CASE STUDY ON: Union Carbide Gas Release in

Bhopal, India
INTRODUCTION
In the 1969, Union Carbide set up a plant in Bhopal, India, to manufacture pesticides.
The facility was part of India's "Green Revolution" and industrialization policy. These
pesticides were considered essential in the drive for agricultural self-sufficiency.
What happened on December 23, 1984, was what had to be the world's worst
industrial disaster - often referred to as the Three Mile Island of the chemical industry. A
result of technological, industrial, legal and human error, the incident took the loves of
2,500 people, and injured about 400,000, with the toll still rising to this day.
A leak of the toxic MIC occurred that night when it reacted with a sizable volume of
water that had made its way into the MIC storage tanks. Action by the staff and
supervisors was too late to contain the leak, and forty tons of MIC flowed out of the
tanks over two hours. And even if they had reacted immediately, the safety standards
accepted at the plant would not have allowed them to do anything about it. Thus the
methyl isocyanate gas escaped into the air and drifted eight kilometers downwind over
the city of Bhopal, population 900,000, poisoning all in its path. The most seriously
effected areas were those nearest the plant, the absolutely poorest sector of the
population.

PROBLEMS
Developing countries are often very
vulnerable to exploitation by multi-national
corporations. They are eager to support
industrialization, but lack the infrastructure to
manage it properly. Without suitable laws
and regulations, developing nations are ill
prepared for such endeavors. In their efforts
to attract business, these nations often
(either intentionally or not) overlook the
health and safety violations of the corporations doing business in their borders. Drawn
by low-cost labor, new markets, and lower operation costs, corporations have little
incentive to address environmental and human risks once they are entrenched. Union
Carbide's toxic gas (methyl isocyanate) release in Bhopal, India, was a direct result of
such circumstances. In the aftermath of the 2,500 deaths and 400,000
injuries/illnesses caused by the leak, the Indian government further victimized the
people of Bhopal. India settled out of court with Union Carbide for $470 million.

RECOMMENDATION AND SOLUTIONS

The government of India took union Carbide to court in India in a civil suit. This solution
has only minimal effects, for the government settled out of court for US$470 million,
less than a sixth of the intended US$3 billion. This compensation wasn't even enough
to cover the medical expenses of the living, let alone make up for the deaths of loved
ones. Additionally, much of the money was squandered on government projects in
other regions of the country, never to reach those in need. Recommendations
To prevent a "second Bhopal" from happening, I
feel that stronger regulation of hazardous
chemicals should be instituted within India.
Laws must be passed to monitor industrial
operations more closely. This would require a
change in the Indian government's view of the
balance between citizen well-being and
industrialization.
A comprehensive evaluation of health and employment in Bhopal must be made, and
jobs must be tailored to capabilities of hose still hindered by injury. Without it, their
community will continue to collapse.
On the global scene, I feel that a global industrial watchdog organization must be
instituted, similar to an international EPA. The main objective for this organization
would be to set standards for the operation and behavior of multi-national corporations.
One group, The Permanent People's Tribunal, has drafted a "Charter of Industrial
Hazards and Human Rights." The Charter draws together all of the lessons to be
learned by the Bhopal disaster to emphasize the need to pay closer attention to
industrial activity across the world. I recommend that a charter such as this be taken
one step further, and be put into action with the aforementioned regulatory body.
Finally, I feel the people of India must continue to protest the secrecy and oppression
of their government. Widespread pressure to make information about the disaster open
to the public would be a good first step. An honest and constructive relationship
between citizens and their government can never occur under the existing
circumstances.