Bhopal. Say it one more time, Bho-pal. A mere two-syllable word has come to symbolize unjust globalization, corporate exploitation and endemic corruption.

Even after the Enrons and WorldComs of the new economy, Bhopal remains the most powerful example of horrors of relentless pursuit of profits at all human and moral costs. It is now the poster child for the global environment movements.

The Hiroshima of the chemical industry devastated the Indian city of Bhopal some 20 years ago, in 1984. More than 27 tons of the deadly gas methyl isocyanate was released from a union carbide factory there, blanketing most of the city in a deadly cloud. Conservative estimates put the total casualties to about 8000 IN THE FIRST THREE DAYS, with long-term damage to more than 150,000. Since the disaster, more than 20,000 people have died and about 15 still die each month due to exposure-related illnesses.

However, for the people of Bhopal the toxic legacy of Union Carbide is far from over. Union Carbide's reckless dumping of chemical wastes has dangerously contaminated the drinking water supply for 20,000 Bhopal residents with organochlorines, mercury, and other chemicals known to cause cancer and birth defects. So the tragedy continues. The nexus of greed, corruption and politics of Union Carbide and its new owner Dow Chemicals, with that of the Indian government has tried to will the problem away. In doing so, they have grossly underestimated the persistence and the indignation of the human spirit.

Twenty years is a long time. Justice delayed is effectively justice denied, as the adage goes. Is it really about justice anymore?

In the year 2000, a global coalition of 20 environmental and social justice groups, spearheaded by the women's survivor groups, in the name of International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal (ICJB) was formed. Some key members include Corpwatch, Greenpeace Intl, Ecology Center, and a few chapters from the Association for India's Development (AID). ICJB combined disparate strategies and actions around the Bhopal issue under a single, focused and sustained campaign. It has been instrumental imparting a new momentum, a new vigor, a new hope to the campaign.

The campaign has won some key victories and verdicts in recent years:

August 28, 2002: Madhya Pradesh High Court rejects the application made by the CBI to reduce charges against Mr. Warren Anderson (Former chairman of Union Carbide) from culpable homicide to a negligent act and directs the CBI to take action to pursue the extradition of Mr. Anderson.

March 17, 2003: University of Michigan Student Assembly (Ann Arbor) passes a resolution calling for the University to "disassociate" from DOW. DOW is one of the largest contributors to the University. On April 24th, students at the Wheaton College pass a similar resolution. Now several universities including Princeton, Caltech and University of Texas (Austin) are pursuing similar resolutions.

July 17, 2002: After 19 days of hunger strike by two women survivors and a Bhopal activist, Government of India agreed not to distribute the compensation money in the non-gas affected communities.

July 9, 2003: Indian government asks U.S. to extradite Warren Anderson.

July 22, 2003: 18 members of US Congress send a letter to Dow Chairman demanding that his company assume liability for the wrongdoings of Union Carbide (its 100 percent subsidiary) in Bhopal.

December, 2003: 25 campuses and 14 countries participate in the 19th anniversary demonstrations against DOW. The campaign witnesses the largest demonstration in the Indian universities cities. December 3rd is declared as the "Global Day of Action Against Corporate Crime."

April 19, 2004: Rashida Bee and Champa Devi, leaders of the women's survivor group, win the Goldman Environment Prize, also referred to as the Nobel prize for environment. On the occasion, the City of San Francisco becomes the first US city to pass a resolution urging Dow to address its liabilities in Bhopal.

March 17, 2004: The Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York reinstates the case of Sajida Bano et al vs. Union Carbide Corporation and Warren Anderson, ruling that Union Carbide could be made to undertake and bear the costs of remediation of the factory contamination. Thereby presenting the Indian Government with a unique opportunity to get Dow to cleanup the contamination and set a powerful precedence for the chemical industry.

June 30, 2004: Bowing to immense pressure the Government of India (GoI) issued a no-objection letter to the New York court, in case Dow is ordered to cleanup the contamination.

On July 19, 2004: Indian Supreme Court ordered the Government of India to distribute the balance of compensation remaining from Union Carbide's settlement among the 566,876 Bhopal survivors whose claims have been successfully settled. The balance of the hitherto undistributed compensation has accumulated interest and grown to Rs. 1,505 crores (some $327 million).

Perhaps for the first time, Bhopalis are not alone. Their struggle may have awakened an awareness that we all live in bhopal, that somewhere deep inside we are all connected. Or it could be a cry against an increasingly materialistic world. Or maybe a fear that another Bhopal is only a step away. Whatever the case maybe, Dr. King's words ring true once again. "The arc of moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice."

So is it only about justice anymore? Definitely Not. It is about saving the essence of humanity. It is our values, morals and ethics that make us human. Not our technology, intelligence or power. The struggle to save Bhopal should and will end, but the fight to save humanity will continue.

Meanwhile, in the name of Bhopal, we carry on. Lest they forget.

Nishant Jain has been key in the campaign for justice for the victims of the Union Carbide gas disaster in Bhopal.

Other Articles on Bhopal:
Thinking about Bhopal in the Era of Globalization
Bhopal: 20 years later
BHOPAL: A Heinous Corporate Crime, A Humanitarian Disaster