Hear the Survivors Tell Their Story...

Bhopali Women at a Union Carbide protest

Two Women Who Survived the World’s Worst Industrial Disaster Bear Witness

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, April 29, 2004

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Union Carbide gas leak that killed more than 20,000 people in Bhopal, India, the world’s worst industrial disaster. Two generations of victims continue to suffer the consequences. Ten years after the incident, most survivors had received less than $500 of Union Carbide’s $470 million compensation payout. Dow Chemical bought Union Carbide 2001, and maintains to this day that it has no liability in the industrial disaster.

Rashida Bee and Champa Devi Shukla, along with thousands of others, were injured in the Bhopal disaster and went on to found a union of women workers to fight for better labor conditions and wages. In 1989 the labor battle culminated in a 469-mile march to New Delhi. More than 100 women, many of who had sold their jewelry and other valuables to be part of the march, presented a petition with their demands to the Prime Minister. The campaign eventually won them a wage increase and other important concessions.

Bee and Shukla leveraged their union’s newfound political power to seek justice from the chemical giants responsible for the gas leak disaster. Since 1984 Bee has lost six family members to cancer. Shukla, who has one grandchild born with congenital deformities, lost her husband and her health.

Join us to hear the Bhopal survivors as they continue their tour of the US to bring attention to the continuing struggles of the Bhopalis as well as raise awareness about corporate responsibility, persistent poisons and environmental justice. The tour will culminate at Dow Shareholder’s meeting in Midland, Michigan, where a shareholder resolution filed by shareholders to hold Dow accountable will be voted on.

Friday, May 7, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Detroit, Michigan
MCHT bldg (Kresge bldg) Rm. 101
2727 Second Ave; Detroit, MI
S. of Masonic Auditorium, N. of Cass Tech Highbr

Saturday, May 8, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Ann Arbor, Michigan
NEW Center
1100 N. Main St., Ann Arbor, MI

For information on the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal please visit http://www.bhopal.net/