Remember this photograph by Raghu Rai, the photo-journalist? He won the World Press Photo of the Year 1984. That is not the subject of this post.
This child was a victim of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy of Dec 1984.
Union Carbide's subsidiary's pesticide plant released 40 Tonnes of Methyl Iso Cyanate gas causing nearly 22000 deaths. The people there still face physical disorders and are exposed to toxic elements in their environment.
Reason for this:
Compromises by the company on safety equipment installation and workplace safety because of cost-cutting measures to compensate for losses.
Read more on the accident here and here.
And guess what, the company is back in India now setting up a 1000 person R&D Centre in Chennai and recruiting from the elite institutions like the IIT.
The survivors and victims of the tragedy (as part of International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal) are in Chennai to appeal to students, citizens from other walks of life to ponder and act over this.
Where? Nochikuppam Community Hall, Near Marina Light House
When? 29th Oct , 4:30 PM
I read about it in Harish's blog.
Below is a document on the agenda.
http://www.harishpalaniappan.com/blog/ICJB_Chennai%20Handout.pdf
Photos by Raghu Rai:
http://www.magnumphotos.com/Archive/C.aspx?VP=Mod_ViewBoxInsertion.ViewBoxInsertion_VPage&R=2TYRYDDG70XJ&RP=Mod_ViewBox.ViewBoxThumb_VPage&CT=Album&SP=Album
