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The Bhopal Gas Disaster of 1984 was not an accident. It was the result of systematic neglect by the government and industry. Twenty-three years after this disaster, no lessons have been learnt. The environment, workers and communities living next to the industries face the same threats that caused the Bhopal gas disaster, say the organisers of an exhibition.
The neglect that plagued Union Carbide's factory in Bhopal, plagues several toxic hotspots in Mettur, Cuddalore, Kodungaiyur, Ennore, Manali, Thoohtukudi, Alathur, Kodaikanal and Tirupur - all in Tamil Nadu....all slow-motion Bhopals, the organisers add.
Community Environmental Monitoring inaugurated the '1000 Bhopal' photo exhibition that will give you a glimpse of the lurking dangers in thousands of communities around the country and in Tamil Nadu who live in Bhopal everyday, they point out.
The exhibition will be on from April 9 to April 21, 2007, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Alliance Francaise of Madras, College Road.
The Alliance Francaise of Madras is organising a three-day event on environment from April 9 to April 11. There will be a cycle of exhibition, films and discussions on the environment and its problems.
The schedule of the event is as follows:
Exhibition, April 9-21:
1000 Bhopal - The photo exhibition primarily focuses on chemical pollution and its impact on human and environmental health and aims at raising awareness of the general public about the consumption of chemicals and its impact on the future generations and on people who share their backyards with facilities that make such chemicals. Though the exhibit displays images of endosulphan poisoning in Kasargod, Kerala, and chemical pollution from the Golden Corridor in Gujarat, the main focus is on Tamil Nadu where places like Cuddalore, Mettur, Manali and Chengalpattu are severely impacted by industrial pollution.
Documentary Films
9/4/07: Hunting for Warren Anderson, By Dateline: 22 years after the world's worst industrial disaster, survivors of the Bhopal gas tragedy are still trying to bring the person and the corporation responsible for this disaster to justice.
Neer Nilam Katru (Water, land and air), by S Divyanathan: This 15-minute film takes you to the depths of the petroleum refinery hub of Manali located in the north of
Chennai.
10/4/07: Darwin's Nightmare, H Sauper: Fishermen, politicians, Russian pilots, prostitutes and manufacturers all caught up in an incredible drama. The shores of the world's largest tropical lake are now the scene of globalisation's worst nightmare.
11/4/07: The Right to Survive, Rita Banerji & Shilpi Sharma: Each year, the eastern coast of India witnesses a truly spectacular occurrence of nature, the arrival en masse of hundreds of thousands of Olive Ridley turtles in the coastal region of the state of Orissa. This film offers some insights into the dilemma facing the various stakeholders and attempts to provide a solution for tomorrow.
R Rangaraj
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