Dow from making any substantial investment in India. Dow's
   projects in Pune and Gujarat have been cancelled.
   - Securing the blacklisting of Dow Agro Science for 5 years in India for
   bribing Indian officials.
   - Stopping an out of court settlement between Dow Chemical and the
   Government of India by exposing lobbying information obtained through the
   Right to Information Act.
   - Convincing the Government of India to take up the Polluter Pays
   Principle, leading it to push Dow and Union Carbide’s liability surrounding
   the gas leak and environmental damages.

*Looking Ahead - Global Solidarity Fast for Bhopal *
To mark the 30th anniversary (2014), supporters of the Bhopal cause all
over the world are launching  a coordinated relay fast for 365 days to
amplify the voices of survivors and to show our commitment to bringing
justice in Bhopal. It is shameful that to date basic steps to clean up the
site and surrounding areas and providing healthcare for survivors have not
been taken. The goal of the year long fast is to bring attention to the
survivor's key demands:

   -
*Clean up the contaminated site and surrounding areas *
   -
*Provide medical relief and rehabilitation to all survivors *
   - *Prosecute the polluter Dow Chemicals*

*To participate in the relay fast or to learn more please email
icjb.us.ab at gmail.com <icjb.us.ab at gmail.com>*

*About ICJB*: The International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal is a group
working with members of the South Asian and human rights community to
provide justice to the survivors of the Bhopal Chemical Disaster. Besides
trying to engender support for the cause and work towards providing
justice, our group is trying to build a movement that ensures or tries to
ensure that there are No More Bhopals as a result of gross negligence and
lack of corporate responsibility anywhere in the world.
ICJB<http://www.studentsforbhopal.org/>
          ICJB Donations<https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1750/t/11198/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=6573>

*About AID*: Association for India's Development is a volunteer movement,
committed to furthering sustainable, equitable and just development in
India. AID supports grassroots organisations in India, initiating efforts
in various interconnected spheres education, livelihoods, protection of
natural resources, agriculture, health, women's empowerment and social
justice. To learn more about AID Boston, visit AID
Boston<http://aidindia.org/main/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,291/>