Take Action Against Dow Chemical: Defend the Rights of Communities in Bhopal
More than 7,000 people died within a matter of days when toxic gases leaked from a chemical plant in Bhopal, India in December 1984. Since then, exposure to the toxins and contaminated water and soil near the site has resulted in the deaths of a further 15,000 people as well as chronic and debilitating illnesses of thousands of others.The Government of India has the primary responsibility for protecting the human rights of communities endangered by the activities of corporations, and Amnesty International continues to press the Government to ensure they are addressing the health needs of the people of Bhopal, including access to safe drinking water and healthcare. Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) and its current parent company, Dow Chemical, must also uphold and protect international human rights standards. Furthermore, both Union Carbide and Dow Chemical have adamantly refused to participate in remedying this situation. UCC has withheld important toxicological information critical to the medical treatment of victims. UCC is also an "absconder from justice." Since 1991, the company has refused to appear before the Bhopal District Court where criminal charges are still pending against them. Dow Chemical, which took over UCC in 2001, has publicly stated that they have no responsibility for the leak and its consequences or for the pollution from the plant. Yet on January 6, 2005, Dow Chemical was summoned for the first time before an Indian criminal court seeking to bring to justice those responsible for the 1984 gas leak.
On the 20th Anniversary of the Bhopal chemical disaster, Amnesty International released the report, "Clouds of Injustice: Bhopal Disaster 20 years on," in December 2004 and launched a postcard action demanding that Dow Chemical clean up the plant site, which has remained a source of continued contamination in the region, threatening the health and well-being of the Bhopal community. Tens of thousands of postcards were sent to Dow's headquarters from Amnesty members around the world, and activists organized public demonstrations and events.
On May 12, 2005, Dow Chemical will be holding its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Midland, Michigan, where Dow's stockholders will meet with the Board of Directors to discuss major issues facing the company. Last fall, a group of Dow shareholders, led by Boston Common Asset Management, filed a resolution expressing their concerns about Bhopal, with the intent of raising the issue at this meeting. But with the support of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company rejected the resolution in an attempt to keep Bhopal off the agenda. But we won't let that happen! In the month leading up to their shareholder meeting, Amnesty International, along with several other organizations across the world, will be working hard to keep the pressure on Dow, demanding they deliver UCC to the Indian courts. JOIN US in this effort to hold these companies responsible for their destructive actions. Make sure Dow and UCC FACE JUSTICE.
Whether you are an individual or part of larger group, your action can make a difference to the people of Bhopal.
TAKE ACTION NOW ONLINE!
Send an email to Dow Chemical's President and CEO, Andrew Liveris, demanding that Dow/UCC FACE JUSTICE.
JOIN OUR MONTH OF ACTION TO DEFEND BHOPAL!
There are several opportunities this Spring to join with others and demand justice from Dow Chemical and the Indian government!
- April 22nd – Earth Day
Postcard action, letter writing, demonstrations, film screenings and more... - Human Rights are inexorably tied to a safe and healthy environment. The human rights disaster in Bhopal illustrates this case tragically. This year we encourage you to use Earth Day celebrations and activities to draw attention to the situation in Bhopal, educate the public and take action to support the people of Bhopal.
- Set up a table at your local Earth Day Festival to collect signatures on FACE JUSTICE postcards or petitions.
- Write letters to Dow shareholders asking them to use their power to push Dow for change. Check out a list of the top ranking institutions and investments companies that have been known to hold stock in Dow Chemical (DOW) .
- Investigate university or local stockholdings in Dow Chemical (DOW), then plan a demonstration or teach-in at your school. For more information on investigating stockholdings in your area, contact corpaction@aiusa.org.
- Arrange a local film screening of "One Night in Bhopal" or "Twenty Years Without Justice" and host a discussion or vigil afterward.
- Deliver contaminated water or jhadoo brooms to the homes of the 14 Dow Board members living and working in the United States.
- Use street theater and public art to increase your visibility at Earth Day events. Check our list of "Things You Can Do to Build Public Awareness"
Are you planning a demo for the first time and wondering what your rights and responsibilities are? Find out »In addition, Earth Day is an opportune time to meet new allies, sign up new members to your group, and to promote upcoming Dow AGM-related actions on May 11. To find out what other groups are doing, you can check out the Earth Day Network's event page. Be sure to add your event for others to learn about, possibly participate and get ideas! If you are a member of Amnesty International, add your event to the Amnesty Online Calendar.
- May 11th – National Day of Action Against Dow Chemical (DOW)
- On May 12th, Dow Chemical will hold their Annual General Meeting in the small town of Midland, Michigan. This is the most important day of the year for Dow – a time for the corporation to celebrate its successes and bask in the spotlight. Amnesty International is determined to make sure that Bhopal isn't forgotten and will be sending a representative to the meeting to make a public statement about the situation in Bhopal.
Another way to ensure that Bhopal isn't forgotten on May 12th is to create as much pressure as possible for Dow through public demonstration and media attention. On May 11th, the day before Dow's Annual General Meeting, Amnesty International and Students for Bhopal chapters around the world are planning demonstrations and delivering vials of contaminated Bhopal water and jhadoo –Indian brooms that have become the symbol of the international campaign for justice in Bhopal– to Dow Chemical facilities (research centers, manufacturing plants, Board members houses, etc.) to protest of Dow's blatant disregard for safety and health of Bhopal communities. We want to generate nationwide media attention for the morning of the Annual General Meeting, but we need your help to make this happen! There are 50 Dow facilities in the United States alone. Use the time between Earth Day and May 11th to mobilize activists in your area to participate in demonstrating at one of these sites. Please contact us at corpaction@aiusa.org for information about potential targets in your area, materials for your demo, and to link up with US Students for Bhopal chapters already planning activities. Effective public places may also include schools, universities and colleges, shopping centers, town halls and public squares.
Demonstrations should be peaceful and lawful, not block access or advocate a boycott of or divestment from the company.
We encourage groups to work with their local media to make sure this campaign is covered in a range of media outlets, including community and university newspapers. A sample press release is available for use with local media. This can be adapted to describe a particular group's activities. Please contact us at corpaction@aiusa.org to request a copy.
DON'T FORGET TO TAKE PHOTOS OF YOUR DEMONSTRATIONS AND OTHER PUBLIC EVENTS!
Partnering Groups
We encourage activists and groups to link up with other concerned organizations when planning for these actions. Possible partners include:- Students for Bhopal
- Association for India's Development (AID)
- Responsible Endowments Coalition
- Earth Day Network (To find out what other groups are doing throughout the U.S., check out EDN's network of Earth Day events).
- Greenpeace and other environmental NGOs or campus groups
Campaign Materials
Most materials listed here are available online, with the exception of postcards, films, contaminated water and jhadoos, and address lists. Feel free to contact us at corpaction@aiusa.org or 212-633-4288 for materials not available online.- Amnesty International's 2004 report, "Clouds of Injustice: Bhopal Disaster 20 years on."
- FACE JUSTICE postcards
- List of Board member addresses
- List of Dow facility addresses
- Addresses for 100 investors known to have held Dow stock
- Things You Can Do to Build Public Awareness
- Documentary film, "Twenty Years Without Justice"
- Documentary film, "One Night in Bhopal"
- Contaminated water and Jhadoos (available courtesy of Students for Bhopal)
- CAN sign up sheets
- CAN flyers
- Human Rights are Everybody's Business brochure
- "The Corporation" DVD (Available now in video stores!)
