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Posted on 08 February 2012 |
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“Dow’s connection to the Olympics is a slap to Bhopal victims”
Environmentalist Meredith Alexander talks about why she thinks the London Games' organisers have become apologists for Dow Chemicals, without giving any thought to the Bhopal Gas tragedy victims
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A file photo of the Olympic countdown clock in London
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Six months before the much-awaited London Olympics is set to begin, Meredith Alexander, a leading environmentalist and member of the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012, the organisation that campaigns for Games arrangements to be environmentally sustainable, resigned from the Games’ ethics panel over Dow's role in the event. Dow owns Union Carbide Corporation which is the principal accused in what is known to be the worst industrial disaster of the 20th century. The lethal gas, methyl isocyanate, leaked from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal on the night of 2 December 1984, killing over 20,000 people and continues to affect lakhs who live with injuries and birth defects due to the resultant toxicity. In an email interview, Alexander tells Bhamati Sivapalan why she decided to quit the panel.
You resigned in January 2012 citing the involvement of Dow Chemicals in the Games. Dow's involvement was noted on its site as early as August 2011; how did the issue come to the fore now?
I was a member of the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012. This body exists to provide advice and act as a watchdog to ensure that the London Olympics meet its promise of being the most sustainable Games ever. The Commission did not start to look at the decision to award the wrap to Dow until the autumn of 2011. The Commission issued a public statement, which I was not consulted on, in December of 2011. I spent over a month trying to get the statement retracted or changed, but this was not possible. This meant my name was being used to support Dow’s claim to be a responsible company. The tipping point for my decision to resign was a series of correspondence between Amnesty International and Seb Coe. The latest response from Amnesty, the week before I resigned, pointed out how LOCOG has become apologists for Dow, falsely legitimising Dow’s stance that it bears no responsibility to the victims of the gas leak and their families. I feel that the Olympic bodies are toeing Dow’s party line and have failed to take the victim’s views into consideration. At this point I felt I had no choice but to resign.
London Olympics Chairman, Lord Sebastian Coe, is quoted to have exonerated Dow because they weren't the owners or operators of the site at the time of the Bhopal disaster or during settlement considerations. What is your opinion?
No one disputes the fact that Dow bought Union Carbide (UCC) after the disaster occurred. But when Dow made that purchase, it took on liability for the Bhopal tragedy. It would be terribly convenient for Dow, if the slate was wiped clean when a company was purchased. But Dow didn’t just buy the profit sheet, the shares and the expertise from UCC. They also bought their legacy, the environmental tragedy of Bhopal and the responsibility for it. Dow must ensure that the site is cleaned up and the victims finally get true justice and proper compensation. If a company could escape liability for its malpractices by arranging a merger or takeover, then companies would be able to abuse human rights and damage the environment with impunity.
While Dow's association has been met with outrage, not much has been said about the participation of other sponsors like Arcelor Mittal, BP Global and Rio Tinto. How do you think the organisers can reconcile funding with their aim to host a sustainable London 2012?
The Dow case is special both because of the iconic nature of the Bhopal tragedy and because the London organisers do not have to go forward with the wrap deal. Dow Chemicals bears responsibility for the Bhopal tragedy, one of the worst corporate abuses of human rights in my generation. This is an iconic case. It is also not a historic disaster, it is ongoing. Justice has never been done and attempts to clean up the area have been woefully inadequate. I want to see Dow publicly admit responsibility for the Bhopal tragedy, to clean up the contaminated site, and to fully compensate victims. It is important to remember that there was absolutely no need for the London Games organisers to award anyone the contract for the wrap. This is a completely optional item that is not essential to the design of the stadium. It will not help a single athlete run faster nor will it help spectators have a better view. Dow’s connection to the Olympics is a slap in the face to the victims of Bhopal, but the fact that this wrap is unnecessary makes this particular deal even more galling for those who have spent decades fighting for justice. I think both the IOC and LOCOG should review their contracts with Dow. I find it impossible to reconcile Dow’s toxic legacy with the Olympic values of the IOC or LOCOG’s promise to host the most sustainable Games ever. It is essential that they listen to representatives of the survivors and the people who lost loved ones in the tragedy. So far they seem to be only hearing the company’s side of the story.
How do you plan to take the fight for the Bhopal victims forward?
Resigning from the Commission has been a hugely humbling experience. I have been amazed at how much support I have had. I have been particularly moved by the response from some of the people of Bhopal. These people are true heroes who have been fighting for decades to get justice. They are truly extraordinary, and being thanked by them has meant the world to me. At the same time, I have been shocked by how few people are listening to the victims and survivors. As a result, I feel a moral duty to try and continue to help the people of Bhopal, I will be making plans shortly.
Bhamati Sivapalan is a Video Correspondent with Tehelka.com.
bhamati@tehelka.com
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