Here is the press release we received from the Coalition against Bayer Dangers .
Staff Writer ACU
Interview with Rachna Dhingra of the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal (ICJB)
Rachna Dhingra, 32, originally from Delhi, was only six years old when, in 1984, the world's worst industrial disaster struck Bhopal. Rachna was educated in the United States, joining a group of students who took care of the Bhopal disaster. In 2000 he completed his studies with a degree in business and in January 2003 went to live in Bhopal. Rachna is now a major force in both the international campaign of ICJB, locally, with the group for information and action Bhopal Group of Information and Action. Before returning to India he worked for Dow Chemical Company related with the Union Carbide Corporation that at the time of the disaster, was the owner of the factory in Bhopal. The Coalition against Bayer Dangers (CBG Germany) met Rachna Dhingra in Leverkusen, home to the headquarters of Bayer Corporation.
What is your personal motivation to engage in the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal?
I like what I do. For me it is a sacrifice, but one thing that helps me sleep better at night, with no remorse. What angers me most is that even today, after 25 years after the disaster, the government allows people to drink contaminated water. Each is driven by something in his life. What drives me is the fact that the company I worked for was more interested in profits than the lives of people. I came to Bhopal to work with the survivors who are still fighting to get better care and clean water and are judged because individuals and corporations responsible for the disaster. A quarter century of waiting for justice is long, but I hope that eventually everyone will receive according to justice.
What are the biggest problems today in Bhopal and what your needs more important?
In these 25 years of endless human suffering more than 25,000 people have died. Each of the over half a million affected have lost a relative, a friend or neighbor. A fifth is still suffering from chronically in a variety of physical and mental illness due to exposure to toxic substance. Tens of thousands of children born after the disaster suffer from growth disorders and development. Hundreds of children are born and are born with defects caused by parental exposure to Carbide's poisons, toxic gas that is through water contaminated by chemical waste from the factory.
multinational Bhopal is the worst massacre in history, yet the corporations and their leaders accused of murder, serious injury and other counts of criminal goes unpunished, and away from the Indian courts. In the meantime the main accused continues to do business in India through the Dow Chemical Company, which is its current owner.
There is also a global environmental crime that continues for 25 years, ground water and soil in an area of \u200b\u200bover 20 square kilometers, are contaminated with chemicals that cause cancer and birth defects and damage the liver, lungs, kidneys and brain. Some of these substances have been found in breast milk in communities living near the factory and landfill where they are still buried 10,000 tons of hazardous waste. This area includes 35 acres of the factory, according to Union Carbide's own admission, hazardous waste was dumped in 20 points. The Union Carbide ignores the provisions Indian courts and the Dow Chemical says it can not assume the responsibilities of a company which is its 100%.
Why did you decide to do this bus tour on the 25th anniversary of the Bhopal disaster?
To tell people that this is not a disaster 25 years ago, but that it continues even now. To bring to the attention of the Europeans that the story of Bhopal Bhopal is not only, but the story is the greed of multinational corporations that put profit before life and human environment. The bus is a means by which it is easy to travel through many countries, stopping in small places and connect to other communities fighting similar battles. The bus tour also serves to promote awareness and raise funds for the Sambhavna Clinic, which provides free care to the best people poisoned by Union Carbide. (For more information: www.bhopal.org ).
Last year she also stopped the planting of the Bayer Institute, United States, where in 2008 there was a huge explosion. How was the reaction to his visit to Institute?
It 'was one of the few places in the U.S., where we come in contact with another affected community. It 'was an emotional moment and it was shocking to see that the Bhopal disaster is not no lesson was learned. We were very saddened to see the factory near the community of residents. As you enter the city you are surrounded by the smell of toxic chemicals and you can not get rid of until you leave the city. After talking to many people in the community, I was shocked to see the similarities of the disease which affects women and children, resulting from the slow poisoning caused by the installation of Bayer. The Institute is sick as people in Bhopal. No comprehensive study has been done by some scientific agency, water pollution, morbidity, the incidence of cancer and so on. And, as in Bhopal, including Institute most affected were the poor and blacks.
Why is it coming to Leverkusen, the seat of the headquarters of the multinational Bayer?
One of the main reasons for coming to Leverkusen, was to tell the people of this city and the factory workers of Bayer, Bayer which crimes are committed by other countries. We want people to know that Leverkusen there must be other than Bhopal in the world and that no one should suffer what the people of Bhopal and Institute suffers.
What should I do to prevent other disasters such as Bhopal?
multinational companies and the individuals themselves who commit such crimes should be punished appropriately. Must be treated as criminals and death caused by their poisons should be assimilated to murder, as well as the violence of their toxins on women's bodies should be considered as a rape and birth defects from exposure to those chemicals, crimes should be covered by criminal law. If we can not reverse the rule that allows corporations to get to a place, damage, kill, pollute and then leave without any criminal charge, we have very little opportunity to prevent further catastrophes like Bhopal. The precautionary principle should be adopted and studied. We would like to know why, so toxic and hazardous substances must their being produced in places where human lives are at risk and the environment.
December 1, 2009
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